Artic Grayling Appreciation

[MTelkHuntress]

Artic Grayling are probably one of my favorite fish. When I was younger, I remember watching a show where they were catching them, and I distinctly remember the awesome blues of their fins. I knew someday I wanted to catch one but I never really put much effort into it. It wasnt until I worked in Colorado for a summer that I got the amazing opportunity. I was talking to a coworker and they mentioned that a lake near town had them. I didn't have any fishing gear so I borrowed a fly rod and some flies and got my butt out there. I didnt know how to fly fish so my coworker taught me the basics and I set out to catch these amazing fish. My casting was absolute garbage, but eventually I caught my first grayling. The blues in person were so beautiful and vibrant.





It was definitely a trip I will never forget. Fast forward to this summer, I decided to take a day off scouting to fish for them. To catch a Montana grayling was especially exciting for me. Having a little bit more experience fly fishing (not by much) I was pretty confident in at least catching one. I hiked in to a beautiful lake and tried out a couple different dry flies. Hours of casts later I eventually caught the first grayling of the day. I ended up only catching two, but it was absolutely worth it to me.

Catching a grayling in the river is definitely on my bucket list.

 

[rwc101]

Grayling is on my bucket list. Can't seem to find them in lakes around here.

 

[406LIFE]

I am 0 for 12 now on the Big Hole for them. Someday it'd be nice to get one from moving water.

 

[Mica Man]

Thanks for sharing brings back memories. Caught a few on the upper Big Hole 20 plus years ago and out of a mountain lake that I hiked into when I lived in South East Idaho.

 

[Deleted member 20812]

There are grayling in Gibson Reservoir out of Augusta, and they will go up into the tributaries to spawn.

 

[BigHornRam]

There was a lake in the Popo Agie wilderness that was stocked with grayling and some washed down into the Middle Fork Popo Agie. Don't know if there is still a population there. Blackstone River in Yukon Territory is an outstanding grayling stream.

This book (a good one by the author of Indian Creek Chronicles)

the author spent several months in the Bob baby sitting the grayling eggs that are now in Gibson Res.

 

[BAKPAKR]

Many years ago, I hiked into an Idaho lake that had grayling. Although I struck out, my brother, who is the fisherman in the family, caught one. They are neat fish.

 

[6mm Remington]

They are a beautiful fish. As a kid when we drove through the Big Hole my dad would stop in a particular location and we would catch trout and grayling. It was pretty cool. Last fall up on the north side of the brooks range I got to fish for Arctic Grayling and Arctic char. I caught a nice char and 4 grayling. I put them all back but it was amazing.

 

[Ajax2744]

Grayling is on my bucket list. Can't seem to find them in lakes around here.

Joe wright up the Poudre canyon has a bunch of them. Not too far from laramie

 

[VAspeedgoat]

Knocked them off the list last summer in Yellowstone. Two of the kids connected too. Wish they weren't 3/4 across the country from me, I could make them my favorite easily.

 

[NYSKIER]

Grayling are awesome. Caught a ton on a family vacation in Alaska a few years ago

 

[Sawtooth]

I have caught a few with a fly rod in a small lake near McCall, Idaho. Beautiful fish indeed.

 

[Salmonchaser]

Always been one of my favorite trophy fish to target. There are still those special places where you can find remarkable Grayling.

 

[Nameless Range]

An easy way to catch a grayling in MT is at Park Lake, west of Clancy. They are stocked there, and I've forgot bait and my kids have caught them on lunch meat.

I spent last weekend in the Big Hole, and caught a couple on one its tributaries. They are absolutely beautiful.

Cool pictures!

 

[Carl 9.3x62]

Grayling is on my bucket list. Can't seem to find them in lakes around here.

Dipper Lake in the Snowies has them. North Crow Reservoir use to also, not sure if they are still in there.

 

[rwc101]

Dipper Lake in the Snowies has them. North Crow Reservoir use to also, not sure if they are still in there.

Interesting. I fished Blackjack lake because the forest service map says they are in there, but I didn't see any fish at all.

 

[BuzzH]

Interesting. I fished Blackjack lake because the forest service map says they are in there, but I didn't see any fish at all.

A couple years back, my nephews caught a bunch of them out of huck finn pond...easier hike too.

 

[rwc101]

A couple years back, my nephews caught a bunch of them out of huck finn pond...easier hike too.

I already get dirty looks and comments from Karens when I fish Spring Creek on my lunch breaks.

 

[nrpate05]

I caught my first one a few weeks ago near Bozeman. Super cool fish. That dorsal fin is super cool. Would really like to go to AK and go after some giants!

 

[2506gunslinger]

I caught some European Grayling when I was stationed in Germany. They were a lot larger than my Idaho grayling that I caught, but much less colorful.