How To Target and Catch WhiteFish

My Whitefish Journey

Chad, Zach, and Jonathan with a nice haul of whitefish

I started targeting whitefish during the 2020-2021 ice fishing season. Since then, I’ve spent countless hours fishing for them on the ice and even pursued them in the summer. Through this experience, I’ve learned a lot about whitefish—their habits, the best lures to use, and where to find them. I’ve tried lures that were frustrating and others that worked exceptionally well. In this blog, I’ll will break down everything I’ve learned over the years.

Cheers! 🎣 – Zach

Topics Covered (Quick LInks):

Best Structures for Finding Whitefish
Example of hard drop off

Whitefish are commonly found around rocky structures that hold mussels and crustaceans. These areas attract gobies, which sift through sediment for food—making them an easy target for hungry whitefish. Whitefish also feed on minnows and grubs in these environments.

To locate prime whitefish spots, use a lake charting tool with a shallow water highlight feature to identify steep drop-offs. Steep drops often indicate rocky bottoms, which are excellent areas to target whitefish.

Whitefish can be found at various depths, from as shallow as 5 feet to over 80 feet deep. Your fishing depth will depend on factors like mobility—having a machine like a 4-wheeler can make deeper spots more accessible. However, don’t assume you need to fish 60+ feet of water to be successful—plenty of whitefish can be caught in both shallow and deep areas.

Top Lures for Catching Whitefish
Choosing the Right Lures for Whitefish
Zach’s First Ever Whitefish

I’ve experimented with many different lures while learning to catch whitefish. It’s often said that whitefish are attracted to gold, making the gold-hammered Swedish Pimple a popular choice. Another well-known option is the Jigging Rapala. However, I’ve had my fair share of frustrations with lures that have treble hooks on the bottom, as they tend to snag clams and crustaceans. This can significantly cut down the amount of time you could be catching fish.

Why I Prefer a Weight-Forward Jig
Whitefish hooked in the mouth with a Baddboyz weight forward jig

A weight-forward jig allows you to fish right on the bottom, stirring up sediment that helps draw in whitefish. In 2021, I started using the Badd Boyz Jig from Magz Mfg in Canada, and it has been a game-changer. Even on the most finicky bite days, this jig has helped me consistently catch fish.

The weight of the jig you need depends on the water depth and current. I recommend having an assortment of:

  • BB1 (3/16 oz) – Shallow, no current
  • BB2 (1/4 oz) – Shallow -> Deep with little current
  • BB3 (3/8 oz) – Deep / Heavy Current

This way, you’re always prepared, no matter the conditions. Link to BaddBoyz Jig from Magz MFG.

My Favorite Setup

My favorite way to rig a BaddBoyz Jig is with a 2″ Micro Goby. This combination mimics natural prey and entices bites. Here’s a video showing the ideal presentation, using small 1” pounding motions on the bottom of the lake.

Rod & Reel Setup for Whitefish Fishing
A Diagram of my Setup

On my most recent whitefishing trip, I had great success using sliders from sunrise until about 10 AM. After that, the fish seemed to respond better to the Badd Boyz Jig for the rest of the day. That said, I would still recommend using a slider if it’s part of your strategy.

As you’ll see in the diagram, I generally prefer to go without a slider, but there are times when the fish still prefer that presentation.

Rod Choices

When it comes to rods, you’ll want something stiffer than a panfishing rod, but not as heavy as a full walleye rod. Personally, I use a 32″ medium rod. I don’t have brand loyalty when it comes to rods, so I recommend finding something affordable but durable. For example, I’ve been using the $30 Scheels rods, and they’ve worked great for me.

Reel Choices

While the rod is important, the reel is where I recommend investing in quality. I’m a big fan of the Pflueger President reels. They offer high performance without the high price tag, and they won’t let you down when that big moment comes.

What Line Should I Use?

Your line is just as important because you need to feel everything happening at the bottom of the lake. Regular monofilament line stretches, which makes it harder to detect every movement and bite. That’s why it’s crucial to use braided line as your main line, with a fluorocarbon leader.

I recommend using 6lb Sufix 832 braid for its thin diameter and excellent strength, paired with an Berkley Vainish 8lb fluorocarbon leader. This setup allows you to feel everything while maintaining the strength and sensitivity you need for whitefish.

Tips to Increase Your Catch Rate

It is hard to coach someone on proper form. Depending on your fishing experience, some of these tips may be more or less relevant to you.

  1. Get in a position where your rod tip comfortably sits in the middle of your ice fishing hole
  2. Keep your elbow straight so you can feel the jig boucing on the bottom of the lake in your shoulder
  3. Make small 1″ lifts and occasionally lift high to catch their attention if further away. Keep constant motion returning to bottom each time. Any change in resistance, set the hook
  4. Stay away from people. Whitefish don’t like noise. Going during the week, or putting in effort to find your own spots away from people
  5. Have fun. Life is always about learning, so go spend time on the water and learn for yourself. Take someone with, and teach them a new skill as well!
How to Catch Whitefish in the summer

Have you wondered if you can target whitefish in the summer? Short answer, yes you can. Watch this video I made on targeting whitefish in the summer.

Best Ways to Cook Whitefish

As you can tell, I’m a big fan of catching whitefish, and I’m equally passionate about cooking them! Check out these recipes where I share some of my favorite ways to prepare whitefish.

Summary

Thanks for reading this article. The links to Amazon products are affiliate links, and by purchasing items after clicking those we get a small referral reward that helps fund us on going on new adventures and sharing more learnings with you.

Tight Lines! 🎣

Zach

Whitefishing Memories

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