Bourget Whitefish
The Bourget Whitefish (Coregonus lavaretus), known in the UK as the common or European whitefish, exists here as a handful of native lake populations of exceptional conservation value.
These are not stocked fisheries — they are relict populations, isolated since the last ice age, found in a small number of deep lakes in northern England and Wales. Fishing for them is rare and tightly managed.
Scientific Name: Coregonus lavaretus
Also known as Common whitefish, European whitefish, powan, gwyniad, schelly
- Silvery-white flanks with a pale greenish-brown back — classic salmonid colouring, but slimmer and more herring-like in profile than a trout.
- Distinctively small, underslung mouth — much smaller than a trout's — and a forked tail; these two features together separate it from other salmonids at a glance.
- Grows to around 73 cm in exceptional cases, though UK lake fish are typically far smaller; most run well under 40 cm.
- Member of the salmon family (Salmonidae), so it carries a small adipose fin behind the dorsal fin.
What to know
Habitat Distribution
- Native to the UK in only a small number of deep, cold lakes — notably Llyn Tegid (Bala Lake) in Wales and waters in the Lake District, Cumbria, including the River Eden catchment.
- Also recorded in a few estuaries and rivers draining to the Irish Sea, from west England up to south-west Scotland, though these occurrences are rare.
- Prefers cool, deep, well-oxygenated water — the kind of clear, oligotrophic lake typical of upland Britain.
- Tolerates very low salinity and is considered anadromous in parts of its wider European range, though UK populations are essentially landlocked lake fish.
Key Locations
- Llyn Tegid (Bala Lake), Gwynedd, Wales — home to the gwyniad, one of the best-known UK populations and a protected relict species.
- River Eden catchment and associated lakes, Cumbria — one of the few English river systems with a recorded native population.
- Upland lakes of the Lake District, Cumbria — the deep, cold conditions here support the remaining English populations known as schelly.
Specific Spots
- Deep, open water is the core habitat — these fish spend much of their time well below the surface, away from the shallows where most coarse fishing happens.
- During cooler months they move shallower, particularly over hard or stony substrates where spawning takes place.
- Rocky shoreline drop-offs and the transition from shallow to deep water concentrate fish, especially in low-light periods.
Bourget Whitefish FAQ
Answers from onWater's species guide.
What are the best lures and bait for Bourget Whitefish?
Small worms, freshwater shrimp, and maggots are the traditional baits where permitted, the small mouth means small bait is non-negotiable. Tiny spinners or small spoons in silver can work, though bait fishing is generally more productive given the filter-feeding tendency of this species.
What flies work for Bourget Whitefish?
Small wet flies and nymphs are the most effective approach, Pheasant Tail nymphs (imitating mayfly nymphs) and Hare's Ear nymphs (imitating a range of aquatic invertebrates) in sizes 14–18 are a sensible starting point.
When is the best time to fish for Bourget Whitefish?
Late autumn and early winter bring fish into shallower water for spawning, the most accessible time of year if fishing is permitted. Summer sees fish retreat to depth in cold, well-oxygenated water, making them difficult to reach from the bank.
How do you catch Bourget Whitefish?
Targeting whitefish in the UK is uncommon and, given their protected status, largely incidental, most encounters happen while fishing for brown trout in the same deep, cold lakes. Where a fishery does permit it, slow-fished small nymphs or bait presented at depth near rocky drop-offs is the most practical approach.
What do Bourget Whitefish eat?
Feeds mainly on zooplankton and small invertebrates filtered from the water column, the small mouth is a giveaway that this is not a predatory fish chasing baitfish. Small nymphs and midge (chironomid) larvae are the closest angling equivalent.
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