DESCRIPTION
- This species has an average length
of 12-15 inches and weighs in at 1-3 pounds.
A strikingly coloured fish, the back is
purple to blue-black or blue-grey with
sides of a pinkish iridescence having
a number of V-shaped or diamond shaped
spots. The head is olive-green with a
mauve iridescence. During spawning the
colors darken and the male becomes more
brilliant than the female.
DISTRIBUTION
- The Arctic grayling occurs in northern
B.C. from the Peace and Stikine rivers
north and in the south in the flathead
river. The general habitat is the clear
waters of large, cold rivers, rocky creeks
and lakes.
BIOLOGY
- Grayling begin their spawn during the
time that the ice is first breaking up
in smaller streams. No actual nest is
prepared and the female lays 4000-7000
eggs. The maximum age is 11-12 years.
Food consists of a very broad range of
invertebrates.
RELATION
TO MAN - This fish has been taken
by Eskimos and Indians as food for their
dogs and, less often, for themselves.
They are an attractive sport fish due
to their tendency to leap when hooked.
Fly fishermen fly into northern Canada
to catch this beautiful fish.
