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

ARCTIC GRAYLING

I consider Arctic grayling to be the Rodney Dangerfield of Canada’s fish—they just don’t get no respect. In fact, they’re most often targeted as an add-on when anglers tire of catching more prestigious species, particularly lake trout and northern pike. That’s unfortunate, as grayling are eager combatants and put up a surprisingly spirited tussle. They’re also beautiful in their own quirky way, and tend to live in stunning places. In short, grayling boast all the attributes that would generally make a fish highly prized.

I certainly harbour a soft spot for Arctic grayling, as they evoke great memories of some of my favourite fishing trips. I caught my first grayling during an eight-day canoe trip down the Yukon’s Big Salmon River, where we encountered more grizzly bears than people.

A few years later, grayling that had probably never before seen a lure or fly were one of the highlights of a 10-day horseback trip into northeastern B.C.’s famed Muskwa region. And I always smile when I recall an early morning I shared with a curious white wolf on the N.W.T.’s Stark River, as a grayling danced on the end of my fly line.

Arctic grayling beautiful in their own quirky way, and tend to live in stunning places

Confined largely to Canada’s western Arctic mainland and the northernmost waters of B.C. and the Prairie provinces, grayling appear to be little more than whitefish with a deformity. They deserve far more credit than that, though. Their sail-like dorsal fin gives them an oddly unique appearance, certainly, but fresh out of the water they’re also stunningly beautiful, showing off iridescent greens, blues and purples pock-marked with black spots.

Arctic grayling are angler-friendly, too, seemingly always willing to smash a dry fly, nymph, spinner or spoon with wild abandon. Most fall within the one- to two-pound range, although grayling nearing six pounds have been caught. And when hooked on light tackle, either spinning or fly gear, they quickly demonstrate an impressive will to survive. Respect? They’ve certainly got mine.