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Useful information about fishing for Arctic char
The arctic charr belongs to the order Salmonidae, the genus of charr. Are all loaches predatory fish of medium and large sizes? which are a complex species, to which 9 different ones belong at once. As in the case of most other fish of this genus, the characteristic features of the Arctic char are a conical or rounded head, a rolled body. Spots on the body are absent or few, usually they are small and round. It has both a walk-through and a residential form. The passage form can reach 110 cm in length and 15 kg in weight. It is assumed that the maximum age of migratory char may be 32 years.
Ways to catch arctic char
Fishing for char is possible at any time of the year. Catching this fish gives a sea of unforgettable sensations and unique excitement. The capture is carried out with various gear, using both natural and artificial baits. Thanks to the active feeding of fish, in any season, there are a large number of different methods of fishing.
Fishing for arctic char with float tackle
This method is most effective during the mass movement of fish from the sea to the rivers. Most often this happens in the first two summer months. But since some part of the char remains in the river for the whole year, then catching this fish becomes possible all year round. Only during the freeze-up period, char will not be caught. Experts consider boiled salmon caviar to be the best bait for catching char using float gear. The larger the eggs, the better. In some cases, artificial baits similar to eggs are used. They also catch fresh and even spoiled caviar. The preferred length of the rod is from 3 m. A reliable reel with fishing line is required, the diameter of which is 0,25-0,35 mm. Most often used dinar hooks. The scenario is usually as follows: the fish immediately rushes to the bait, and the float quickly follows to the bottom. If you don’t hook right away, the prey will go off the hook.
Catching Arctic char on a spinning rod
For catching this fish, it is more profitable to work with a fast action spinning rod. The length of the rod is 2,6-2,8 m. The spinning reel must be of the appropriate size for the balance of the rod, and a capacious spool, with a cord or fishing line that can withstand breaking weight up to 10 kg. It is better to give preference to large baits, which is typical of many species of the salmon family. Their color is generally unimportant. Spinners and oscillators, wobblers are mainly used. It is difficult to single out any one type of bait. The fact is that on some reservoirs char can be greedy for heavy spoon-baits, and on others – for the simplest spinners with feathered tees. Sometimes char can only react to wobblers. Before choosing a bait on a particular reservoir, you should observe local anglers, ask them or experiment yourself.
Fly fishing for arctic char
Arctic char is a very interesting trophy for fly fishers. Not many can boast of fishing for this fish. The char will attack the bait sharply and even aggressively, but the fish often changes its “mood” and it happens that you can wait for a bite for quite a long time. In most cases, fishing conditions allow the use of longer rods, which make it possible to make accurate and far casts. Lightweight two-handers and switches are great for this. Fish are most often kept in the lower layers of the water, so Arctic charr is mainly caught on shipped streamers and wet flies using sinking ends. In good weather, the char actively reacts to “furrowing baits”. Many fishermen note that most of the loaches were caught fly-fishing with this bait.
Catching Arctic char from under the ice
In winter, fishing for this fish can also be very successful. Usually winter fishing is carried out with the help of baubles. Some anglers claim that heavy lures with a hanging hook are better than soldered ones. There is experience in the use of doubles by fishermen instead of a tee. For the purpose of a better result, a couple of eggs or sliced uXNUMXbuXNUMXbfish are planted on the hook. In the case of an active bite, the natural replanting is replaced with a red-colored piece of foam rubber. Charr reacts best to large and bright baubles. It does not hurt to additionally equip the spinners with cambric or beads resembling eggs. In winter, it is recommended to use the entire water column for hunting char. In order to lure the fish to the hole, dry flavors with the smell of caviar have been developed, but such a bait only keeps the fish close to the hole.
Places of fishing and habitat
Arctic charr is distributed across three continents. It is found in the basins of rivers and northern seas of North America, Europe and Asia – from Iceland to Chukotka. There is no char in the rivers of the Baltic and White Seas. There are in the rivers of such famous islands as Medvezhiy, Svalbard, Novaya Zemlya.
Spawning
Charr breeds several times in its life and usually not annually. Most often spawning time is autumn, although it is known that it can occur at other times of the year. Spawning places can be found in slow-flowing rivers and in lakes at a depth of up to 15 m. It makes nests on small and medium pebbles, which allows them to be built up to 2-3 m in diameter. The male may spawn with a pair of females. The fecundity of migratory fish ranges from one and a half to nine thousand eggs. In the “residential” this figure is much more modest – from 21 to 3 thousand eggs.