Arctic Grayling

[AKnook]

July in interior Alaska is prime time for dry fly fishing for grayling. I make the 6 hour drive yearly on the second week of July to spend the weekend dry fly fishing for these beautiful fish. I know the Yukon and NWT hold grayling, does nothern Ontario hold any? If so, it would be neat to see some pics. The colors of these fish vary considerably even within the same river. Some are greyish tan while others are dark blue and some yellow. No two fish are ever a like. If they hold the same shape and size, then the color varies or the dorsal fin has unique cuts into it or colors. These fish are extremely fun to fish for and are ravenous. 18" fish are considered trophies in AK. During our yearly trip to the interior 18" fish are very common and 19" and 20" are taken as well. Here are a few specimen from this year's trip.

Nice yellow color on this guy.


I love the red tips on the dorsal fins.


What a ******!


Look at the intense blue color on the tip of the dorsal fin!


Grayling staging to spawn.


Underwater sailfish shot


This one is my PB. 19 1/2". A lot of blue on this guy too.


You can catch them on nearly any fly. But when the hatch is on and they are hitting top water why use anything else but dries. You can have 3 or 4 fish about 5 feet from you and they will not strike your fly unless it is presented properly. I have had three or four drifts over a fish before it finally hits the fly. So cool. Would be cool to see some pics of these fish from elsewhere.

 

[efka]

amazing report, what a beautiful fish. deffinetly worth driving 6 hours. thank you for sharing

 

[AKnook]

Thanks. I drive the 6 hours to catch fish of the size and caliber, well worth it as well. I can catch them a lot closer as well but they are considerably smaller. Seems like they are a lot bigger in the interior. If you catch one at 16 or 17" around my area that is a trophy in itself.

 

[grubman]

Awesome pics. You're posting great reports. I think you're making us all envious..... :mrgreen:

I think we should forget about the Saugeen trip and head straight to Alaska and you could guide us.........lol. That's if you could handle about 200 guys following you.......lmao.

Thanks for another great report with beautiful catches.

 

[FishingNoob]

Wow those Grayling are beautiful! I love the colours on those guys! I never heard about them being in northern Ontario but I might be mistaken. I love the electric blue on the fourth fish! Thanks for sharing!

 

[AaronKrick]

They would probably be in hudson and james bay tribs but thats a 30 hour drive from toronto!!!!! Beautifull fish, hope you catch a new P.B!

Cat

 

[Dozer]

That fish is on the bucket fish list. Spectacular pictures once again AKNook, I'm drooling. I hope to one day fish up in your territory, I know who I'll be calling :lol:

 

[ChaseChrome]

That's a good size grayling...nice outing WOW!!!
CC

 

[chris f]

nice fish aknook thanks for posting and sharing, wow the water in some of those pics wow. :shock:

 

[rocheleauc]

Such a gorgeous fish! Thanks for posting this. :smile:

 

[Cody309]

Fantastic photos as always, AKnook! I've always thought that they would be a fun fish to catch! What's their fight like? Similar to another species?

 

[AKnook]

nice fish aknook thanks for posting and sharing, wow the water in some of those pics wow. :shock:

This river is spring fed. It is gin clear and around 34 degree F. The interior of Alaska gets extreme weather, brutal winters but very hot summers. Some days fishing this river it is 80 degree F out but your feet scream from the cold. Many breaks are needed to let your feet warm up. Its insane.