The Fishing Report
Fishing seasons & conditions by region
Dolly Varden Salvelinus malma
Dolly Varden Size, Range & Diet
| Typical size | 12–24 in |
|---|---|
| Maximum | over 30 in and up to 27 lb; the southern form reaches about 28 in and 10 lb, the northern form exceeds 30 in and 20 lb |
| Lifespan | Southern form rarely over 8 years; northern form up to 16 years |
| Range | Coastal Alaska from Southeast across the Gulf of Alaska and the Bering Sea into the Beaufort Sea, plus Interior and Brooks Range drainages. |
| Habitat | Everything from headwater streams under 3 ft wide to large deep lakes, and from brackish estuaries to fully marine shoreline. |
| Diet | Insects, crustaceans, various fish and fish eggs, and rodents. |
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 Dolly Varden
- Light-colored spots on a darker greenish body — the inverse of a trout
- Many small spots, each SMALLER than the pupil of the eye
- Relatively thick caudal peduncle and only a slightly forked tail
- Spawning males develop a distinct kype, red-black-and-white bellies, black gill covers and bright orange to red spots
Tell it apart: Spots smaller than the eye's pupil, a thick caudal peduncle and a barely forked tail separate a Dolly Varden from an Arctic char, which has fewer and larger spots on a slimmer peduncle behind a deeply forked tail.
Side by side: Dolly Varden vs Arctic Char
How to Catch Dolly Varden
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- Sea-run dollies follow the salmon in from June; small bright spoons, beads and egg patterns along current seams and behind spawning fish.GearSmall casting spoonsBead rigsLight spinning combo
- Shares the lagoons and lower rivers with the char through the short open-water season; beads, egg patterns and small spoons on the current seams.GearSmall casting spoonsBead rigsLight spinning combo
When & Where Dolly Varden Are in Season
Peak Good Fair Slow
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska — Aleutians & Alaska Peninsula Inshore | ||||||||||||
| Alaska — Bristol Bay Inshore | ||||||||||||
| Alaska — Bristol Bay Nearshore | ||||||||||||
| Alaska — Bering Strait & Kotzebue Sound Inshore | ||||||||||||
| Alaska — Bering Strait & Kotzebue Sound Nearshore | ||||||||||||
| Alaska — Bering Strait & Kotzebue Sound Offshore |
Dolly Varden Regulations
Always check local regulations — seasons, size, and bag limits vary by state and species, and change year to year. When in doubt, release.