Broad Whitefish
Broad whitefish are a deep-bodied, bottom-feeding member of the salmon family native to Canada's Arctic-draining river systems.
In the Northwest Territories and Yukon, they're a cornerstone subsistence species for Indigenous communities — harvested by net and rod through summer and fall migrations. Sport fishing interest is modest but real, particularly in the Mackenzie drainage.
Scientific Name: Coregonus nasus
Also known as Aanaakliq (Inupiaq), broad whitefish
- Silvery body with a dark olive-brown back and whitish belly; cheeks sometimes show faint brownish freckling. Deeply forked tail, dark fins, and a small adipose fin mark it as a salmonid.
- The head is the giveaway: the body rises at a sharp angle just behind the gill plate, giving it a blunt, meaty face unlike any other Canadian whitefish species.
- Small, slightly downturned mouth adapted for bottom feeding — noticeably different from the more subterminal mouth of lake whitefish.
- Typical adults run 40–60 cm; maximum recorded size is 70 cm and 16 kg, though fish that large are uncommon.
What to know
Habitat Distribution
- Native to Canada's Arctic-draining basins — the Mackenzie River system in the Northwest Territories is the best-documented Canadian population, with fish also present across the western Arctic coast draining east to the Perry River.
- Primarily a river fish, but also found in lakes and coastal estuaries where salinity stays below about 15 parts per thousand. Some freshwater fish move through brackish or nearshore marine water, especially in winter.
- Not found in the Great Lakes or southern Canadian watersheds — this is a high-latitude, Arctic-drainage species only.
Key Locations
- Mackenzie River drainage, NWT — the most studied Canadian population; fish are harvested throughout the main stem and tributaries.
- Western Arctic coastal drainages, NWT and Nunavut — broad whitefish are present across river systems draining to the Beaufort Sea and beyond east toward the Perry River.
Specific Spots
- Deep river pools and slow-moving runs with soft or silty bottoms, where the fish root for invertebrates along the substrate.
- Gravel bars and riffles during fall spawning migrations — fish congregate in numbers and are most accessible to anglers at these pinch points.
- Estuarine deltas and river mouths in summer, where fish stage before moving upstream; current edges where slower water meets the main channel concentrate feeding fish.
Broad Whitefish FAQ
Answers from onWater's species guide.
What are the best lures and bait for Broad Whitefish?
Small jigs (1/32–1/8 oz) in white, chartreuse, or natural colors, tipped with maggots or wax worms, the go-to for both open-water and ice fishing. Keep the presentation near the bottom.
What flies work for Broad Whitefish?
Nymphs fished dead-drift (drifted naturally with the current, no added action) along the bottom are the most reliable approach: Pheasant Tail Nymphs and Hare's Ears imitate mayfly nymphs; Zebra Midges and Brassies imitate midge larvae, which are a staple in Arctic rivers.
When is the best time to fish for Broad Whitefish?
Summer: fish are spread across feeding areas in rivers, lakes, and coastal deltas, accessible but dispersed. Fall: migration to spawning streams concentrates fish and creates the most reliable angling window; this is when subsistence harvests peak.
How do you catch Broad Whitefish?
Most harvest in Canada happens by net during fall migration, when fish move in numbers between feeding and spawning areas. Rod-and-reel anglers target them with light spinning or fly gear, working small jigs or nymphs along the bottom of pools and current seams in Arctic rivers.
What do Broad Whitefish eat?
Bottom invertebrates are the core of the diet: larval insects (chironomid midges, mayfly nymphs), freshwater snails, and small crustaceans. The downturned mouth is built for picking food off the riverbed.
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