Arctic Char

Salvelinus Alpinus

Timothy Kusherets

Every one of these fish can be successfully drift-fished and are highly sought as game fish. This particular family of fish has a myriad of spots. The Arctic Char has a light olive background on the sides that continue just past the lateral line. White spots are fairly uniformed and are found the length of the body from the gill-plate to the tail. As will all trout the tail is forked with rounded rays at the top and bottom of the tail. A sea run arctic char can get up to twenty-five pounds and is an excellent fighter.
These fish can be taken on spinners, spoons, corkies, and jigs. Most of time they can be found patrolling seams of eddies and tail-outs. When space competition comes into play with salmon they can found marauding eggs below redds. The best time to fish these fish is when waters are running clear. This is a particularly skittish fish, so when fishing any seam getting down closer to the water gives a decide advantage to any fly fisherman and drift-fisherman. Get close enough to flip offerings out and let the bait or lure flutter as deep in each hold for as long as possible. Drifting a fly or spinner are the best ways to garner fast strikes. Spinners should not be larger than No. 3 with a complimentary hook. These fish fight hard to the end so don’t expect even the smallest fish to come in immediately. Like steelhead, if one does come directly in get ready for an explosion the first time you try to beach, net, or touch it. The best idea for fish that come straight in is to step backwards and take up the slack in anticipation of bolting and thrashing that is sure to happen.


© Timothy Kusherets 2004/08