Round Whitefish

Because of its relative small size, the round whitefish is sought only to a limited degree by anglers.

 

HOW TO IDENTIFY A ROUND WHITEFISH

Although the range of the round whitefish naturally overlaps that of the lake whitefish in parts of Canada and Alaska, the two can be easily distinguished. Aside from its small maximum size, the round whitefish is also a very cylindrical fish, whereas the body of the lake whitefish is laterally compressed. The body of the mountain whitefish, though almost cylindrical, is slightly compressed compared to the round whitefish. Coloration of the round whitefish is basically silvery, but the back is sepia brown to almost bronze with a greenish tinge. The scales, particularly on the back are edged with black. The lower fins are an amber shade becoming slightly more orange at spawning. The adipose fin is usually brown spotted. The round whitefish differs from all other North American whitefish and ciscoes in having only one flap between the openings of the nostrils, instead of two.

 

WHERE TO CATCH ROUND WHITEFISH

The round whitefish is a wide-ranging species in the northern portions of North America and occurs in northeastern Asia from the Yanisea River to Kamchatka and the Bering Sea. In North America it can be found from the Great lakes, with the exception of Lake Erie, north to the Arctic Ocean east of the Hudson Bay and throughout the northern Canadian Provinces and Alaska west of the Hudson Bay. It also occurs in limited areas directly south of the Hudson Bay and in East Twin Lake in Connecticut. The following list includes additional details on where to catch this fish:

 

CLIFFS AND STEEP SHORE BANKS           GRADUAL SHORES

ISLANDS OR SAND BARS                        OUTSIDES OF BENDS

POINTS AND BREAK LINES                     ROCK AND BOULDER POCKETS

DAMS AND FALLS                                          MERGING CURRENTS

SMALL POINTED WAVES                                 STANDING WAVES

CURRENT EDGES                                           FRESHWATER LAKES AND PONDS

HOLES                                                OPEN WATER

OVERHANGING TREES AND BUSHES                 RIVERS AND STREAMS

ROCKS                                                DROP-OFFS

SHORELINE SHALLOWS                                   SPRING HOLES

UNDERCUTS

 

HOW TO CATCH ROUND WHITEFISH

The round whitefish is targeted using small flies and baits with very light spin and bait casting tackle as well as light fly tackle. The following are fishing methods used to catch this fish:

FLY FISHING                                        STILL FISHING

BAIT CASTING                                               SPIN CASTING

 

ROUND WHITEFISH LURES, TACKLE & BAIT

The following are lures, tackle or bait that can be used to catch this fish:

CURED FISH ROE                                  INSECTS

SPOONS                                              FLIES

MINNOWS