12-19-2008, 12:10 PM
Biologist Scott Tolentino reports the Bonneville whitefish spawn is still on, but it should be winding down by Christmas. This past weekend, limit catches were still possible off rocky shorelines on the east side of Bear Lake. The average size of the whitefish was up this year. Fish have averaged between 1.5 and 2 pounds. You should use light equipment - a light rod with four- to six-pound test line and 1/8-ounce or smaller jigs tipped with either worms or wax worms - and fish along the bottom by the rocky shorelines in depths less than 10 feet deep. Small spinners (#0 and #1) or small silver spoons fished close to the bottom in these same areas should also work well. Whitefish are good fried, smoked, baked or boiled. The daily limit and possession limit is 10 fish. Cutthroat and lake trout feed on the whitefish and their eggs, so you have a chance to catch all three species. The cutthroat trout fishing was good at 2nd Point using tube jigs tipped with cisco in 60 to 70 feet. Trollers are also catching cutthroat at the Cisco Beach area using both flat lines and downriggers with rattling crankbaits.