Cisco in Saskatchewan
Cisco (sometime called tullibee) is a common fish here in Saskatchewan and are often misidentified as their relative the lake whitefish.
Cisco are a common prey and make up an important part of the food chain for Northern Pike, Walleye, and Lake Trout.
Identifying a Cisco
- Long laterally compressed body
- Large shiny scales
- Forked tail
- Adipose fin
- Terminal, front-facing mouth
- Top and lower jaws are typically of the same length.
Diet
Eats plankton, insects, and small fish.
Spawning
Generally, Ciscos will spawn in the fall in shallow water with eggs hatching in the spring.
Similar Species
- Lake Whitefish are a close relative of the cisco with the main difference being their snouts. The snout of a lake whitefish extends beyond the lower jaw, while the snout of a cisco usually lines up with the lower jaw. Lake whitefish will grow to a larger size then a cisco.
- Round Whitefish are another relative of the cisco and again the main difference is in their snouts.
Details
| Scientific name: | Coregonus artedi |
| Conservation status: | Least Concern |
| Also known as: | northern cisco, lake herring, chub, tullibee |
| Distribution: | Found in 254 waters in Saskatchewan |
Distribution
See where Cisco can be found in Saskatchewan.
All lakes with Cisco
Lakes with Cisco
Candle Lake is a massive lake in central Saskatchewan. It is located partially within Candle Lake Provincial Park and 72km NNE of Prince Albert. Candle Lake Provincial Park, Waskateena Beach Recreation Site and Minowukaw Dog Beach are located at Candle Lake.
| Fishing Zone: | Central Zone |
| Photos: | 24 photos of Candle Lake |
| RM: | Paddockwood No. 520 |
| Communities: | Resort Village of Candle Lake |
| Parks: | Candle Lake Provincial Park, Waskateena Beach Recreation Site |
| Location: | 53.822669397618, -105.29727226295 |
| Shore Length: | 73km |
| Surface Area: | 32616 acres |
| Max Depth: | 16.8 m (55 ft) |
| Inflows: | Fisher Creek, Clearsand Creek, Hanin Creek |
| Outflows: | Torch River |
Last stocked with walleye in 2024Greig Lake is a large stocked lake in central Saskatchewan. It is located partially within Meadow Lake Provincial Park and 41km NNW of Meadow Lake. Last stocked with walleye in 2024 Meadow Lake Provincial Park is adjacent to Greig Lake.
| Fishing Zone: | Central Zone |
| Photos: | 44 photos of Greig Lake |
| Communities: | Resort Village of Greig Lake |
| Parks: | Meadow Lake Provincial Park |
| Location: | 54.454148488114, -108.72320937811 |
| Shore Length: | 22km |
| Surface Area: | 3998 acres |
| Max Depth: | 27.01 m (88.6 ft) |
Katepwa Lake is a large lake in southern Saskatchewan. It is located partially within Resort Village of the District of Katepwa and 64km WSW of Melville. Katepwa Point Provincial Park is adjacent to Katepwa Lake.
| Fishing Zone: | Southern Zone |
| Photos: | 33 photos of Katepwa Lake |
| RM: | North Qu'Appelle No. 187, Abernethy No. 186, Indian Head No. 156 |
| Communities: | Resort Village of the District of Katepwa, Taylor Beach, Lake View Beach, Berry Hills Estates |
| Parks: | Katepwa Point Provincial Park |
| Location: | 50.70333532393, -103.64394315607 |
| Shore Length: | 27km |
| Surface Area: | 4018 acres |
| Max Width: | 1.7 km (1.1 mi) |
| Max Length: | 9.9 km (6.2 mi) |
| Max Depth: | 23.2 m (76 ft) |
| Inflows: | Qu'Appelle River |
| Outflows: | Qu'Appelle River |
Lac Île-à-la-Crosse is a massive lake in central Saskatchewan. It is located partially within Île-à-la-Crosse and 51km SE of Buffalo Narrows. Fort Black is adjacent to Lac Île-à-la-Crosse.
| Fishing Zone: | Central Zone |
| Communities: | Île-à-la-Crosse, Patuanak |
| Parks: | Lac Île-à-la-Crosse (South Bay) Recreation Site, Fort Black |
| Location: | 55.590279231434, -107.87233718002 |
| Shore Length: | 450km |
| Surface Area: | 108668 acres |
| Inflows: | Churchill Lake by Aubichon Arm or Deep River, Beaver River |
| Outflows: | Churchill River |
Lake Diefenbaker is a massive lake in southern Saskatchewan. It is located partially within Douglas Provincial Park and 74km NNE of Swift Current. Last stocked with brook trout, brown trout and rainbow trout in 2024 Saskatchewan Landing Provincial Park, Riverhurst Ferry Recreation Site, Palliser Regional Park, Herbert Ferry Regional Park, Prairie Lake Regional Park, Douglas Provincial Park, Danielson Provincial Park, Elbow Harbour Recreation Site and Cabri Regional Park are located at Lake Diefenbaker.
| Fishing Zone: | Southern Zone |
| Photos: | 58 photos of Lake Diefenbaker |
| RM: | Excelsior No. 166, Saskatchewan Landing No. 167, Victory No. 226 |
| Communities: | Resort Village of Beaver Flat, Riverhurst, Hitchcock Bay |
| Parks: | Saskatchewan Landing Provincial Park, Riverhurst Ferry Recreation Site, Palliser Regional Park, Herbert Ferry Regional Park, Prairie Lake Regional Park, Douglas Provincial Park, Danielson Provincial Park, Elbow Harbour Recreation Site, Cabri Regional Park |
| Location: | 50.922837570377, -107.49800295574 |
| Shore Length: | 1002km |
| Surface Area: | 107132 acres |
| Max Width: | 6 km (3.7 mi) |
| Max Length: | 225 km (140 mi) |
| Max Depth: | 66 m (217 ft) |
| Inflows: | South Saskatchewan River |
| Outflows: | South Saskatchewan RiverQu'Appelle River |
Learn more about fish species found in Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan Freshwater Fishes - Waterproof Guide Ken Schultz's Field Guide to Freshwater Fishes