Arctic Char Fishing Guide

The arctic char (Salvelinus alpinus) has the most northerly natural distribution of any freshwater fish species on Earth, found in lakes and rivers above the Arctic Circle and in subarctic regions of North America, Europe, and Asia. It is the most variable salmonid in appearance — depending on population, spawning season, and sex, arctic char range from silver-blue sea-run fish to brilliantly orange-red landlocked fish with spectacular pigmentation. The species encompasses both anadromous (sea-run) and wholly landlocked populations, and some lakes in the Canadian High Arctic and Greenland contain char that have been isolated since the last ice age. Farmed arctic char from Iceland and Norway is increasingly common at upscale fish markets — farmed fish have a slightly milder flavor than wild fish. Wild arctic char from remote Lake Hazen, Nunavut — the world's most northerly large lake — can weigh over 20 pounds.

Arctic Char is a freshwater species.

Habitat

Ultra-cold lakes and rivers of the Arctic, subarctic, and high-altitude regions of North America and Eurasia; anadromous populations use coastal Arctic rivers in summer. Landlocked populations in the Canadian High Arctic have survived in isolation since glaciers retreated 10,000+ years ago. Requires water temperatures below 60°F — cannot coexist with most warmwater species.

Diet

Varies dramatically by population: planktivorous in oligotrophic high-Arctic lakes; insectivorous in rivers; piscivorous in more productive lakes with forage fish. Large landlocked char in productive systems such as Lake Hazen and Great Bear Lake become heavily piscivorous, targeting cisco and other chars.

Fishing Techniques

• Fly fishing with small streamers and nymphs
• Small spoons and spinners
• Jigging small jigs in deep lakes

Best Seasons

Summer, Fall

Size & Records

Average weight: 3 lbs. World record: 32.9 lbs (Tree River, Northwest Territories, Canada (1981)).