Mountain Whitefish Lakes in British Columbia
Government fish surveys have recorded mountain whitefish in 384 British Columbia lakes, 14% of the 2,671 lakes in this atlas with sport-fish records.
- Lakes
- 384
- Recorded since 2010
- 23
- Median size
- 2.55 km²
- Latest record
- 2022
Where it is found
Most of these lakes are in Bulkley-Nechako (97), Cariboo (63) and Fraser-Fort George (47).
In these lakes the sport fish most often recorded alongside it are rainbow trout (83%), Dolly Varden (43%), kokanee (38%) and lake trout (33%).
Seasons, limits and sanctuaries vary by zone: check the BC Freshwater Fishing Regulations before you fish.
Where mountain whitefish is most consistently recorded
Ranked by the number of observation records, then by the most recent record.
| # | Lake | Records | Last record | Max depth m | Area km² |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Upper Arrow LakeCentral Kootenay | 378 | 2017 | 510 | |
| 2 | Carpenter LakeSquamish-Lillooet | 97 | 2020 | 46.6 | |
| 3 | Dinosaur LakePeace River | 64 | 2011 | 8.57 | |
| 4 | Stony LakeCariboo | 57 | 1999 | 8.7 | |
| 5 | Duncan LakeCentral Kootenay | 46 | 2011 | 72.8 | |
| 6 | Quesnel LakeCariboo | 39 | 2022 | 271 | |
| 7 | Kinbasket LakeColumbia-Shuswap | 21 | 2019 | 419 | |
| 8 | Kootenay LakeCentral Kootenay | 20 | 2015 | 422 | |
| 9 | Williston LakePeace River | 15 | 2017 | 1,720 | |
| 10 | Jack of Clubs LakeCariboo | 14 | 2021 | 1.21 | |
| 11 | Thutade LakePeace River | 12 | 2015 | 56.8 | |
| 12 | Lake RevelstokeColumbia-Shuswap | 11 | 2018 | 111 | |
| 13 | Naltesby LakeBulkley-Nechako | 11 | 1999 | 8.44 | |
| 14 | Windermere LakeEast Kootenay | 11 | 1998 | 16.2 | |
| 15 | Nechako ReservoirBulkley-Nechako | 10 | 2011 | 839 | |
| 16 | Tezzeron LakeBulkley-Nechako | 9 | 2016 | 80.5 | |
| 17 | Okanagan LakeCentral Okanagan | 9 | 2015 | 349 | |
| 18 | Shuswap LakeColumbia-Shuswap | 7 | 1996 | 306 | |
| 19 | Club LakeKitimat-Stikine | 7 | 1991 | 0.42 | |
| 20 | Kitwancool LakeKitimat-Stikine | 6 | 1991 | 7.78 | |
| 21 | Little Slocan LakesCentral Kootenay | 5 | 2009 | 0.74 | |
| 22 | Sugar LakeNorth Okanagan | 5 | 1995 | 21.7 | |
| 23 | Johanson LakeStikine | 5 | 1986 | 1.47 | |
| 24 | Tŝilhqox BinyCariboo | 4 | 2021 | 186 | |
| 25 | Moose LakeFraser-Fort George | 4 | 2020 | 14 | |
| 26 | Pinchi LakeBulkley-Nechako | 4 | 2016 | 55.3 | |
| 27 | Eulatazella LakeBulkley-Nechako | 4 | 2001 | 4.73 | |
| 28 | Canim LakeCariboo | 4 | 2001 | 56.1 | |
| 29 | Tuchodi LakesNorthern Rockies | 4 | 2000 | 7.24 | |
| 30 | Chehalis LakeFraser Valley | 4 | 1997 | 6.27 | |
| 31 | Sandpile LakesStikine | 4 | 1997 | 1.13 | |
| 32 | Owen LakeBulkley-Nechako | 4 | 1996 | 3.02 | |
| 33 | Birkenhead LakeSquamish-Lillooet | 4 | 1995 | 4.05 | |
| 34 | Muncho LakeNorthern Rockies | 4 | 1992 | 15.3 | |
| 35 | Alastair LakeKitimat-Stikine | 4 | 1991 | 7.14 | |
| 36 | Heather LakeFraser-Fort George | 4 | 1989 | 1.21 | |
| 37 | Eutsuk LakeBulkley-Nechako | 4 | 1982 | 250 | |
| 38 | Meziadin LakeKitimat-Stikine | 4 | 1975 | 36.5 | |
| 39 | Kemess LakePeace River | 3 | 2014 | 0.1 | |
| 40 | Big LakeCariboo | 3 | 2010 | 5.8 | |
| 41 | Duncan LakePeace River | 3 | 2003 | 2.68 | |
| 42 | Chilliwack LakeFraser Valley | 3 | 2001 | 11.8 | |
| 43 | Lac la HacheCariboo | 3 | 2001 | 18.4 | |
| 44 | Tsedeitla LakeFraser-Fort George | 3 | 1997 | 0.34 | |
| 45 | Mara LakeColumbia-Shuswap | 3 | 1997 | 17.6 | |
| 46 | Grave LakeEast Kootenay | 3 | 1995 | 1.24 | |
| 47 | Skaha LakeOkanagan-Similkameen | 3 | 1995 | 19.5 | |
| 48 | Greenbush LakeNorth Okanagan | 3 | 1995 | 1.58 | |
| 49 | Whatshan LakeCentral Kootenay | 3 | 1994 | 17.6 | |
| 50 | Fred Wright LakeKitimat-Stikine | 3 | 1991 | 3.92 |
Top 50 of 384 lakes. Download the full list (CSV). Source: British Columbia’s Fisheries Information Summary System observations (OGL-BC). Data as of October 9, 2026. A record means a survey caught or observed the species, not that it is abundant today.
Other fish in British Columbia
- Northern Pike48
- Bass57
- Trout3,531
- Lake Trout240
- Brook Trout244
- Rainbow Trout2,080
- Yellow Perch29
- Kokanee438
- Arctic Grayling65
- Atlantic Salmon18
- Bull Trout138
- Burbot203
- Chinook Salmon100
- Chum Salmon51
- Coastal Cutthroat Trout59
- Coho Salmon286
- Cutthroat Trout656
- Dolly Varden488
- Lake Whitefish167
- Largemouth Bass21
- Pink Salmon61
- Pumpkinseed39
- Smallmouth Bass36
- Sockeye Salmon198
- Steelhead169
- Westslope Cutthroat Trout103