NPS/Hannah Monzingo Common Fish of Gates of the Arctic
Copyright, Alaska Department of Fish and Game/Illustration by Don Winsor. Used with permission. Arctic GraylingThe most widespread species in the park is the arctic grayling (Thymallus arcticus), which is found in many clear, cold rivers and those lakes with an outlet stream. Grayling have evolved many strategies to meet the needs of life in what are often harsh and uncertain environments. Grayling can be highly migratory, using different streams for spawning, juvenile rearing, summer feeding, and overwintering. The tendency of grayling to eat almost anything endears them to the angling public. Any fishing technique, including bait, lures, and flies, will work at one time or another. Grayling are especially popular because of their willingness to rise to a dry fly. Flyfishing techniques for grayling are similar to those used for any trout species.
Copyright, Alaska Department of Fish and Game/Illustration by Don Winsor. Used with permission. Lake TroutLake trout (Salvelinus namaycush) are Alaska's largest freshwater fish. They are also the largest representatives of a group of fish known as char and are closely related to Dolly Varden, brook trout, and Arctic char. Lake trout prefer large, deep, cold lakes in which they spend their entire lives. Spawning takes place over clean, rocky lake bottoms in September or October. In spring, when lake waters are cold, trout can be found near the surface and along the shoreline. As the season progresses, lakers go deeper and finally reside beneath the thermocline. Most successful lake trout anglers use bright spinners or spoons while fishing from shore or near inlet and outlet streams
Copyright, Alaska Department of Fish and Game/Illustration by Don Winsor. Used with permission. Arctic CharArctic char (Salvelinus alpinus) is present in North America in both the anadromous (seagoing) and the nonanadromous (freshwater resident) forms. Char often exist in two different forms in the same lake. These forms are usually described as "dwarf' and "normal." In Alaska, they are known to occur only in the lake resident form. The forms show differences in habitat and food selection, resulting in different growth rates, size at maturity, and average size. Arctic char are thought to spawn every other year. Spawning usually occurs from August through October, probably over steep, broken substrates or gravel shoals at sufficient depth to be protected from winter ice. Char will hit on patterns similar to what lake trout find appealing.
Copyright, Alaska Department of Fish and Game/Illustration by Don Winsor. Used with permission. Northern PikeNorthern pike (Esox lucius) inhabit freshwater, and can be found in waters as deep as 100 feet. These fish occur in clear, vegetated lakes, quiet pools and the backwaters of creeks and small to large rivers, lakes and reservoirs. The diet of larger pike is composed almost entirely of fish, but shore birds, small ducks, muskrats, mice, shrews, and insects are also eaten. You’ll want to fish with something that moves a lot of water and captures a pike’s attention. Try big, flashy flies or bright lures that splash to attract fish.
Copyright, Alaska Department of Fish and Game/Illustration by Don Winsor. Used with permission. SheefishSheefish (Stendous nelma) are also called inconnu. Its tremendous size, fighting ability, and fine eating qualities make the sheefish one of the most unique fish in North America. Upstream migrations of sheefish from the wintering grounds begin during the period of ice breakup. Some fish move to feeding grounds while mature fish migrate to spawning areas having very stringent spawning ground requirements. The water must be from 4 to 8 feet deep with fast current over a bottom composed of differentially-sized gravel. Spawning occurs during late afternoons and evenings in late September and early October in water of 40° F or colder. Sheefish can be taken on medium action spinning or bait casting gear using 10 or 20 pound line. During their feeding periods, sheefish can be caught close to the surface using a fly. If using lures, solid silver colors seem to do the trick.Other SpeciesWhitefish and chum salmon are also found in northern waters. |
Last updated: May 10, 2023