Arctic Char
Salvelinus alpinus
Anadromous Jewels of the Far North
- Average size
- 4–8 lb · trophies to 15+ lb
- Peak season
- July–September
- World record
- 32 lb 9 oz — Tree River, Northwest Territories (1981)
- Experiences
- 3
Arctic char are circumpolar — the world's northernmost trout species and a fish that lives where almost nothing else swims. Sea-run populations in Nunavut's Tree River, Greenland's west coast, Iceland, and parts of northern Norway produce the trophies; landlocked populations across Arctic Canada and Scandinavia are equally striking in spawning colors.
Iceland is the gateway destination — reachable in 5 hours from the US East Coast with world-class char fishing within driving distance of Reykjavík. Nunavut's Tree River is the expedition destination; it holds the all-tackle world record and produces 15-pound fish with regularity in late July and August.
Best Methods
- ● Streamer fishing for sea-run fish in estuaries and river mouths
- ● Nymphing deep pools on Iceland rivers
- ● Dry-fly fishing when caddis or sedge emerge
- ● Spin-fishing with spoons and flies
Gear Notes
7- or 8-weight rods for sea-run char. Iceland's smaller rivers fish well on a 6-weight. Sinking tips are the standard for early-season fish staging at river mouths.
Where to Catch Arctic Char
3 vetted experiences across 3 countries.
Coopers’ Minipi Camps, Labrador NF, Canada
Coopers’ Minipi Camps, on Labrador - the last place on earth where you can catch 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and, yes, even 10 pound brook trout on a dry fly.
Mission Creek Lodge, Bristol Bay, Alaska
Mission Creek Lodge offers unsurpassed trophy fishing for salmon and trout in Bristol Bay, Alaska, with posh facilities and exemplary service in a spectacular wilderness setting.
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The Midfjardara, Iceland
Known in Iceland as the Queen of the Rivers, the Midfjardara features crystalline water with more than 200 named pools and is one of the finest Atlantic salmon rivers in the world.
Explore Other Species
Browse our full species catalog.