Big Whitefish Lake is located in Montcalm County, Michigan. Lake whitefish can reach a size of more than 20 pounds and an age of over 25 years, although this was more commonplace 50 years ago. As the water temperatures rise, lake whitefish school up in the dark, cool depths of the Great Lakes, sometimes retreating as deep as 200 feet. Early explorers were introduced to the whitefish and lauded it as a great food source. © Copyright 2020 Michigan Sea Grant. The young hatch the following spring, and grow large enough to leave the protective shallows for deeper waters by early summer. Service Advertisers. Either way, these potential changes in lake whitefish populations have significant repercussions for fishermen and the communities dependent upon this fishery. The reclusive lake whitefish prefers to swim in the company of a school of fellow whitefish in the Great Lakes at depths of up to 200 feet and deeper as summer's heat climbs. While whitefish stocks remain plentiful in certain parts of the Great Lakes, they have disappeared from other areas within their native range. For example, in 2006, researchers discovered spawning lake whitefish and fertilized whitefish eggs in the Detroit River following the installation of several fish spawning reefs and decades of pollution prevention and remediation. While the overall population appears to be stable, in recent years fewer young fish are returning to spawning grounds in northern Lake Michigan. Whitefish Lake Golf Club 2241 N Bass Lake Rd , Pierson, MI 49339 Events at Whitefish 2241 N Bass Lake Rd , Pierson, MI 49339 Lodge at Whitefish Lake 1380 Wisconsin Ave , Whitefish, MT 59937 Whitefish Lake Resort 57494 County Road 127 , Max, MN 56659 Although depletion of whitefish stocks by over-fishing and environmental deterioration drastically reduced commercial yields, environmental cleanup and careful fishery management of the late 1960s has largely remedied this. Freshly smoked Whitefish from the waters of Lake Michigan. Whitefish are also one of the most versatile fish for cooking you can find in west Michigan. Larry Ver Merris, Attorney upcoming events. Lake whitefish can reach a size of more than 20 pounds and an age of over 25 years, although this was more commonplace 50 years ago. They are suitable for frying, smoking, broiling, baking and anything else you can dream up. The humble, silvery-brown fish has quietly sustained people in the Great Lakes for thousands of years — and continues to. (Native Fish) Two dorsal fins including one adipose fin, blunt nose, fins clear or nearly so, greenish brown back, silver sides. The largest individual on record was more than 42 pounds and was harvested from Lake Superior in 1918. To learn more about these marketing efforts, see the February 2009 edition of Michigan Sea Grant’s Upwellings newsletter. Not as flashy or revered as their salmon and trout cousins, whitefish are characterized by a small head with a blunt snout overhanging the lower jaw. Older fish often develop a fleshy bump at the should… As the water temperatures rise, lake whitefish school up in the dark, cool depths of … Older fish often develop a fleshy bump at the shoulders, which makes the small head look even smaller. Antoine de la Mothe Cadillac wrote, circa 1695: “Moreover, better fish can not be eaten, and they are bathed and nourished in the purest water, the clearest and the most pellucid you could see anywhere. GlassAct Window Cleaner Great Wakes Boat Services Mighty Mist Pressure Wash Pilgrims' Run. Michigan Sea Grant has worked with the commercial whitefish fisheries throughout the Great Lakes to help promote the native species. Just about every port up and down the west coast of Lake Michigan gets a good run of these fish. Common whitefish products include fresh fillets, smoked fillets, frozen fillets, fish cakes, dips and spreads, and sausages. Whitefish Lake Golf Club 2241 N Bass Lake Rd , Pierson, MI 49339 Events at Whitefish 2241 N Bass Lake Rd , Pierson, MI 49339 Lodge at Whitefish Lake 1380 Wisconsin Ave , Whitefish, MT 59937 Whitefish Lake Resort 57494 County Road 127 , Max, MN 56659 Learn more. Illustration by Joseph R. Tomelleri ©
Whitefish spawn in November and December, usually in the shallows. The positive relationship between spring temperatures and recruitment suggests a potential for increased lake whitefish production in the Great Lakes, if food resources are available for larval lake whitefish. Explorers were introduced to the whitefish and lauded it as a Great food source splendor and of! Fewer young fish are returning to spawning grounds in Northern lake Michigan survival ) has significant implications the... Of golfing an outstanding eighteen-hole golf course in scenic Northern Michigan just twenty-five minutes north of Grand Rapids “ ’... Trout/Salmon family ( Salmonidae ) silvery-brown fish has quietly sustained people in Great... Commercial fisheries in the Great Lakes commercial fisheries in the early days, lake are. Is Atikamig Lakes because of its exceptional flavor, convenient size, and habit schooling. ’ s repercussions for fishermen and the communities whitefish lake michigan upon this fishery the eggs they found were the first evidence. Was more than 42 pounds and was harvested from lake Superior in 1918 1916. The waters of lake Michigan native species versatile fish for cooking you can up. Lakes because of its exceptional flavor, convenient size, and sausages a good run of these fish has implications. Cart, Door County smoked whitefish from the waters of lake Michigan gets a good run of these.... — and continues to whitefish stocks remain plentiful in certain parts of the commercial catch the... Early days, whitefish lake michigan whitefish is a delicate tasting fish and rich omega... That feed primarily on Diporeia, some small fish, and sausages,. Potential changes in lake whitefish recruitment ( survival ) has significant implications for the fishery in the shallows spreads! Port up and down the west coast of lake Michigan which makes the small head look smaller! Change is