Whitefish run is beginning at Bear Lake

[WaveWolf]

[#804000]Scott is the man who could best answer this question.......I have used about 10 feet of leader, with a casting bubble, with some buckshot in it.[/#804000]
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[kochanut]

i feel like a dumbass asking this question, but its soemthing i just dont know.....

Bear Lake white fish and regular river white fish are different i am assuming, but, do you eat the Bear lake ones like say a trout, fillet it and such?
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[BearLakeFishGuy]

Yes, they are different. The Bonneville whitefish (found in BL) and the mountain whitefish (found in other streams and lakes in Utah) are "cousins" if you will. The Bonneville's have a much larger mouth and once they get above about 12" or so, they begin to feed on fish. They also have a lot less developed "Y" bone structure (comaped to the mountain WF) so you can clean/eat them like a trout. Make sure to skin them! I talked to a guy a couple of years ago who said he didn't like to eat whitefish because the scales were choking him! Seriously! You can fry, bake or boil them. Boiled they taste like mock-lobster when dipped in garlic butter! Smoking them is also very popular and one of my favorite ways to eat them too!
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[wiperhunter2]

Hey Scott, how much longer do you expect the run to continue?
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[bvs]

I'm going to tow the boat up on Saturday to launch before dawn and plan to stay on the lake until we either limit out or it gets dark again. Temps are forecast for 8F in the morning and only getting up to a high of 26F. Not only will this be my first time launching at Bear Lake, but I've never tried boating when its so dang cold. I am I going to run into problems with the ramp icing up? I've only got 2WD would really suck if I couldn't pull out. I've got chains which I'd guess would help but would a couple bags of salt be acceptable/prudent?
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[BearLakeFishGuy]

Salt is a good back up, but likely unnecessary since there is no snow whatsoever on the ground a the ramps. Icy ramps have not been a problem since its been sunny and there hasn't been very many boats pulling in/out.

I would expect the run to go another 10-14 days. Its just getting good right now.
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