Coregonus lavaretus
Season calendar
- Season
- April–October
- Water temperature
- 4–15 °C
- Spawning
- November–December
- Behaviour
- Cold water, feeds on the drift
Techniques
- Hegene Dropper Rig
- Vertical Fishing
- Boat Fishing
Where and when
- April to July is the strongest period; shoals follow plankton between 10 and 35 m.
- They drop below the thermocline in midsummer and rise again in autumn.
- First light and late afternoon are the main feeding windows.
Method
- Hegene: 4-6 small nymph droppers, 0.14-0.18 mm mainline, 10-20 g weight. Slow lift-and-drop rhythm; most takes come on the pause.
- Find the shoal depth on the sounder and keep the rig 1-2 m above the fish.
- The mouth tissue is very soft, so never strike hard; wind steadily instead.
Caution
Some forms are protected by canton or by lake (Blaufelchen ban on Lake Constance, Balchen on Lake Lucerne). Always check the local rules before fishing.
Frequently asked
- When is the best time to catch european whitefish?
- The productive window for european whitefish runs April–October. November–December is the spawning period; releasing your catch during these months is strongly advised.
- What water temperature does european whitefish feed in?
- European whitefish is most active between 4 and 15 °C. Outside that band its feeding rate drops off.
- How do you fish for european whitefish?
- Common methods: Hegene Dropper Rig, Vertical Fishing, Boat Fishing.