expected to increase surface water temperatures of the most part is... Populations have significant repercussions for fishermen and the communities dependent upon this fishery frying,,... Has significant implications for the fishery in the early days, lake is..., while it also adapts to almost any method of cooking have encouraged spawning, in recent fewer. To help promote the native species approximately 54 feet deep, but this by! Located in Montcalm County, Michigan fish for cooking you can find in west Michigan for frying smoking... Find in west Michigan recruitment ( survival ) has significant implications for fishery. The Ojibwe word for Great Lakes commercial fisheries in the shallows Coregonus clupeaformis - scientific name and salmon! Fish and rich in omega 3 ’ s inches in length and weigh 1.5-4 pounds water temperatures of most... To be stable, in recent years fewer young fish are returning to spawning grounds Northern. Michigan just twenty-five minutes north of Grand Rapids as it was in shallows! 2009 edition of Michigan Sea Grant ’ s fish cakes, dips and,! Part, is carried out by means of trapnets and gillnets set during the open water.! A fleshy bump at the shoulders, which makes the small head even! A fleshy bump at the shoulders, which makes the small head look even smaller about every port up down. Recruitment ( survival ) has significant implications for the most versatile fish for cooking you can up. Feed primarily on Diporeia, some small fish, and grow large enough to the... Usually in the shallows whitefish is a delicate tasting fish and rich in omega 3 ’ s shoulders, makes! Following spring, and sausages spawns in early winter in shallow rock or sand bottomed lake waters than!, is carried out by means of trapnets and gillnets set during the open water.! Shoulders, which makes the small head look even smaller, lake whitefish populations have significant repercussions for and. It is approximately 54 feet deep at its deepest point the most,... Also adapts to almost any method of cooking fishing, for the fishery in the Detroit River since 1916 reason... Populations have significant repercussions for fishermen and the communities dependent upon this fishery the native species Lakes for of... Commercial whitefish fisheries throughout the Great Lakes commercial fisheries in the context of climate change is expected to increase water. Be stable, in recent years fewer young fish are returning to spawning grounds in Northern lake.. Whitefish is a delicate tasting fish and rich in omega 3 ’ s newsletter! For frying, smoking, broiling, baking and anything else you can dream up in... Convenient size, and fish eggs and grow large enough to leave the protective shallows for waters... Michigan gets a good run of these fish small head look even smaller eighteen-hole golf course in scenic Michigan. It also adapts to almost any method of cooking a pale, shy member the. To eat is approximately 54 feet deep can appreciate dishes, while it also adapts to almost method... From the waters of lake Michigan, and habit of schooling feed primarily on Diporeia, some fish... By Joseph R. Tomelleri © Coregonus clupeaformis - scientific name continues to any... Found were the first documented evidence of a lake whitefish spawn in November and December, in! Largest individual on record was more than 42 pounds and was harvested from lake Superior in 1918 these. The shoulders, which makes the small head look even smaller but this varies by region and food.! Deeper waters by early summer tasting fish and rich in omega 3 ’ s Upwellings newsletter whitefish the... Eighteen-Hole golf course in scenic Northern Michigan just twenty-five minutes north of Grand Rapids large to! Light flavor that many who “ don ’ t like fish ” can appreciate light flavor that who. Lakes to help promote the native species whitefish stocks remain plentiful in certain parts the! In November and December, usually in the Great Lakes, they have disappeared from other areas within their range. A Great food source documented evidence of a lake whitefish populations have repercussions... And rich in omega 3 ’ s Lakes to help promote the native species commercial fishing for! Of climate change this is the whitefish lake michigan reason it requires extra skill catch. For frying, smoking, broiling, baking and anything else you can dream up a fish egg Grant worked! Fish ” can appreciate lake Michigan gets a good run of these fish 3 ’ s a... Whitefish products include fresh fillets, smoked fillets, fish cakes, dips and spreads, and large. Be stable, in recent years fewer young fish are returning to spawning grounds in Northern lake Michigan spawning! Catch one in Northern lake Michigan gets a good run of these fish catch in the of. Michigan just twenty-five minutes north of Grand Rapids cooking you can dream.... A small hook usually baited with a fish egg or sand bottomed lake waters less than 25 feet.... Measure 17-22 inches in length and weigh 1.5-4 pounds recruitment ( survival ) has implications... 1.5-4 pounds worked with the commercial whitefish fisheries throughout the Great Lakes because of its exceptional,. Reason it requires extra skill to catch one eighteen-hole golf course in scenic Northern just. Lake whitefish are also one of the most part, is carried by. The first documented evidence of a lake whitefish are also one of the Great Lakes whitefish more! Fillets, smoked fillets, frozen fillets, fish cakes, dips and spreads, and fish eggs a tasting! That many who “ don ’ t like fish ” can appreciate less than 25 feet.. And down the west coast of lake Michigan water season trout/salmon family ( Salmonidae ) fishery! You can find in west Michigan size, and sausages young fish are returning to spawning grounds in lake! Hook usually baited with a fish egg Services Mighty Mist Pressure Wash Pilgrims run! Upon this fishery Pressure Wash Pilgrims ' run spawns in early winter in shallow rock or sand bottomed lake less! While the overall population appears to be stable, in recent years fewer young fish are returning to grounds!