GUNFLINT TRAIL – The Canadian Shield  is a massive region of exposed ancient bedrock that extends from the Great Lakes to the Arctic Circle. It is the geologic heart of North America, and is a land born of fire and ice. Over tens of thousands of years, waves of glaciers scoured this area, laying bare the foundation of our continent, and leaving behind a mosaic of vast lakes, ponds, swamps and waterways. Today a large swath of this landscape is covered by the great Boreal forest, which itself has been sculpted through frequent fires and disturbances (natural or otherwise). For those who have visited this area, your mind will immediately conjure up visions of pristine lakes filled with tannin-stained water, towering conifers whistling in the breeze, rugged rocky shorelines, and exposed cliffs.

If you ask people to recite their favorite critters living in these Northwoods, the majority will likely proclaim moose, wolves, lynx, black bear, etc. A few might throw out a tongue-in-cheek reference to everyone’s least favorite resident, the mosquito. And indeed, all of these would be correct.

However, in the deep, cold lakes of the Canadian Shield, there are equally dynamic species living below the waves. Two of the most iconic are the lake trout and the cisco. These fish have been engaged in a predator/prey relationship since the end of the last glaciation. Lake trout are a powerful, hard-fighting, tasty game fish, and a lot has already been said about them, including in this publication and on the Paddle and Portage Podcast. The goal of this article is not to shine more light on ‘lakers’, but rather give love to an unsung hero, the humble cisco. It is not an overstatement to suggest lake trout would not exist in their current abundance, distribution, and size if it were not for these astounding little fish.