Round Whitefish
🔬 Prosopium cylindraceum
Round Whitefish are a native Great Lakes species found in deep, cold waters of Lake Superior, Lake Michigan, and Lake Huron. An excellent table fish rarely targeted by anglers but caught incidentally while ice fishing for other species.
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Bite this month
Fair
Best season
Winter (ice fishing)
Ice fishing
Viable target
Regulations
limit 5 inland / 10 Great Lakes (combined with Cisco & L
Where to Catch Round Whitefish in Michigan
Round Whitefish Conservation Status
The daily bag limit is 5 inland / 10 Great Lakes (combined with Cisco & L.
Round Whitefish Habitat & Behavior
Deep, cold, clear water of the Great Lakes and a few deep inland lakes in the Upper Peninsula. Feed on the bottom in 60–300 feet of water. DNR records show Round Whitefish present in 23 Michigan water bodies. Bite activity rates Good or better in Jan, Feb, Oct, Nov and Dec. Round Whitefish is a viable ice fishing target in Michigan.
Best Round Whitefish Techniques
Small jigs or baited hooks fished on the bottom in deep water — typically caught incidentally while targeting Lake Trout or Burbot
Best Round Whitefish Baits
Small jigs, wax worms, minnows, small spoons fished near bottom
Round Whitefish Fishing Regulations in Michigan
5 inland / 10 Great Lakes (combined with Cisco & L
Daily limit
10 inland / 20 Great Lakes
Possession limit
Year-round
Season
Also known as Menominee. Counted within combined Cisco/Lake Whitefish/Round Whitefish limit — 5/day inland, 10/day on Great Lakes. On Lake Superior, an additional 10 Round Whitefish may be possessed above the combined limit.
⚠️ Regulations shown are general statewide guidelines for 2025. Rules vary by water body and change annually.
Always verify current regulations in the official Michigan DNR Fishing Guide before you fish.
Best Times to Fish Round Whitefish
❄️ Round Whitefish is a popular ice fishing target in Michigan.
Angler Tips for Round Whitefish
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