How to Catch Fish on 

Whitefish & Manitowik Lakes

By Derek Chapman

There are many different ways to fish Whitefish Lake. I have been fishing this lake for 35 years, so all of my skills come from working the lake from one end to the other. Using just about everything in my tackle box, I've used every fishing technique I know. From bottom bouncing with heavy weights, jerking different kinds of raps, jigging, down rigging and the ever popular still fishing. I will bring you through my successes using each of these techniques.

Every year on June, (my birthday) I go on a fishing trip by myself. One year I decided to fish Whitefish Lake. My intentions were to down rig for lake trout. This trip turned out to be a future big producer. I put in at Whitefish dam and headed to the extreme end of Manitowik Lake. It was a very calm day and the water had been rising for the last few weeks, creating all kinds of drift wood on the lake, so I had to watch where I was going. When I got about half way down Manitowik, just out from Honkey Bay, there was a huge group of logs in one spot. The winds from the previous day had pushed this spawn of logs here. I slowly made my way through the logs, not realizing my fish finder was on. Once through I opened up my boat and headed to the end of the lake. Looking down at my fish finder I couldn't believe my eyes! Where I had to slow down for the logs, the fish finder was showing large groups of fish on the bottom at 75 feet. I immediately turned my boat around and went back, took out my down rigger and started to work this area.

Every time I crossed the 75 foot mark I caught a fish. "Happy Birthday!" To this day this spot, and this method can still provides some of the nicest lake trout in the lake. A lot of times another fisherman on the lake will give up a good spot or technique. Many years ago while fishing up near the Schquamqua River, I was sitting in front of the last island before the falls. I noticed a boat coming down to the curve on the left side then disappearing around the corner several times. My curiosity got the best of me and I went to look at this repetitive procedure. While watching, I noticed two guys in the boat jerking on their rods while trolling up the river, then pulling in their lines, turning the boat around, going down to the corner and back up to the falls, picking up at least one fish each time. This method I now call Husky jerking, mainly because I use what is called a Husky Jerk made by Rapella. These lures come in many different colours and sizes and each one is as good as the other depending on the type of day. I use a dark colored one on bright days and a bright one on dull days. Thanks to the guys in the red Lund boat, my fishing on Whitefish and several other lakes has become much more productive.

Jigging is my most productive way of fishing and, depending on where you fish; this method produces more fish than any other. Walleye seem to love a jig tipped with a leech or a minnow and moved straight up and down from the bottom 6 inches up again and again. Ledges that change in depth say from 6 foot flats to 10 feet or more attract fish. They sit there and wait for feed coming down or up the river. Schquamgua River, off from Whitefish Lake, has many of these spots. You can catch fish in the deeper water flats, but you will get bigger fish on these ledges.

Bottom bouncing is an excellent way to catch walleye in Whitefish Lake during the mid summer months when the fish are down deep and are hard to catch. Trolling in 30 feet of water off sand flats, such as Boisey near the entrance of the creek is an excellent place to use this technique. Bottom bouncers come in different weights and colours, I prefer the plain lead. This technique will take you down to these depths and bounce along the bottom without snagging as much as any other method. You can also drift using the wind, if the wind is blowing in the proper direction. If you are lightly bouncing the bottom, at say 35 feet, it is important you stay within 4 or 5 feet of this depth while drifting or trolling. There is a 3 foot line that comes off your bottom bouncer. At the end of your line you can use just about anything, a jig, spinner bait, a worm harness tipped with a worm leach or minnow are all possible producers. Sort through your box and try different baits since at this time of year the fish are fussy and sometimes you will be surprised at what they want.

Last but not least is the ever popular still-fishing which is best late in the evening sitting in your boat, say at the sunken dam or your favorite spot up the river. Put a minnow or leach on a straight hook with a split shot about 10 inches from your hook. Drop it down to the bottom then lift it 2 or 3 inches off the bottom lay your rod down on the side of the boat and watch the tip of your rod. Woman love this method as they can sit and read, knit or eat. They always come out with the catch of the day because their line is always in the water while the old man is busy trying just about everything in his box.

Fishing Whitefish and Manitowick is at times very slow. It is a large body of water and the fish can be just about anywhere. Trust your fish finder and use the methods outlined above. Don't look for good weather to wander out some of the best fishing is accomplished in the worst weather. Most of all explore the lake in several different spots to find your special areas. Take out a friend or family, using these methods, and look like a pro.

©copyright 2006 Derek Chapman