Arctic Char
Salvelinus alpinus
Arctic Char is a cold-water salmonid of Arctic and subarctic lakes, rivers, and coastal waters. It often shows striking seasonal color shifts and can be an important local food and sport fish where it occurs.
Identification points
- Light spots on a dark back and sides, unlike the wormlike pattern of brook trout
- Lower fins often edged with white on a dark leading edge
- Color can range from silver to olive with orange-red belly and fins during spawning
Habitat
Cold, clear Arctic and subarctic lakes, deep glacial rivers, and coastal estuaries; typically associated with oxygen-rich water, rocky shorelines, inlets, and deep pools.
Bait notes
Small spoons, spinners, bead/egg rigs, streamers, nymphs, and soft plastics work well; natural baits such as salmon eggs, shrimp, or worms can be effective where allowed.
Behavior
Feeds on aquatic insects, zooplankton, small fish, and crustaceans; many populations forage near shore or in shallow bays in summer and move deeper or to river mouths in colder periods.
Caution
Arctic Char can accumulate contaminants like mercury or PCBs in some waters; follow local consumption advisories. Check local regulations, as some northern populations are sensitive or protected.
Fishing notes
Fish slow and deep in cold water, then work shorelines, points, and inlet/outlet currents as fish move shallow to feed. Sight-fishing can work in clear water; use light leaders and moderate retrieves.