Whitefish

[Bigjay73]

I love whitefish salad that you get from mostly Jewish delis, and would like to make my own. I have never fished for, or honestly even knew until a few years ago, that there were whitefish in the western states ( no whitefish in Az where I grew up). Are the whitefish found in some Co rivers the same that they make the best bagel toppings known to man out of, and if so, how do you catch them? Anyone have any good smoking techniques?

 

[Bulldog0156]

They're different but should have a similar taste. Fly rod with literally any nymph swung through a deep hole should do the trick.

 

[peterk1234]

I love whitefish salad that you get from mostly Jewish delis, and would like to make my own. I have never fished for, or honestly even knew until a few years ago, that there were whitefish in the western states ( no whitefish in Az where I grew up). Are the whitefish found in some Co rivers the same that they make the best bagel toppings known to man out of, and if so, how do you catch them? Anyone have any good smoking techniques?

I catch and eat a quite a bit of whitefish out of the Yellowstone. I use a size 12 beadhead jig with a brown body and a florescent orange collar. I hesitated to post this because it is that deadly. I mostly tightline for them. Slower pockets of water, usually a few feet deep. If the water swirls and doesn't have a steady flow, move on. A good hole will hold several fish. If you catch one don't leave. Pound the hole

Great to eat. While smoking them is good, fileted and pan seared in butter is even better. But if you want to kick it up a notch, deep fried in a batter with home made fries is the family favorite. It has a second row of bones. When frying I don't bother. The hot oil disintegrate them.

By far one of the most underrated fish. Also disrespected, by guides and fisherman on the river. That fish is our canary in the coal mine.

 

[Bill Zent]

In January of 1995 when it was well below zero, nine of us caught over 325 whitefish from one hole in the Salmon River! A small white nymph on a #12 hook did the trick when drifting it on the bottom. The fish were later deep fried at a fundraiser for a local family whose house had burned.