Biology and Status of the Siscowet, a Deepwater Lake Trout from Lake Superior

Siscowet are the most numerous lake trout Salvelinus namaycush morphotype in Lake Superior now, and as was the case historically.   Anecdotal accounts indicate that siscowet occurred throughout the Laurentian Great Lakes but have only survived in Lake Superior.  Unlike near-shore lean lake trout that were locally extirpated from some areas from overfishing and sea lamprey Petromyzon marinus predation, residual stocks survived virtually everywhere and have recovered over the last 30 years.  With the increase in siscowet abundance, concern from managers and fishermen spurred renewed interest in this fish.  We examine the biology of siscowet lake trout from these new studies on these recovering populations to elucidate their role in the ecosystem, their potential for harvest, and their ability to increase the diversity of introduced fish as part of the restoration efforts in other lakes.