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Useful information for the fisherman about whitefish
Whitefish are distinguished by a wide variety of forms within a biological species. Fish can differ quite a lot, both externally and in lifestyle. There are residential lake, river and passing forms. In addition, the whitefish forms separate groups that differ in the way of life in the reservoir of residence. There are deep-water, pelargic and coastal forms, differing in the nature of nutrition. The size of the fish can vary greatly, depending on living conditions and the region. There are both small and large populations. The maximum weight of passing fish can reach up to 12 kg. More than 30 subspecies have been described.
Ways to catch whitefish
In terms of lifestyle and nutrition, as already noted, fish are very diverse, therefore, fishing methods can be very different. Whitefish are caught on various bottom, float, spinning and fly fishing gear. Fish are successfully caught on winter gear.
Catching whitefish on spinning
Whitefish are caught on spinning for almost the entire open water season. The most successful spinning fishing is considered at the beginning of the spring-summer season, when there is not a lot of zooplankton. Spinning rods are preferable to have a medium – fast action with small tests. Delicate cords or fishing lines should facilitate long-distance casts. Lures used for catching whitefish need small ones. Whitefish are caught both on spinners and on wobblers, silicone baits and so on. Small “running” spinners of the “Aglia long” type are considered optimal. Swinging baubles, including the trout row, may well come up.
Fishing for whitefish on bottom and float gear
Whitefish-benthophages, preferring bottom existence, are caught on bottom gear, especially in the off-season. Feeder and picker gear with and without feeders are quite suitable for this. The method of catching on the “running donk” is very successful. The use of donok rigs is usually designed for maggot fishing. In any case, animal baits are used. For catching whitefish, various float gear is also used, including “long-range casting”.
Fly fishing for whitefish
Whitefish respond well to dry flies, especially during the period of mass emergence of insects. He also responds to sinking baits. For whitefish fly fishing, delicate tackle is suitable, preference should be given to medium-class rods. It is important to consider the most accurate presentation of the fly. For this, long-bodied cords with an elongated front cone are most suitable. The choice of baits, most often, comes down to very small, and outwardly similar to natural insects, “dry flies”, especially in size.
Catching whitefish with winter gear
For catching whitefish in winter, they use both jigs and fishing rods. There are special spinners – sigovki. It is necessary to give preference to delicate gear, the fishing line should be no thicker than 0,12 mm.
Baits
For catching whitefish, various animal baits are used: worms, maggot, mollusk meat, maggot, bloodworm, larvae of other insects, aquatic invertebrates, you can catch fry. No less popular are artificial baits: various spinners, silicone baits, and more. Some anglers believe that the most successful spinning fishing for whitefish is a jig. In Siberia, they prefer catching whitefish to imitate aquatic invertebrates. During the open water period, they catch on various gear with “running equipment” and float rods.
Places of fishing and habitat
Whitefish lives in the rivers of the entire basin of the Arctic Ocean. There are a large number of relic reservoirs in Siberia and the Far East, where this fish lives autonomously and is considered endemic. It is found throughout the coasts of Northern Europe to North America. In rivers, a large whitefish keeps closer to the main channel, a small one can be caught near the shore. When catching this fish, it is more important to establish at what depth it stands. Not only the method of fishing, but the effectiveness may depend on this.
Spawning
As already noted, whitefish have a wide variety of ecological forms. There are both anadromous and residential subspecies of whitefish. The typical spawning time for most whitefish is autumn-winter, but there are separate residential subspecies that spawn in the spring (baunt whitefish). During the mating season, epithelial tubercles appear on the body of males. Whitefish mature at the age of 4-5 years. In anadromous whitefish, the fry roll down from the spawning rivers and fatten in adventitious water bodies (lakes, bays, channels).