Arctic Char Animal Information
Arctic Char (Salvelinus alpinus) - A.K.A. - Sea Trout. In the cool, clear streams and lakes of the polar regions swims, undoubtedly, one of the most beautiful and tastiest fish found anywhere in the world, the Arctic Char. The brilliant colors of the Arctic Char vary greatly depending on its environment and time of the year. These colors range from red, orange, yellow or gold spots against a brown or olive background. There are both the anadromous (seagoing) and the nonanadromous (freshwater) species. Although they may feed at sea, they always return to freshwater to spawn. The Char is often confused with its closely related cousin, the Dolly Varden. The Char has a shorter head and a deeper fork in the tail. Char can be fun to catch on a fly rod where they are known for their long runs and powerful head shakes. They are also fun to catch through the ice of a freshwater lake. The average adult Char can weigh anywhere from two pounds to over ten pounds.
