Comparison of precision and bias of scale, fin ray, and otolith age estimates for lake whitefish (Coregonus clupeaformis) in Lake Champlain

► We compared the precision, bias, and reader uncertainty of three age structures in lake whitefish. ► Otoliths generated a wider range of ages and greater number of age classes. ► Otoliths were the most precise structure (CV = 4.7, versus 7.4 for scales and 12.1 for fin rays). ► Percent reader uncertainty for otoliths (7.6%) was lower than fin rays (21.2%) or scales (26.8%).