I havent heard of these fish until recently, but in the Rules and Regs book they refer to a freshwater fish called a "white fish". I have caught what I believe to be several of these fish out of Lake Sammish, but have never tried eating them, since I have never heard of them. Has anyone out there tried them? They appear to have the same texture, delicateness of a trout. Just curious. Thanks.

Why do you think they are whitefish?

The mountain whitefish in the rivers are OK eating. Some love them. Especially smoked.

Not sure about the lake variety...

But just be sure you aren't dealing with squaw fish \ northern pike minnows and eat one thinking it is a whitefish...

Well, I call them whitefish cause that is what they are called in the Rules and Regs, in the fresh water fish description. However, I think they are the squaw fish as you refer them as. They sure dont look like pike to me. But someone said to a room mate of mine that they were pike minnows...but they look nothing like the pike I have scene in pics.

You are keying on the wrong word. They are an overgrown minnow that kinda looks like a pike. Not a pike that looks like a minnow

"Nothern Pike Minnow". Google it and see if it matches what you caught.

It should have a sort of large flat head and more of a duck bill toothless mouth (not a sucker mouth). It would have a forked tail and large scales.

A big clue also would be the sqeaking and gurgling sounds the nasty thing made when you tried to get the hook out...

A white fish on the other hand will look similar, but the mouth will be turned down and quite a bit smaller. Whities and Squaw fish are NOT the same thing...

Well, they do sqeak a bit when I try to get the hook out, but mainly that is due to the fact i have to squeeze the darn things so hard. They feel alot like a trout and jump about the same way. Their mouth appears to be a normal looking mouth, no sucker action. They look like a large minnow I guess, but nothing like a pike would (googled northern pike minnow, definetly not one). I think next time I catch one, I am going to take a pic of it and post it to see if anyone can help me out.

Maybe it is some sort of trout that I am not used to. I havent fished in years and am playing catch up. I am catching them in Lake Sammamish in about 10-15 ft of water with spinners. Any other thoughts? Thanks for the tips, BTW.

Some squaw fish \ Norther Pike Minnow pics compared to Whitefish:


First the squaws\NPMs...








Now for the whities:

Ok, it is a NPM then. The middle pic you posted convinced me. Thanks for your help. I do appreciate it.