European whitefish (powan, Felchen)

A slim, bright silver fish with a small head, a small mouth with a blunt, overhanging snout, large scales, a forked tail and a small adipose fin like a trout's.

12–18 in and 1–3 lb.

About 2 ft and over 10 lb.

Plankton, insect larvae (especially midge pupae) and small snails.

Schools in open water and along drop-offs of deep, cold lakes; rises to midge hatches. The Baltic sea-run form ('sik') feeds along the coasts.

Found from Northern & Central Europe, Scandinavia & Iceland (Norway, Sweden, Denmark), France, Italy & Malta, United Kingdom & Ireland and Russia, Mongolia & Kazakhstan. Deep, clear lakes of the Alps (Constance, Geneva, Lucerne, Annecy), Scandinavia, Finland, the Baltic coast and northern Russia; rare protected populations in Britain (powan, schelly).

Deep, clear lakes of the Alps (Constance, Geneva, Lucerne, Annecy), Scandinavia, Finland, the Baltic coast and northern Russia; rare protected populations in Britain (powan, schelly).

15–150 ft.

10–60 ft over deep water, or near the bottom on drop-offs.

Spring to autumn on the Alpine lakes; ice fishing in Scandinavia and Finland.

Morning and evening.

No tide.

Calm, stable weather with midge hatches.

Maggots and small larvae where allowed.

Small nymphs fished in a vertical string (the Swiss 'Hegene' rig) and tiny ice jigs.

Long, soft rod for the Hegene, or a short ice rod.

Size 12–16 nymph hooks.

4–6 lb mono.

2–4 lb droppers.

Lower a string of small nymphs to the depth the fish are showing on the sonar and jig gently; whitefish have soft mouths.

Watch the rod tip: whitefish bites are tiny lifts or taps.

Catch and release: wet your hands, keep the fish in the water when you can, and release it quickly. Use circle hooks and a dehooker.

Excellent eating — one of the best-tasting fish in its range.

Bleed and ice it right away. Fillet, then remove the skin and any dark bloodline.

Excellent, delicate white meat; pan-fried 'Felchen' fillets are a classic on Lake Constance, and smoked whitefish is loved across Scandinavia.

Ice safety: check ice thickness and never fish on new ice alone.

National or cantonal licenses, closed seasons during the winter spawn and minimum sizes; the British powan and schelly are protected. Freshwater fishing in Europe always needs a permit: a national or regional license where one exists (for example the rod licence in England and Wales or the French carte de pêche) plus a permit or day ticket from the club, lake or river owner.

Keep within the limits; protected forms must be released.