Whitefish around Alpena or Oscoda

[fishonjr]

Hi,

First, thank you in advance for any suggestions! I'm looking for information as to when the whitefish typically start showing up around the piers in the fall. If I remember correct, I thought it was around mid-November? Any help with timelines and recommended methods to catch these from a boat would be appreciated! Thank you.

Fishonjr

[ausable_steelhead]

Oscoda starts by early November, but you can start getting Menominees around late-October, they're very similar to Whitefish. Just anchor your boat out a bit from the North pier and run slip-floats and waxworms on calm days, slip-sinker rigs with spawn on rough days; sometimes you can run bobbers when it's rough as well. Run straight 4lb on a noodle rod and use small, light hooks; Whitefish have a very thin, soft mouth. They hit very light and quick, so be ready. You'll hit a brown or steelhead here and there as well, which can make it interesting.

[jim84]

The weather been so warm up hear I think white fish will be a little later. We also get them in tawas around the 15 of nov. everything seems late this year.

[Priority1]

Everything is late this year. We go by the calendar, and the fish relate to water temp.:)

[snowman11]

Everything is late this year. We go by the calendar, and the fish relate to water temp.:)

Anybody tried sending them an email to inform them that they are late?

"I'll be at Tawas at noon on November 12th. Oh, I'll bring a free lunch for you, I will suspend it at approximately 22 feet. Enjoy!!"

[stinger63]

Look for water temps below 50 * for the whitefish to begin showing up.They will spawn in early winter when the water temps are in or about the mid 40`s

[fishonjr]

Thank you fellow Sportsmen! I have never fished for these before, but I am going to be giving it a shot this November...I was on a inland lake fishing for rainbows the other day and the surface temp was at 55 so things are cooling off quickly up here in Northern Michigan! I'll probably be heading out for whitefish around the 20th or so of November and will update after I go! Once again, thank you.

Fishonjr

[jim84]

A stray white fish was caught last week off the tawas pier. late???

[MSUICEMAN]

if fishing from the peir, dawn/dusk seems to be good. I am far from an accomplished whitefish fisherman, but people seemed to like to have those small lights that attach to your rod for the real low light hours so you can see if the tip of your rod moves at all.

i didn't see too many lighted bobbers, though they may work also.

can someone please ellaborate on this method?

[HemlockNailer]

The lights that you are referring to are small battery operated lights that are attached to the end of the pole. Another light usually, a different color is attached to a spring bobber also at the end of the pole. When the two lights come together " fish on ". I purchased mine at Franks in Linwood, I think about $4 each. You also need a long handled landing net with a good flashlight taped to the handle.

[wyldkat49766]

I would like to try fishing for these guys. Can you fish for them off the banks or the harbor area of Alpena? And what do you use for bait or lures?

[greelhappy]

Hey fishonjr,welcome to white fish fishing.The reply from Hemlocknailer is right on. Just would like to add a couple of things. Those lites on the rod tip should face towards you so you can see them more clearly. You will need some sort of rod holder to attach to the wall. They are so many types I would not know where to begin to explaine them. Mine are those cheap holders screwed to a piece of wood and attached to the wall with C-clamps.When using a float, if the water depth is the same as normal set bobber stop at approx. 8.5' to 9' (slip bobber). For nite fishing without the float, use depth finder and lower SLOWLY to the bottom, when you feel bottom raise up a foot and set bobber string. After you reel in and let down again, the string, when in the spot you set it, will put you at the depth you want. Maybe others have better ways, but thats how I do it. One last thing, the CRAPPIER the weather, the better they bite. Good Luck.

[Burksee]

I would like to try fishing for these guys. Can you fish for them off the banks or the harbor area of Alpena? And what do you use for bait or lures?I see guy's fishing right off the ninth street bridge at the dam, next to Clems. Single eggs, jigs with wax worms is what I see used the most. Bringing my stuff up when I'm up there for rifle season. I've also seen guy's fishing perch down river closer to town. ;)

[willard0009]

theyre a little late this year but its alright, theyll be here soon enough and soon enough for me to catch a few and have a couple good meals... good luck everyone and for everyone in Muskegon, i will see you at the pier

[fishonjr]

I'm really looking forward to making over there the week of the 19th! I'm taking my father-in-law who expressed to me that he is interested in doing this but has never caught one after many tries. I will be sure to update you all after we go! Thanks for all the advice and information! Much better than other sites I've been too! Thanks...Fishonjr

[wyldkat49766]

They 'should' be opening the dams there soon because the dams on Fletcher have been open for about a week and its getting full around the hospital area.

Hubby and I plan on going with our neighbor the week after opening day of deer season.

[Frogfish101]

Like said before, the crappier the weather, the better the fishing, especially when fishing from the pier or wall.

I was at Tawas last year for two days. The first day we had northerly winds blowing at 20 mph with clouds, and the bite was hot! The next day was partly cloudy and perfectly calm. All that we caught were suckers...