Dreaming of a trip to Canada’s remote northern waters? Here’s a primer on the north’s iconic fish

ARCTIC CHAR

If lake trout are the emblematic fish of somewhat accessible northern lakes, Arctic char are the representative species of our most out-of-the-way, secluded waters. While there are landlocked populations of char, anglers typically dream of catching them in secluded rivers, often under the watchful eyes of polar bears, muskox and caribou. These are the hardy anadromous populations, migrating up rivers from the ocean to spawn.

My first experience with Arctic char was on a landlocked lake in Quebec’s Ungava region. Horrible weather prevented us from flying to a spike camp to hunt caribou, so we occupied our time instead by trolling for Arctic char. They weren’t very big, averaging three to five pounds, but like all fish from the char family, they were great on the plate and offered a little pleasure during an otherwise disappointing week.

The Holy Grail of Arctic char destinations is undoubtedly Nunavut’s Tree River, which spills into the Arctic Ocean’s Coronation Gulf. It produces the largest char on the planet, and boasts the world record, a 32-pound nine-ounce beauty taken in 1981. Many years ago, my wife, Jane, and I had the opportunity to fish the Tree for a couple of days and it didn’t disappoint—we caught several green-backed, crimson-hued beauties (that’s one of them pictured here). These fish are fighters to the core, exhibiting a strength and will to live that must be experienced to be believed. If they escape into the fast water from the pool you hook them in, there’s no chance you’ll get to hold them aloft for a quick photo.

The Holy Grail of Arctic char destinations is undoubtedly Nunavut’s Tree River

The traditional go-to Arctic char lures in river systems include one-ounce Blue Fox Pixee Spoons in pink, red or orange, and one-ounce white jigs—their relatively heavy weight is needed to get down to where the fish hold in the typically heavy current. If you fly fish, try casting small white streamer patterns on an ultra-fast sink-tip line.

Fishing landlocked char is a much more delicate operation. Fly anglers can actually find success with dry flies, in addition to streamer patterns, while spin anglers typically achieve the best results throwing small, shiny spoons or in-line spinners.