It has been introduced in lakes elsewhere, but its present distribution in these lakes is questionable. As its name implies and its distribution illustrates, this fish inhabits large, deep lakes, often the same water areas as lake trout. They spawn in late fall, migrating to shoal areas in lakes or moving up tributary streams. Nests are not built, but several thousand eggs are randomly deposited over the bottom. Parental care is not given to eggs or young.
Eggs remain on the spawning ground until they hatch the following spring.
Young lake whitefish generally move from the shallow, inshore areas to deeper water by early summer. Lake whitefish are delicious, important commercially in the Great Lakes, and sought by sport fishermen, especially during fall and winter. Distribution of lake whitefish in NY state. Dark dots represent where actual samples of lake whitefish were taken. White dots represent historic distributions.