Body Type & Identification: One of the most beautiful freshwater fish — distinguished by an enormous, sail-like dorsal fin with iridescent blue, purple, and pink spots. Silver to gray body with scattered dark spots. A member of the salmon family. The dorsal fin is proportionally the largest of any freshwater fish in North America.
Preferred Water Temperature: 42°F–58°F. A cold, clear-water species that thrives in pristine Arctic, subarctic, and high-elevation streams. Intolerant of warm or turbid water — an excellent indicator of water quality. Found where the water is clearest and coldest.
Habitat: Clear, cold streams, rivers, and lakes of Alaska, Canada, Montana, and Wyoming. Found in high-elevation streams in the continental US — Upper Missouri River tributaries in Montana and Wind River tributaries in Wyoming. Common throughout the Yukon and Northwest Territories. Often found in the same habitat as Arctic Char and Dolly Varden.
Best Lures: Dry flies on fly tackle are the quintessential Grayling experience — they rise readily to dry flies and small nymphs. A 3–5 weight fly rod with small Adams, Elk Hair Caddis, and Royal Wulff patterns is ideal. Small inline spinners produce strikes. Small Mepps and Panther Martin spinners are very effective. Small beadhead nymphs under an indicator produce consistent results.
Best Baits: Small worms and salmon eggs are effective. Maggots work very well. Small pieces of nightcrawler produce catches. Light tackle (4–6 lb) with very small hooks is appropriate. Grayling are not typically large — most are 10–16 inches — but are outstanding fly fishing targets.
Top 5 Destinations: Brooks River AK, Togiak River AK, Upper Missouri River MT, Gibbon River WY (Yellowstone), Yukon Territory Canada.
One of the most beautiful freshwater fish — distinguished by an enormous, sail-like dorsal fin with iridescent blue, purple, and pink spots. Silver to gray body with scattered dark spots. A member of the salmon family. The dorsal fin is proportionally the largest of any freshwater fish in North America.
Habitat
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Clear, cold streams, rivers, and lakes of Alaska, Canada, Montana, and Wyoming. Found in high-elevation streams in the continental US — Upper Missouri River tributaries in Montana and Wind River tributaries in Wyoming. Common throughout the Yukon and Northwest Territories. Often found in the same habitat as Arctic Char and Dolly Varden.
Water Conditions
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42°F–58°F. A cold, clear-water species that thrives in pristine Arctic, subarctic, and high-elevation streams. Intolerant of warm or turbid water — an excellent indicator of water quality. Found where the water is clearest and coldest.
Tackle & Bait
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Best Lures:
Dry flies on fly tackle are the quintessential Grayling experience — they rise readily to dry flies and small nymphs. A 3–5 weight fly rod with small Adams, Elk Hair Caddis, and Royal Wulff patterns is ideal. Small inline spinners produce strikes. Small Mepps and Panther Martin spinners are very effective. Small beadhead nymphs under an indicator produce consistent results.
Best Baits:
Small worms and salmon eggs are effective. Maggots work very well. Small pieces of nightcrawler produce catches. Light tackle (4–6 lb) with very small hooks is appropriate. Grayling are not typically large — most are 10–16 inches — but are outstanding fly fishing targets.
