Lake Whitefish

The Lake Whitefish, Coregonus clupeaformis, is a lake dweller. It lives near or on the bottom of the lake feeding on small organisms it finds there. It will eat insect larvae, fish eggs, snails, shrimp, and small fish. This fish is a cousin of the Mountain Whitefish that resides in Idaho's streams.

The lake whitefish has a long cylindrical body with olive-green to olive-blue coloring and a silvery overcast. The mouth points down and there is a fin located near the tail fin. This fish does not have spines. The tail is deeply forked. Its mouth is small and soft.

The lake Whitey is a long lived fish and can live 25 years and be 20 lbs. in size. Most are 14 to 20 inches long and 2 to 4 lbs.

Lake Whitefish do best in clear, cool, deep water lakes. They prefer the cooler water in the lake and will go deeper as the summer warms the surface waters. They can be found way down where the Mackinaw also lives, more than 200 feet. The whitefish is a schooling fish and will hang out with his friends.

Lake Whitefish Fishing Tips

Most of these bottom feeding fish are caught thru the ice. Use small live baits like small worms or maggots, or small jigging spoons like the Swedish Pimple tipped with something good. Use a depth finder and locate a school.

They can also be caught from shore during spawning in November thru January. The Lake Whitefish spawns in less than 25 feet of water.

Due to their small soft mouths and deep dwelling habits there are not a lot of fishermen who can catch them in the summer out on the open water.

A popular spot for Lake Whitefish is Bear Lake. Lake Pend Oreille also sports good populations.

The Idaho record is 3 pounds 5 ounces and 22 inches long. David Fowler caught this fish from Pend Oreille in 1998.