Bourget Whitefish
A deep-water salmonid of cold Alpine and subalpine lakes, the Bourget Whitefish is native to western Europe — particularly the large mountain lakes of France and Switzerland — where it has long supported both commercial fisheries and incidental sport catches.
Silver-flanked and delicate-fleshed, it lives in the cold, oxygen-rich depths that few other species can tolerate, making it more a creature of the deep than the shallows.
Scientific Name: Coregonus lavaretus
Also known as Common whitefish, European whitefish, Lavaret, Powan
- Green-grey back fading to bright silver flanks, with large scales that catch light — easy to spot in hand against most other lake fish.
- Small mouth with a slightly protruding lower jaw and teeth that are tiny or absent entirely, reflecting a diet built more on small invertebrates than on fish.
- Deeply forked tail and a streamlined, torpedo-shaped body built for sustained movement through open water.
- Most fish run 25–50 cm and 0.5–2 kg; larger lakes can produce fish to 70 cm, with a recorded maximum of 73 cm and 10 kg.
What to know
Habitat Distribution
- A cold-water specialist native to the Alpine and subalpine lakes of France and Switzerland — Lake Geneva and Lake Bourget are core habitat — and introduced into other European waters.
- Gravitates toward deep, clear, highly oxygenated lakes and large rivers; avoids warm, stagnant, or low-oxygen water entirely.
- Mountain lake systems in the Alps and Pyrenees represent the heart of its range, where cold temperatures persist year-round at depth.
Specific Spots
- Suspends in the open-water column at depth, where cold temperatures and dissolved oxygen levels stay within its preferred range — not a shoreline or structure fish.
- During warmer months, retreats to deeper, cooler layers as surface temperatures rise; locating the thermocline is the key to finding fish.
Bourget Whitefish FAQ
Answers from onWater's species guide.
What are the best lures and bait for Bourget Whitefish?
Small spoons, micro-jigs, and natural baits such as worms or small invertebrate imitations fished at depth account for most incidental catches; match the small mouth with appropriately sized hooks.
What do Bourget Whitefish eat?
Feeds primarily on zooplankton, particularly Daphnia (water fleas), and other small aquatic invertebrates; spring Daphnia abundance directly shapes how well year-classes recruit and grow.
Where do Bourget Whitefish live?
A cold-water specialist native to the Alpine and subalpine lakes of France and Switzerland, Lake Geneva and Lake Bourget are core habitat, and introduced into other European waters. Gravitates toward deep, clear, highly oxygenated lakes and large rivers; avoids warm, stagnant, or low-oxygen water entirely.
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