The Fishing Report
Fishing seasons & conditions by region
Arctic Char Salvelinus alpinus
Arctic Char Size, Range & Diet
| Maximum | up to 38 in and 15 lb |
|---|---|
| Lifespan | over 20 years |
| Range | Lakes of the Brooks Range, the Kigluaik and Kuskokwim Mountains, the Alaska Peninsula, the Kenai Peninsula, Kodiak Island and Interior Alaska near Denali. In Alaska this is a lake fish — the sea-run char of the northwest coast are Dolly Varden. |
| Habitat | Landlocked lakes in arctic and subarctic regions, spawning August–October over gravel shoals and jumbled substrate. |
| Diet | Zooplankton, insects and other fish, including younger char. |
Sizes are typical rod-and-reel and documented maximum figures, not size limits — see the regulations links below for the rules where you fish.
How to Identify a Arctic Char
- Light spots on a dark background
- Sparse pink to red spots on the back and sides, 15–20 below the lateral line, each LARGER than the pupil
- Slim caudal peduncle and a noticeably forked tail
- Leading edge of the lower fins is typically white
- Spawning fish are usually gold, orange, yellow or rose, and only rarely red
Tell it apart: Fewer and larger spots, a narrow caudal peduncle and a deeply forked tail mark an Arctic char; a spawning male also carries a much smaller kype than a Dolly Varden's.
Easily confused with: Dolly Varden
Side by side: Arctic Char vs Dolly Varden
How to Catch Arctic Char
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- Stages in brackish lagoons behind the barrier beaches before running up; small bright spoons and shrimp-colored streamers worked along the channel edge on moving water.GearSmall casting spoonsShrimp-pattern streamersLight spinning combo
When & Where Arctic Char Are in Season
Peak Good Fair Slow
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska — Bering Strait & Kotzebue Sound Inshore |
Arctic Char Regulations
Always check local regulations — seasons, size, and bag limits vary by state and species, and change year to year. When in doubt, release.