Tullibee

[bobber_down_1979]

If you are looking at going out on the hard-water, and notice that there are Tullibee on the DNR Lake report, what should that mean to you. The lake is relatively small, but is 60 feet deep and the lake is fairly deep in general. I plan to fish for Pike, Pans, and Walleye at different points.

[fishuhalik]

Just fish the lake like any other lake in the winter. Summer fish deep, but winter I'd just stick to weedlines for pike, rock/rubble for eyes, etc.

[vman11]

Tullibee is great forage for pike and walleye. A lot of lakes that have good populations of tullibee have good populations of healthy, chunky predator fish.

It also means if you are in deep water and you see a flash on your electronics not far below the ice there is a good chance it might be a tullibee.

[bobber_down_1979]

So I should not lean away from it for reasons of "tough bite"?

[northernsportman]

no not at all. If you take a look at some of the bigger lakes in the state such as Mille Lacs, Winni, Lake of the Woods, etc. They all have good populations of tullies. I would feel that this lake you are talking of will have some healthy fish in it.

[slipperybob]

Try catching tullibees.

[gr82fish]

1+. They are actually a good fighting fish and fun on light tackle.

[vman11]

and they're not bad smoked

[TRZ II]

Good baked too, very similar to walleye.

[MN BassFisher]

I was up on Mille Lac's today and caught my first tullibee! It was good size and put up a good fight on my light action pole.

[irishwalleye]

1+. They are actually a good fighting fish and fun on light tackle.

What are the tactics? Do they suspend like panfish?

[Greg Clusiau]

Our latest trip to Winnie had the walleye keeping their mouths shut during the day so we went a little deeper, just off the break in 28-29' of water and played with the tullies. Using panfish tackle, it's a fun deal. A dozen were kept and taken home for the smoker.

[Greg Clusiau]

They can be anywhere from right on the bottom to just under the ice. Normally, when you're fishing for walleyes or panfish, somewhat closer to bottom, and you see a couple fish come through half-way down or up real high, there's a good chance that they're tullies. Sometimes, there are so many of them that you may think something is wrong with your electronics, as the whole screen may be lit up. Almost looks like interference (well, I guess it is).

When I plan on playing around with them, I usually keep a light rod with a small panfish jig, tipped with waxworms or a tiny piece of minnow, ready for the occasion. It's nice to have something heavy enough to drop down to them fairly qucik, as they are always on the move. Take too much time and they'll be gone. Also, much like a lake trout, you'll see them chase your bait up and down the entire water column, as fast as you can reel in most cases. Fun.

[irishwalleye]

They can be anywhere from right on the bottom to just under the ice. Normally, when you're fishing for walleyes or panfish, somewhat closer to bottom, and you see a couple fish come through half-way down or up real high, there's a good chance that they're tullies. Sometimes, there are so many of them that you may think something is wrong with your electronics, as the whole screen may be lit up. Almost looks like interference (well, I guess it is).

When I plan on playing around with them, I usually keep a light rod with a small panfish jig, tipped with waxworms or a tiny piece of minnow, ready for the occasion. It's nice to have something heavy enough to drop down to them fairly qucik, as they are always on the move. Take too much time and they'll be gone. Also, much like a lake trout, you'll see them chase your bait up and down the entire water column, as fast as you can reel in most cases. Fun.

Very nice reply, thanks for the info

[GotALunker]

thanks for all the great info....didn't know that tullibee were such good eating

[skillet]

We call them Cisco over here. Simply put, they are awesome. They fight like crazy. You would be hard pressed to find a 15 inch fish that fights any harder. I like to use Hali Jigs tipped with a wax worm when they are aggressive or small bluegill type jigs with spikes when they are not. Watched a guy catch them on jigging Rapalas one day. They taste like whitefish (same genus) Yummmm!

[Huey]

They taste like whitefish (same genus) Yummmm!

I've caught them by acciden, fishing for walleyes after dark. Never kept them. They were stinky.