Lake whitefish

Silvery fish with a small head, a blunt snout that overhangs a small, toothless mouth, large scales, a forked tail and a small fleshy adipose fin.

2–4 lb.

About 30 in and over 15 lb.

Cisco, smelt, sculpins, whitefish, insects and freshwater shrimp.

Lives in big, cold, clear lakes; near the surface right after ice-out, then follows the cold water deep in summer.

Found from Ontario Great Lakes, Northern Ontario, Canadian Prairies and Yukon, NWT & Nunavut. Cold lakes across Canada and the Great Lakes, especially Lake Simcoe, Georgian Bay, Lake Huron and the big prairie and northern lakes.

Cold lakes across Canada and the Great Lakes, especially Lake Simcoe, Georgian Bay, Lake Huron and the big prairie and northern lakes.

20–100 ft.

Surface to 20 ft after ice-out; 40–150 ft in summer.

Right after ice-out (shallow), late summer (deep), and through the ice in winter.

Any time of day; morning is best in shallow water.

No tide.

Calm days for jigging deep water; cold, windy days in spring keep fish shallow.

Small minnows, salmon eggs and wax worms on small hooks.

Small jigging spoons with a 'teaser' fly above them.

7 ft medium spinning or casting rod; downriggers or lead-core line for trolling deep.

Spoons and tube jigs with single or treble hooks; small hooks for whitefish.

10–20 lb braid or mono.

10–15 lb fluorocarbon.

Mostly an ice-fishing fish: jig a small spoon on the bottom, then lift it slowly and hold it still. Whitefish have soft mouths, so set the hook gently.

Watch your flasher (sonar). Whitefish often come up off the bottom to look at the lure, so stop jigging when you see one rise.

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.

Mild, white, flaky and rich in oil: one of the best smoked fish there is, and the classic Great Lakes fish fry.

Cold water kills fast — wear a life jacket on big northern lakes, and test ice before you walk on it.

Check local limits; some lakes have whitefish seasons tied to the ice-fishing season. Licenses, limits and seasons are set by each province, territory or state, and many lakes and rivers have special size limits, slot limits or closed spawning seasons — check the current regulations for the water you fish.

Keep only what you'll eat, release the rest quickly, and follow size and bag limits.