sheefish
Species Facts

Science Name: Stenodus leucichthys
Other Names: Inconnu; Eskimo Tarpon
Description

The sheefish (Stenodus leucichthys) is the world's largest whitefish. Some anglers think it looks similar to a tarpon. This fish fights very hard and has delicious white meat. The general body shape of inconnu is very similar to that of char or whitefish, but the head is relatively long, pointed, and depressed on the top. Its mouth is large, and the lower jaw clearly projects outward beyond the upper jaw. The maxillary, or upper jaw bone, extends back at least as far as the middle of the eye. Small, fine teeth are found on the anterior part of the lower jaw, and on the tongue, premaxillaries, the head of the maxillaries, the vomer, and the palatines (bones of the roof of the mouth). The tail is distinctly forked. Sheefish have large scales and a dark lateral line, and, like all salmonids, an adipose fin.

Where to Find
Inconnu are found in Alaska, from the Kuskokwim River (Bering Sea drainage) north, throughout the Yukon River in Canada, in the Mackenzie River, in Great Bear and Great Slave Lakes in Canada's Northwest Territories as far as the Anderson River near Cape Bathurst, and in isolated areas of extreme northern British Columbia.

Habitat
Although generally viewed as a freshwater species, the inconnu occurs in strictly freshwater lakes and rivers and also in anadromous sea-run forms that winter in brackish deltas, bays, and tidewater areas and ascend coastal tributaries to spawn.

Feeding Habits
Sheefish feed mostly on smaller fish.

World Record
53 lbs. caught in Pah River, AK on August 20, 1986

Tips for Fishing

Sheefish can be taken on medium action spinning or bait casting gear using 10 or 20 pound line. During their feeding periods, sheefish can be caught close to the surface using a fly. Sheefish can also be taken through the ice in Selawik Lake and Hotham Inlet during April and May using a lure attached to a short jigging stick with heavy line.