The Broad Whitefish

Identification

The high body, blunt head and small mouth help separate Broad Whitefish from more slender whitefishes. Silvery sides, a forked tail and an adipose fin complete its appearance.

Size and Weight

Published summaries give a maximum total length of 71 cm and maximum weight of 16 kg. Those are approximately 28 inches and 35.3 pounds. They are separate reported maxima, not measurements of one fish or a promise of an ordinary catch. A common length of 46 cm is about 18.1 inches.

Habitat and Natural Food

Adults feed along the bottom on mollusks and insect larvae. Some populations move between fresh and brackish water, while others remain in freshwater. Summer feeding areas can differ from the reaches used for spawning and wintering.

Reproduction and Fishing Context

In Alaska, spawning occurs from fall into early winter, with eggs settling into gravel and hatching in spring. Some adults skip a year between spawning events. A verified species-specific recreational bait or lure recommendation was not established for this profile.

All Lakes With Broad Whitefish

Browse lakes and reservoirs with documented Broad Whitefish records, listed alphabetically. Records do not establish current abundance or public access. Check the evidence and managing authority for the water you choose.

Showing 1–16 of 16 lakes · Page 1 of 1

• Akmalik Lake North Slope, AK
• Chandalar Lake Yukon-Koyukuk, AK
• Discovery Lake Yukon-Koyukuk, AK
• Ikroavik Lake North Slope, AK
• Imiaknikpak Lake North Slope, AK
• Imuruk Basin Nome, AK
• Lake Betty North Slope, AK
• Lake Minchumina Yukon-Koyukuk, AK
• Medicine Lake Yukon-Koyukuk (CA), AK
• Pike Lake (Kantishna) Yukon-Koyukuk, AK
• Pittalukruak Lake North Slope, AK
• Takahula Lake Yukon-Koyukuk, AK
• Teshekpuk Lake North Slope, AK
• Trout Lake Bethel, AK
• Tundra Lake Bethel, AK
• Whitefish Lake Bethel, AK