Spawning run lures anglers to river

The annual run of Lake Superior whitefish into the Flathead River is in full swing.

On any given day now you can see anglers dropping lines from the Old Steel Bridge into the cold, green water, where the fish congregate in deep, slow holes.

When the fishing is hot, as it is now, the Lake Superior fishery is an exciting way to fill a freezer full of tasty, light whitefish filets. (Don’t confuse Lake Superior whitefish with mountain whitefish, a native Montana species that is much smaller — and much maligned.)

Lake Superior whitefish are a nonnative species that migrate from Flathead Lake each fall into the Flathead River. Fishing for Lake Superior whitefish takes place from the middle of October to late December, although some anglers say they still can catch them in January. Although the fish are still in the river in midwinter, most anglers turn their attention to ice fishing once the lakes freeze over.

Since Lake Superiors tend to hang up in deep, slow pools in the Flathead River, fishing from Old Steel Bridge in Kalispell can be productive. Pablo angler and tackle manufacturer Dick Zimmer reports catching an 11-pound Lake Superior whitefish recently off of the U.S. 93 bridge in Polson.

There is a decent fishery for Lake Superiors in Flathead Lake in late summer, but that all depends on how the perch population is behaving.

The Lake Superiors feed on the young perch fry that are congregated over shallow points and bars in the lake. But if the perch aren’t there, neither are the whitefish. Fishing for Lake Superiors on Flathead Lake has not been good the last few years, according to local fishing expert Chancy Jeschke, because the perch fry have not been found in abundance.

For people who love to catch Lake Superiors, the annual run up the Flathead River is something you can usually count on.

While shore or bridge fishing can be effective for Lake Superiors in the fall, a boat puts you a lot closer to the fish. Earlier this month professional guide Bob Orsua, Jeschke and Jim Ball from Superior took a jet boat from Old Steel Bridge up into a big, deep hole downstream from Lybeck Dike.

Anchored down in Orsua’s jet boat, they were able to cast and jig a deep run filled with fish. Within three hours they had about 15 fish in the cooler, averaging three pounds each.

The technique and presentation involve casting small leadheaded jigs into deep holes and retrieving your lure slowly. Since the fish are migrating into the river and spawning, some as far as Hungry Horse, what was good fishing yesterday might be cold today. “One day the holes will be filled with fish, the next day they’re empty,” Orsua said. “They’re constantly moving up river and resting in the deeper holes.”

The limit on the fish is 100. “They’re fun to catch and they fight hard,” Orsua said.

Jeschke said during hunting season it’s sometimes a difficult choice for him whether to hunt or fish, but with the Lake Superior fishery close to Kalispell, he’s not opposed to going out and getting a cooler of fish.

“I can be down here fishing in five minutes from my house,” Jeschke said. “They are a fun fish and are great to eat.”

The fish don’t bite hard, like a trout, so to be very successful on the river, proper technique is key. Jeschke recommends using four- to six-pound line on a long, soft rod seven to eight feet long, with ultra-light action.

Lake Superior whitefish can be caught with a variety of jigs and spoons, but Zimmer recommends two size 8 or size 10 dark green or yellow flies baited with maggots above a dark green bottom weight.

Jeschke’s technique is to present the lure with a series of small hops close to the bottom, keeping a tight line. “It’s definitely a little bit of a technique, but once you get on to them, you can figure it out,” he said.