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Pygmy Whitefish

Pygmy Whitefish

Pygmy Whitefish are Montana's smallest native whitefish, glacial relict fish that arrived with the formation of glacial Lake Missoula 10,000-20,000 years ago and now inhabit the deepest, coldest lakes in northwestern Montana.

Scientific Name: Prosopium coulterii

Physical Characteristics:
  • Rarely exceeding 6-8 inches in length and weighing around 0.36 pounds (the state record was 9.84 inches).

What to know

Habitat Distribution

  • Found in northwestern Montana in the deepest, coldest lakes and their tributaries.

Key Locations

  • Tally Lake (445 feet deep, Montana's second-deepest natural lake), Big Salmon Lake in the Bob Marshall Wilderness, Bull Lake, Flathead Lake, Ashley Lake, Little Bitterroot Lake, Whitefish Lake, Lake McDonald, Hungry Horse Reservoir, Lindbergh Lake, Holland Lake, Seeley Lake, and Swan Lake, plus tributaries like Ross Creek, Flathead River, Swan River, and Ashley Creek.
  • Most successful encounters occur while fishing deeper sections of Flathead Lake system waters, Tally Lake near Whitefish, or remote lakes in the Bob Marshall Wilderness.

Specific Spots

  • They prefer depths below 100 feet in cold water.
  • In tributary streams during non-spawning periods, they can occasionally be found in depths of 0.5-1 meter in nearshore eddies and slower water along faster mainstream flows.

Pygmy Whitefish FAQ

Answers from onWater's species guide.

What flies work for Pygmy Whitefish in Montana?

Small flies and nymphs in sizes 16-20 work best, particularly patterns that imitate their primary food sources: chironomid larvae, small cladocera, and aquatic invertebrates.

When is the best time to fish for Pygmy Whitefish in Montana?

Most productive times are when they move to shallower waters during late fall migration periods (late November-early December) before spawning, though this should be avoided to protect reproduction.

How do you catch Pygmy Whitefish in Montana?

Focus on deep, cold sections of lakes below 100 feet or use specialized small-mesh gill nets deployed at significant depths. In tributary streams during non-spawning periods, they can occasionally be found in depths of 0.5-1 meter in nearshore eddies and slower water along faster mainstream flows.

What do Pygmy Whitefish eat?

Bottom feeders with a diet consisting of chironomid larvae and pupae (47% of diet), cladocera (35%), aquatic invertebrates, and fish e.g.gs during spawning season.

Where do Pygmy Whitefish live in Montana?

Found in northwestern Montana in the deepest, coldest lakes and their tributaries.

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