11-04-2012, 05:23 PM
There are 3 different species of whitefish in Utah. Bear Lake has two of them. Bonneville whitefish (Prosopium spilonotus) can grow to 3-4 lbs. They have a LARGE mouth and are predators of other fish once they reach a size of about 14" long. They will readily hit smaller spoons, spinners and literally inhale jigs! They are typically only caught during the late fall spawn and through the ice or from boats until about April. They spawn along rocky shoreline areas. Bear Lake whitefish (Prosopium abyssicola) is what is known as a "dwarf" species. They grow to a maximum size of about 9" long and less than a pound. They can also be caught on small jigs or castmasters jigged from a boat. They spawn in deeper water (35-100+ feet) along rocky areas. The whitefish found in other lakes and streams throughout Utah are mountain whitefish (Prosopium williamsoni) and are mainly insect eaters. The flesh of mountain whitefish is quite different from the two found in Bear Lake. The flesh of Bear Lake and Bonneville whitefish is nice and firm and the "Y" bones are not nearly as well developed as those in mountain whitefish. Since Bear Lake whitefish don't get very big, most people eat the Bonneville whitefish. They can be prepared like any trout would and smoking them is also a popular method. I hope that clears things up?
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