Freshwater · Best in spring and during the fall spawning season
Round Whitefish
Prosopium cylindraceum
The round whitefish is a slim, cylindrical whitefish of northern lakes and rivers from the Great Lakes' north shore to the Mackenzie. A fall spawner over gravel shoals, it is taken on small spinners, flies and bait in rivers and lakes, and is a quiet native species across the Canadian North.
Seasons · Peak
Identifying features
- Cylindrical, almost round body in cross-section
- Small underslung mouth below a blunt, rounded snout
- Silvery-olive colour with a small adipose fin
- Slimmer and less hump-backed than lake whitefish
- Usually 10-16 in, modest in size
Habits
- Lives in northern lakes and rivers across Canada and Alaska
- Feeds on the bottom on insect larvae, molluscs and small crustaceans
- Spawns in fall over gravel shoals in lakes and rivers
- Moves into rivers in spring in parts of its range
- A native forage and food fish, less targeted than lake whitefish
Distribution
Where to find them
- Gravel shoals on the Great Lakes' north shore in fall
- Northern Ontario and Manitoba lakes and rivers
- Mackenzie-system and Yukon rivers in spring and fall
Where they live
How to catch them
Small spinners and flies in rivers River
Rig: Light spinning or fly rod, small spinners, tiny spoons or small nymphs fished in clear northern rivers
Bait/lure: Small spinners, nymphs
Key tip: Fish pools and runs in spring; round whitefish take small offerings presented close to the bottom.
Small baited hooks in lakes Lake
Rig: Light rod, small hooks with bait on a fine bottom rig or under a bobber over lake shoals, especially in fall
Bait/lure: Small pieces of worm or fish
Key tip: Target gravel shoals in fall at spawning time; bites are light, so watch for the smallest movement.
Best baits & lures
Baseline setup
- Rod: Light spinning or fly rod
- Line: 4-6 lb mono or fluorocarbon
- Terminal: Small spinners, tiny spoons, small flies and fine hooks
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; large fish to about 20 in
On the table
Good — mild white flesh, best fresh; not as rich as lake whitefish.
Similar species
Mountain WhitefishRound whitefish has a rounder, blunter snout and a northern and eastern range from the Great Lakes north to the Mackenzie; mountain whitefish is the western cordillera species of the same genus
Lake WhitefishLake whitefish grows larger and has a more pronounced hump behind the head at spawning; round whitefish stays slimmer and more cylindricalRegulations 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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