Arctic grayling
Also called Thymallus arcticus, grayling
A freshwater salmonid known for its tall, sail-like dorsal fin and soft, delicate mouth. Grayling live in cold northern waters and feed heavily on drifting insects.
- Group
- Grayling & whitefish
- Category
- Species
- Level
- Beginner
- Water
- Freshwater
Last updated
What Arctic grayling means
That big dorsal fin is the giveaway. Arctic grayling are salmonids, related to trout and char, but they are their own group. They are usually slimmer than a trout, with a small mouth and a forked tail.
Most fly fishing for grayling looks like trout fishing. They hold in seams, runs, and the softer edges of current, and they eat a lot of insects. Dry flies, small nymphs, and light streamers all take fish.
Because their mouth is soft, they do better with steady pressure and barbless or lightly pinched barbs. A gentle net job and a quick release goes a long way with grayling.
Why it matters on the water
Grayling are one of the best fish for learning what a good drift and good line control feel like. They will often eat a correctly presented fly when trout are being picky, so you get more feedback and more reps in a day.
They also reward lighter touch. If you set too hard or fight them like a big trout, you lose fish and you beat up their mouth. When you adjust to smooth hook sets and steady pressure, your landing rate goes up and your fish handling gets cleaner across the board.
Read next
- Dry flyA dry fly is a floating fly meant to be fished on the surface, where you can see it and the take.
- MidgeA midge is a small two-winged fly; in fly fishing it often means a chironomid. Most of their larvae and pupae live in water. Midges hatch in every month on many rivers and lakes, and trout eat them year-round.
- NymphA nymph is a subsurface fly meant to imitate an aquatic insect in its immature stage, or a small food item drifting in the current. Nymphs are fished with or without weight, an indicator, or tight-line methods.
- WhitefishWhitefish are freshwater fish in the salmon family (Salmonidae) that feed heavily on insects and small invertebrates. They are often caught on nymphs while targeting trout.
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