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Bonneville Cisco

Prosopium gemmifer

Also known as

null

IUCN status

Least Concern

About the Bonneville Cisco

The Bonneville Cisco is a sleek, silvery member of the whitefish family, endemic to Bear Lake. Like its relatives, it possesses a streamlined body, typically featuring a small, soft-rayed dorsal fin and an adipose fin. While generally smaller than other whitefish species, its appearance is typical of cisco, making it an agile and fast swimmer in its native deep, cold waters. Identifying it often involves distinguishing it from the other two endemic whitefish species in Bear Lake, though all share a similar, understated beauty.

Source: FishBase & iNaturalist

Habitat

This unique fish exclusively inhabits the cold, clear waters of Bear Lake, straddling the Utah-Idaho border. It thrives in the deeper, open water environments, though its specific micro-habitat preferences can vary seasonally.

Distribution

The Bonneville Cisco is a true native, found only within the unique ecosystem of Bear Lake, located between Utah and Idaho in the United States.

Behaviour

As a key component of the Bear Lake ecosystem, the Bonneville Cisco is primarily a planktivore, feeding on the abundant zooplankton throughout the lake's water column. It is particularly known for its intense spawning runs from January to February, making it a prime target for ice anglers during this period. While active year-round, its schooling behavior often concentrates it in specific areas, especially during the colder months.

Edibility

★★★★★

Renowned for its delicate, firm, and flaky white flesh, the Bonneville Cisco is considered excellent table fare. It has a mild, sweet flavor that makes it superb when smoked, fried, or baked, offering a truly special culinary experience.

Lure suggestion

For anglers targeting Bonneville Cisco, especially during the ice fishing season, small jigs and spoons tipped with a single kernel of corn, mealworms, or wax worms are highly effective. Specialized cisco flies or glow-in-the-dark jigs fished on light line, often paired with a sensitive rod, are also popular. Focus on suspending fish in the water column using sonar, and present lures with subtle jigging motions.