Native Sport fish of Saskatchewan - Saskatchewan is home to 67 different species of fish. While that may seem like alot, only one-third of these fish are sport fish. Some are extremely tiny and some, like the Lake Sturgeon, can weigh over 250 pounds! Of the sport fish, only a few are native to Saskatchewan – these include: Walleye, Yellow Perch, Northern Pike, Burbot, Lake Trout, Lake Sturgeon, Arctic Grayling, Sauger, Goldeye, Lake Whitefish. Other fish such as Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Brook Trout, Smallmouth and Largemouth Bass and Splake have all been introduced into Saskatchewan.
Lake Whitefish have a somewhat elongate and slender body with a small head. Large fish may develop a distinct hump on the back behind the head. The overall colouration is silvery with the upper surface appearing brown or greenish. Spawning occurs in the fall when water temperatures have dropped to about 80C (460F). Adults move into shallow areas of lakes and rivers to spawn on stony or sand bottoms. Incubation of the eggs takes place over the winter and hatching commences shortly after ice breakup in the spring. By early summer, the young fish migrate from the shallows to deeper water.
Whitefish are considered a cool water species and are widely distributed in our cool, deep northern lakes. They are also found as far south in the province as the Ou'Appelle Lakes; however, many of our southern lakes are not suitable for whitefish because of their high alkalinity, shallow depth and warm water. Whitefish are mainly bottom feeders consuming a wide variety of bottom-living organisms including insects and small fishes. In the early summer, they will also feed extensively at the surface.