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The Arctic char belongs to the Salmonidae family. The fish lives in cold water. As the name itself suggests, it is a native of the lakes on the Arctic coast. The fish has the distinction of being a hardy one and the only fish that is found so far as the North in the mostly frozen Lake Hazen in Northern Canada.
The fish is rarely sighted in Britain and in Ireland. Also found in the deep glacial lakes in Nordic countries where it is extensively angled for food. The fish is quite close in relation to Salmon and Trout and therefore it exhibits both its characteristics. It is native to all of Canada’s Northern Coast. The species have three basic subspecies.
The main species of Arctic Char is found in Lake Pingualuit in the picturesque Ungava Peninsula in Quebec. The arctic regions in the world not just make up the most scenic setting for a fun angling vacation but the kind of fishes that one can find in and near the continental shelves is sure to amaze you.
Lake-trolling in small boats works best because Arctic Char feed in Shallow water and do not stay in the deep for a prolonged time. In rivers and streams, they like to hold on to where the swift currents flow. Conventional tackles such as streamers and dry insects work excellently well. Light to medium light spinning gear with 10 to 20 pounds line works well. You can try fly rods to great effect. Jigs and baits work very well in fishing Arctic Char in ice too.
The flesh of the fish is fine and flaked and medium firm. It forms an important fish at the table. The color of the flesh can vary between light pink and deep red.
The record size of Arctic Char is one caught in Northern Canada and was twenty pounds. Market size fishes are usually between two and two and a half pounds only.
The Arctic Char is found all across the north coast of Canada. The alpine subspecies was introduced into Lake Elgygytgyn in Russia to disastrous results because it has been an invasive species there threatening a lot of native species.
The fish can swim in both freshwater and salt water. During spawning, the fish moves over to the rocky shoals and lake areas. It mostly migrates to places where there is a gravel bottom and the currents are swift. The female species sets up the nest and guards it. It deposits anywhere between 3000-5000 eggs at one time. Unlike most other fishes that die shortly after spawning, the Arctic Char continues living.
The range of Arctic Char is wide and varied with the species. Its lesser-known subspecies found across the Polar Regions with the largest population in terms of numbers found in Canada and the Scandinavia. The fish is also found in the UK where it is fished in cold and deep lakes only. Arctic char is also present in the lakes in higher Alps as far as south of Italy.
The diet of Arctic Char varies with seasons. In Spring and in Summer, it feeds on insects floating on the water’s surface, salmon eggs, snails, smaller crustaceans and fishes. In autumn and in winter, when the food supply is limited, they feed on zooplanktons, shrimps and smaller fishes.