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This was my last big trip for the Cascadia Big Fishing Year, where I am attempting to catch/harvest as many species of fish/shellfish in OR/WA in 2014. My two target species for this trip were burbot and lake whitefish. I arrived at Banks late in the afternoon on Sunday afternoon as high winds whipped up the lake funneled by the coulee walls. I didn't want to fight the winds and cold in my kayak so I instead fished nightcrawlers and chunks of anchovy off the north dam on a sliding weight carolina rig. I really wanted to catch a burbot but after freezing my butt off on the dam for 4 hours I started packing it in hoping to go and catch the last half of the Sehawks/Cardinals game in front of the heater in my motel room. Just as I was about to leave line started slowing leaving my reel. I was fishing with circle hooks so I gently increased the drag and applied pressure to the fish. Suddenly the fish realized it was hooked and started fighting back. After a short fight in the dark I landed my first burbot for the year and my 83rd species for the year.

BTW: Burbot tastes awesome!!!

The next morning I scraped the ice off the kayak and launched out of Coulee Playland. I pedaled across to where the north canal feeds in to the lake and started jigging right off the bottom in 50' of water. My fishfinder was lit up with dozens of Lake Whitefish. I didn't have to wait long before hooking and landing my first whitefish and my 84th species for the year. I rapidly caught several more fish and then headed in to warm up. I put together a short video on this fishery with some underwater video. I even got incredibly luck and got video of an albinistic whitefish. It was a great trip and I hope to make it back to Banks Lake again in the future.

Chengy87

12/24/2014 4:41:00 PM

I have been wanting to do some lake whitefish fishing out there! Is there anywhere I can launch my aluminum jon boat out there? Awesome video!

afk

12/24/2014 4:43:00 PM

I have really enjoyed following your success this year. Thank you. And a very merry Christmas to you!

uplandsandpiper

12/24/2014 5:03:00 PM

Chengy87 you can launch your boat at Coulee Playland resort. Its a short 1/2 mile trek to the whitefish grounds.

Mike Carey

12/24/2014 7:41:00 PM

nice underwater shots. How deep down was that?

uplandsandpiper

12/25/2014 12:01:00 AM

Thanks Mike. The camera was at about 55'.

hlindsay

12/25/2014 7:55:00 AM

great video! Thanks for posting it. I am enjoying some of your other ones that came up connected.

Mike Carey

12/25/2014 12:05:00 PM

Really good light for that deep, cool.

Chengy87

12/25/2014 12:36:00 PM

Awesome! I will have to give it a try. Does it get pretty windy out there? I noticed you were just on the Yak, I will try to go this weekend!

Chengy87

12/25/2014 1:28:00 PM

I forgot to ask, what is the limit on lake whitefish on Banks Lake? I can't seem to find anything in the regs.

uplandsandpiper

12/25/2014 1:31:00 PM

Chengy - Yeah the wind can get bad there because the coulee (canyon) walls funnel the wind. However, Friday and Sunday is looking very calm. Saturday its looks a little breezy. The limit is 15 fish, no size limit, and they must be hooked in the mouth. You can also use small crappie jigs in chartreuse or green.

Chengy87

12/25/2014 1:46:00 PM

nvm I think I found it.

gillslayer

12/26/2014 1:08:00 PM

mele kalikimaka (merry christmas)! been wanting to target burbot for some years now but know nothing of the fishery, depth, season, temp, bait. was hoping you could help me with a quick run down and possibly a couple other lakes or reservoirs that hold em. it would be greatly appreciated! mahalo nui loa (thank you very much)!

uplandsandpiper

12/26/2014 6:09:00 PM

Gillslayer - Here is what I know about burbot.

Season: Winter time is best for targeting burbot as it is their spawning season. Fishing for them should be good for the next couple months.
Depth: I caught mine in 30' of water but I know folks are catching them in 30-50' deep water at other reservoirs.
Temp: Not sure how important this is.
Bait: I caught my fish on anchovy, nightcrawlers are also popular
Locations: Look for burbot to spawn on dam faces and near inlets and rivers. I know that the north area of Banks Lake holds good numbers as does Lake Roosevelt in the upper portions of the Spokane Arm and where the Colville River feeds in. They can also be found in other reservoirs such as Cle Elum and Chelan.

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