Arctic grayling
Know your fish
Arctic grayling
Thymallus arcticus
Typical size:30–45 cm, 0.3–1 kg
- Huge sail-like dorsal fin with blue, pink and purple spots
- Silver-purple body with scattered black spots at the front
- Small mouth; adipose fin
Looks like: Nothing else has that dorsal fin.
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cm
OK to keep
- Territorial/provincial rules; catch-and-release in parts of Alberta
Must release
- Handle gently; grayling are fragile
Best months
June, July, August, September
Fishing licences across Canada
Rig to tie
- 1Fly line 6 wt floating or intermediate line
- 2Leader 9 ft tapered leader to 8 lb tippet
- 3Fly Clouser Minnow olive/white size 4–6, Rolled Muddler, or epoxy sand lance; barbless
- 4Spin alternative Ultralight rod, 6 lb mono straight through
- 5Lure 1/8 oz Gibbs Croc, size 1 Mepps, or 1/8 oz pink jig for coho
How to tie and fish it
Tie it:Loop-to-loop the leader to the fly line. Tie the fly with a non-slip loop knot.
Fish it:Walk the beach on the first half of the flood at dawn. Cast along the drop-off and strip fast with pauses. Fish move with the tide, so keep walking.