The cisco, also known as tulibee or lake herring, was formerly an important Great Lakes commercial species and was once caught in great numbers. There are (or were) seven separate species of cisco in the Great Lakes, but by the 1950s, overfishing had reduced some species to near extinction (McClane, 1954). Their numbers declined further due to competition from the alewife, an exotic species that spread throughout the Great Lakes. However, as the alewife population has declined, the cisco is making a comeback, particularly in Lake Superior, where Minnesota is stocking them (UW Sea Grant Institute, 1999).

A member of the whitefish family (see lake whitefish and round whitefish), the cisco is a cold-water fish and is usually found in deep water, particularly during the summer. Therefore, most taken by anglers are caught during other seasons. Cisco are slender fish, and adults range in weight from about six ounces to two pounds ( UW Sea Grant Institute, 1999). Though cisco have a rather strong odor, they are quite edible and are often smoked. For information on how to smoke fish, go to How to Smoke Fish.