Arctic Grayling truly represent what a northern fish should be.  They are found in the middle of nowhere and require cold, clean water.  They have large scales and are therefore not a trout.  They are salmonids and are in the same category as Whitefish for identification purposes.  Grayling are unmistakable because of their massive dorsal fin that stretches down much of the fishes back.  This fin is filled with colors of blue and yellow and red, and is just amazing when the sun hits it the right way.  These colours seem to show up better underwater, so pictures are best done by holding the fish just below the surface of the water.  The females dorsal fin is generally as long as it is high, whereas the males is three or four times longer than it is wide and can extend all the way back past the adipose fin.

Arctic Grayling are native to Alberta.  They inhabit all streams in the northern half of the province.  There are a couple of lakes in the southern half of the province that have been stocked with grayling and those populations with help form the catch and release regulations and created wild populations of these northern beauties.  Arctic Grayling spawn in the spring.

Grayling are a blast for fly fishermen because they will eat anything small you put in front of them.  Nymphs, streamers, dries - they will eat it all, the only thing to remember is to keep your offering small as grayling have small mouths.  They will try to eat the bigger stuff, but this will only frustrate you as they will be hitting your fly, but you won't get any hook sets as they can't get the hook in their mouths.  The best thing about fishing for grayling is that when you catch one, you will catch a bunch, this is because grayling school together as whitefish do.  A trip to the north in the fall when they are stacking up in overwintering pools will be some of the most non-stop fly fishing action you will ever encounter.

Arctic Grayling rarely go airborne, but even the little guys will try to pull you around the lake if you are in a float tube.   Take someone new to fly fishing to a lake with grayling or a northern river in the fall when they stack up to overwinter, and you will both get soar casting arms from so many hook sets, and tons of memories and pictures.

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