Freshwater · Late fall and winter best; November to February over rocky spawning and feeding areas

Bear Lake Whitefish

Prosopium spilonotus

The larger of Bear Lake's two endemic Prosopium whitefish, found ONLY in Bear Lake on the Utah-Idaho border and nowhere else on Earth. Deeper-bodied and more bottom-oriented than its little cisco cousin, it schools at mid-depth over rock piles and is taken mostly in winter, often alongside the famous cisco run.

Seasons · Peak

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Bear Lake Whitefish — Photo: John Otterbein Snyder, Public domain — Wikimedia Commons (Historical scientific illustration — the only clear Commons image of this species.)

Identifying features

Larger, deeper-bodied Prosopium than the Bonneville cisco
Faint dark spotting along the back, clearest on young fish
Blunt snout overhanging a small, downturned mouth for bottom feeding
Short, stubby gill rakers — a bottom feeder, not a plankton strainer
Silvery sides with an olive-grey back and a small adipose fin

Habits

Endemic to Bear Lake only — found nowhere else on Earth
Schools at mid-depth over rock piles and gravel benches
Feeds on bottom invertebrates, snails and insect larvae
Moves shallower over rocky reefs in late fall and winter to spawn
Often caught during the winter cisco season, targeted or as bycatch

Distribution

Salt Lake City, UT · Utah & Wyoming★ Primary

Where to find them

Rock piles and reefs off Bear Lake's east shore
Gravel benches near Bear Lake State Park marina
Mid-depth structure around Bear Lake in winter

Where they live

Bear Lake only — rocky reefs and rock pilesMid-depth benches over gravel and rockDeep, cold bottom areas in summer

How to catch them

Small jigs over deep rock piles Lake

Rig: Light to medium-light rod, small jig or baited spoon worked vertically over Bear Lake rock piles and gravel benches

Bait/lure: Worm pieces, waxworms

Key tip: Stay in contact with bottom — this is a bottom feeder, and bites are subtle ticks on the fall.

Winter fishing during the cisco season Boat

Rig: Ice rod or light spinning rod with tiny baited rigs fished through the ice or from a boat during the winter cisco fishery

Bait/lure: Mealworms, waxworms

Key tip: Whitefish hold slightly deeper than the cisco schools — fish the edges of the rock where cisco anglers are working.

Best baits & lures

Small jigs tipped with worm or waxwormBaited spoons jigged on bottomTiny bait rigs with mealworms

Techniques for Bear Lake Whitefish →

Baseline setup

Rod: Light 6-7 ft spinning rod or ice rod
Line: 4-8 lb mono or braid with leader
Terminal: Small jigs, baited spoons, tiny bait rigs

Recommended gear for this species

Rod · Best value

9' 5-weight fly rod outfit

≈ US$180-260

Covers chironomid lakes and small rivers with one setup.

Flies · Budget

Chironomid assortment (30 patterns)

≈ US$25-40

Chironomids are 60% of a lake rainbow's diet in spring.

Picks come from our rule library — never paid placements. Prices are guides; affiliate links may earn us a commission.

Typical size

Common 10-16 in (25-41 cm); large fish to about 20 in (51 cm)

On the table

Good — firm, white, flaky flesh like other whitefish; watch for fine bones, and smoking suits it well.

Similar species

Bonneville CiscoBonneville cisco is much smaller, spotless and plankton-feeding with a pointed, upturned mouth; Bear Lake whitefish is larger with a blunt bottom-feeding snout and faint back spots on young fish

Lake WhitefishLake whitefish is a widespread northern species that grows far larger; Bear Lake whitefish exists only in Bear Lake, stays smaller and shows faint spotting on the back of young fish

Regulations vary by area and can change in-season — always check the official rules for your area before you fish. Regulations guide →

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