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MAY 22ND 2010 OPENING WALLEYE AND PIKE !!!!!
Bridges of Whitestone ? Fishing Opportunities
Whitestone Lake offers excellent angling adventures. Walleye (locally known as pickerel), Pike, Smallmouth Bass, Largemouth Bass, Perch and Crappie are found throughout the lake. Bridges of Whitestone is located in Zone 15 on the Ministry of Natural Resources map.
 North Whitestone |
 Central South Whitestone |
Click map images on the left to enlarge view. |
Here are some tips and techniques on how to locate and catch some of our finned friends:
PIKE
- 45-100cm in length
- Weedbeds, weedbeds and more weedbeds!
- As fall approaches look for the larger pike to move away from the shoreline and roam the sunken islands. It is hard to beat large sucker minnows for pike any time of the year. If you are not a live bait fisherman throw large spinner baits, pikie minnows and daredevils along the weed lines.
SMALLMOUTH BASS
- 25 -50 cm. in length
- Clear, rocky waters with little vegetation. In Whitestone Lake look for sharp drop-offs such as sunken islands close to deeper water.
- Jigs, plastics, live bait rigs, crankbaits, spinner baits, floating lures
- 6 pounders are here!
CRAPPIE
- Crappie are a relative new-comer to Whitestone Lake. Use light-line and small lures. My favorites are 4 pound line, 1/16 oz jigs and white or smoke plastic tails. Check out the sunken islands in the fall. During the summer look for schools just off of weed beds. Two pounders are here.
- 18 ? 25 cm in length (general)
LARGEMOUTH BASS
At one-time largemouth were only found in the Whitestone River. Today, they are found all over the lake. Look for them in the weeds and sunken logs. In transition areas that change from weed to rock you will find them mixed with smallmouth. On a calm evening try Jitterbugs, Pop R?s and Hula Poppers on the surface. Biggest bang for the buck : chartreuse spinner bait with a Colorado spinner (for the shallows up to 6?) and white or chartreuse spinner bait with willow leaf spinners (for 6?-10?). Be prepared to run into pike as well.
- 25-55 cm in length.
WALLEYE (pickerel)
- The number one sought after fish on the lake.
- 25 -85 cm in length
Walleye thrive in Whitestone Lake. Look for walleye to associate with weed lines and sharp drop offs. During the heat of summer look for them in the cabbage weeds taking advantage of the cover and the high oxygen content. With the lake being generally stained water, the walleye are not as light sensitive as in most Canadian Shield lakes. Fishing is generally best on cloudy or overcast days, or on days when waves keep the UV rays from penetrating too deeply into the water.
Casting or trolling with spinners or minnow-imitating crank baits are a good bet. Trolling or drifting across points and deep weed beds with Worm Harness?s and June Bug Spinners is an excellent choice as well. Give the spinner the occasional ?jerk? to get a reactive strike. My first pick is: a jig and plastic tail. I go ?light? & ?small? in the summer. Six - eight pound line with a 1/8 oz jig (6?-10? deep) and ? oz jig when fishing deeper than 10?.
Live baits are often still-fished, drifted or trolled on slip-sinker, jig or "bottom-bouncing" rigs.
Perch
There are lots of Jumbo Perch in the waters. Move out to the first break along the weed-line and use small 1/8 oz jigs with 2" plastic tails. Verticle jigging is probably the most productive. To keep kids busy move into the weed bed. There are lots of smaller perch for the kids to have fun with.
