Few pursuits in fly fishing feel as wild and rewarding as chasing char. Belonging to the Salmonidae family, char thrive in cold, clean northern waters and offer aggressive takes, stunning colours, and unforgettable wilderness experiences. Among the most well-known are Arctic char, Dolly Varden, brook trout (a true char despite its name), the formidable bull trout, and lake trout to name but a few. Each species brings its own character, habitat, and challenge.
Arctic char are icons of the far north, found across Alaska, Canada, Greenland, Iceland, and Scandinavia. They inhabit both freshwater lakes and coastal rivers, often migrating between sea and river systems. Brilliant spawning colours and powerful runs make them a favourite target. Dolly Varden, common in Alaska and the Pacific Northwest, share similar environments, namely glacial rivers, coastal drainages, and remote tundra streams, where they aggressively hunt smaller fish and insects. Brook trout, beloved across the north-eastern United States, eastern Canada, the upper Midwest, and many high-elevation western streams, thrive in spring-fed creeks, mountain rivers, and cold stillwaters. Bull trout primarily occupy western North America, particularly Idaho, Montana, Washington, British Columbia, and Alberta, often in rugged, remote waters. Lake trout are prized for their size and strength, inhabiting deep, cold lakes across North America, from the Great Lakes to remote northern wilderness lakes in Canada and Alaska.
Tactics for char revolve around adapting to their seasonal behaviour and varied environments. In spring and early summer, nymphing with bead-head patterns, stoneflies, and attractor nymphs is highly effective. As insect activity increases, dry-fly fishing becomes thrilling, with terrestrials, mayflies, and caddis drawing explosive surface strikes—especially from brook trout in smaller streams. In larger rivers and colder northern systems, streamers play a starring role. Sculpin patterns, baitfish imitations, and brightly coloured flies often provoke aggressive attacks from Dolly Varden, bull trout, and Arctic char. In coastal environments or glacial systems, weighted flies and sink-tip lines help reach fish holding in deeper currents.
Ultimately, fly fishing for char blends technical skill with exploration. Whether stalking jewel-coloured brook trout in a shaded forest creek, swinging streamers through emerald Alaskan water for Dolly Varden, or trekking to windswept Arctic lakes for the fish of a lifetime, char represent the untamed essence of cold-water fly fishing, and they reward anglers who venture where the wilderness still rules.
Char are found in the clean, cold waters of some of the most ruggedly beautiful destinations on earth, including:
Alaska, Canada, USA, Greenland, Iceland, Sweden, and Norway.
To discuss fishing for char, please contact Alex Jardine or Peter McLeod or call the office on +44 1980 847389.
About the author: Alistair Routledge