Top Fishing Locations
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Filter by State:
50 fishing locations where you can catch Arctic Grayling
Lake Louise
🏞️ Freshwater
Anchorage, AK
Cache Creek Lake #3
🏞️ Freshwater
Lemhi County, ID
Cache Creek Lake #5
🏞️ Freshwater
Lemhi County, ID
Crater Lake
🏞️ Freshwater
Orfino, ID
Feldspar Lake
🏞️ Freshwater
Custer County, ID
Knapp Lake #14A
🏞️ Freshwater
Custer County, ID
Martendale Lake #1
🏞️ Freshwater
Lemhi County, ID
Nelson Lake #2
🏞️ Freshwater
Custer County, ID
Seafoam Lake #6
🏞️ Freshwater
ID, ID
vanity Lake #13
🏞️ Freshwater
Custer County, ID
Nez Perce Lake
🏞️ Freshwater
Leadore, Idaho
Bobcat Lakes
🏞️ Freshwater
Madison County, Montana
Governor Creek
🏞️ Freshwater
Beaverhead County, Montana
Green Hollow Reservoir #1
🏞️ Freshwater
Madison County, Montana
Green Hollow Reservoir #2
🏞️ Freshwater
Madison County, Montana
Handkerchief Lake
🏞️ Freshwater
Bear Creek Village, Montana
Heart Lake
🏞️ Freshwater
Lewis and Clark, Montana
Lily Lake
🏞️ Freshwater
Swan Lake, Montana
Little Washtub
🏞️ Freshwater
Park County, Montana
Lost Lake
🏞️ Freshwater
Stillwater County, Montana
Lower MIner Lakes
🏞️ Freshwater
Jackson, Montana
Marsh Lake
🏞️ Freshwater
Park County, Montana
Mcgregor Lake
🏞️ Freshwater
Pine Prairie, Montana
Mosquito Lake
🏞️ Freshwater
Park County, Montana
O'dell Lake
🏞️ Freshwater
Beaverhead County, Montana
Odell Lake
🏞️ Freshwater
Madison County, Montana
Olga Lake
🏞️ Freshwater
Fortine, Montana
Park Lake
🏞️ Freshwater
Rimini, Montana
Pishkun Reservoir
🏞️ Freshwater
Teton County, Montana
Rhoda Lake
🏞️ Freshwater
Neihart, Montana
Rogers Lake
🏞️ Freshwater
Marion, Montana
Ruby River Reservoir
🏞️ Freshwater
Kingrey Place, Montana
Saderbalm Lake
🏞️ Freshwater
Stillwater County, Montana
Schwinegar Lake
🏞️ Freshwater
Madison County, Montana
Selway Creek
🏞️ Freshwater
Beaverhead County, Montana
Selway Lake
🏞️ Freshwater
Jackson, Montana
Shay Lake
🏞️ Freshwater
Salmon Prairie, Montana
Spaghetti Lake
🏞️ Freshwater
Carbon County, Montana
Blue Lake
🏞️ Freshwater
Mayfield, UT
Boulder Mountain Lakes
🏞️ Freshwater
Boulder, UT
Hoop Lake
🏞️ Freshwater
Manila, UT
Pass Lake Z-5
🏞️ Freshwater
Kamas, UT
Silver Lake Flat Reservoir
🏞️ Freshwater
American Fork, UT
Smith-Morehouse Reservoir
🏞️ Freshwater
Oakley, UT
Washington Lake A-23
🏞️ Freshwater
Kamas, UT
Big Dog Lake- South Slope Uintas
🏞️ Freshwater
Vernal, Utah
Blind Lake
🏞️ Freshwater
Grover, Utah
Smith and Morehouse Reservoir
🏞️ Freshwater
Oakley, Utah
Stateline Reservoir
🏞️ Freshwater
Stateline Reservoir, Utah
Meadow Lake
🏞️ Freshwater
Pinedale, Wyoming
From the Angler's Guide
Brooks River AK, Togiak River AK, Upper Missouri River MT, Gibbon River WY (Yellowstone), Yukon Territory Canada.
State & Agency Records
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6 official records on file for Arctic Grayling
🥇
2 lbs. 7 oz.
L: 18.1"
Velma Mahaffey
Pahsimeroi River, Idaho Falls, IDJun 21, 1992Freshwater AnglingIDFG
#2
2 lbs. 6 oz.
L: 19.6" · G: 10.5"
Robert Doak
Meadow Lake, Pinedale, WyomingJun 4, 1983Freshwater AnglingWYGF
#3
1 lbs. 12 oz.
Don Acton
Lobdell Lake, Bircham Flat, CAAug 27, 1947Freshwater AnglingNDOW
#4
1 lbs. 12 oz.
L: 17.3" · G: 8.8"
Terry J. Fieldsted
Big Dog Lake- South Slope Uintas, Vernal, UtahNov 26, 1998Freshwater Angling
#5
1 lbs. 10 oz.
L: 14.7"
Glenn D. Davis III Flagstaff
Lee Valley Lake, Greer, AZJul 10, 1995Freshwater AnglingAZGF
#6
15 oz.
George Delich
Desert Creek, Wellington, NVJul 1, 1978Freshwater AnglingNDOW