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One of three different whitefish species endemic to Bear Lake, the Bonneville Cisco is no doubt the most recognized. Spending most of the year in the deeper portions of the lake, these 8 to 10 inch fish are not a sought after sportfish, but during January the Cisco gather in large schools and move into the lakes rocky shallows to spawn. Back in the 1960's anglers by the thousands would flock to the shores of cisco beach for the fabled cisco run. Now a days a hearty few can still be found braving the elements and dipping their nets in search of a limit of cisco. Fisherman catch the cisco for food and for bait. Cut up Cisco is great bait for the big cutthroat and lake trout that also inhabit Bear Lake.
The Cisco run usually starts in mid to late January. On the 26th a few brave souls will venture out and hold an informal party known as the cisco disco on cisco beach. The Bear Lake Chamber of Commerce will also have their annual Bear Lake Monster Polar Plunge at the Bear Lake State Park. All the proceeds from the icy plunge go directly to Primary Children's Medical Center. For more information, log onto bearlake.org or call the Bear Lake State Park at 435-946-3343.
