As Atlantic Salmon and Sea Trout fishing around the world continues to struggle, many anglers are searching for new and exciting possibilities for migratory fly fishing experiences. One of the most overlooked anadromous species in the world continues to be the Sea Run Arctic Char of the North Atlantic.
To the west in Northern Canada resides the largest Sea Run Arctic Char that can only be found in a very short window and opportunities to fish there are even more exclusive than fishing for Salmon on the Alta. To the east in the numerous Icelandic rivers are solid numbers of Char that can be particularly picky and difficult to catch, though very rewarding for the most proficient anglers.
Sea Run Arctic Char in Greenland
Yet nestled between them, lies the true ice laden gem, Greenland and its spectacular mountainous river valleys, dotted along its western and southern coastline. It is here that Sea Run Arctic Char are returning annually in astounding numbers and is confidently one of the healthiest migratory fish river systems and some of the best fly fishing for salmonids anywhere in the world. Where there is fresh water, there are Char!
Picture rivers that have never been negatively impacted by humans, with no destruction of wildlife and their natural habitats. Only hundreds of thousands of bright silver fish charging up to their spawning grounds, chunky and aggressive after months of heavy feeding in the arctic ocean.
Fly fishing in Greenland is like stepping back in time, schools of strong fish, in crystal clear pools, caught in great sizes. There are very few other places left in this world where you can experience walking through a spectacular river valley, whilst searching through miles of feature-filled rivers, lakes and streams all to yourself. Possibly catching sight of wild Caribou, Arctic Foxes and Eagles, knowing that each day you will catch more than a few nice fish and what’s more, you can choose how and where you wish to catch them.
As with any fly fishing for salmonid species, it is still important to manage expectations. Yes there are crazy numbers of fish coming into the river on every tide, but are we talking 50 to 100+ fish per angler, per day? No. Sea Run Arctic Char are still wild fish and they do require a level of care and an unhurried approach to fishing on the water. Wading too fast and too deep will easily clear out the pools and it often pays to remain on the bank. Fishing on the surface first also, before trying different depths. It is highly unlikely the fish will come to the top after a big streamer has swung through the pool several times.
They can’t always be fooled into taking a fly and can even be incredibly frustrating at times, particularly with clear skies and bright sunshine. With this in mind, there are times in the day when the action can be truly incredible. When the conditions are excellent, on occasion it can be possible to catch mind blowing numbers of fish. But no one has ever really taken much pride in doing this.
Instead, mostly anyone would indulge in the rare opportunity to challenge themselves and try out some new techniques, different flies and learn how these incredible fish react to a variety of presentations and flies, depths and speeds. For this reason many anglers who venture to Greenland eventually find their unique love of the top water action with foam flies. The first time you see one of these fish sprint off of their lie to hunt the fly down, sometimes with their whole backs out of the water, to eventually engulf the fly is something to behold and very addictive!
Fly Fishing Tackle for Arctic Char
The set up for targeting Greenland’s Sea Run Arctic Char couldn’t be simpler, my recommended fly fishing tackle includes single hand #5-7 rods with a Fast Actioned 9’0 #6 being the best middle ground rod, as they can handle punching large flies through the wind with ease as well as landing big fish. Though even the smallest fish fight formidably enough to bend the rod right down into the handle and it is always best practice to have at least 100m or more backing on your reel. As some fish have no problem taking you for a run back to the sea.
Most of the fishing in the rivers favors short head weight forward floating fly lines, with leaders from 9’ - 12’ depending on where and how you wish to present your flies. Longer leaders are better suited in wide open pools, while shorter leaders are best when fishing smaller pockets in and around rocks in the rapids. Of which there are many and highly productive fishing places.
There are also fantastic fishing opportunities in the inlets and outlets of the lakes that break up the course of the river, accompanied by short connecting streams that also fish very well. In these lakes, Intermediate and even sinking lines can be highly effective methods. Any angler that is well versed in buzzer fishing can have a similar experience with a single, pair or team of nymphs. On some days this can be the best fishing on the whole river system, however in most cases the Char love a good chase, so varying speeds from static all the way to a fast roly poly can really make the difference.
The fishing flies for targeting Sea Run Arctic Char are also some of the most fun and varied colors that you could ever expect to use for salmonids. The staple of course being brightly coloured streamers that are the most recognisable flies and are highly effective for Char. The top colours are Red, Pink, Purple & the most faithful of all…Orange! Fishing a streamer like a conventional Salmon fly, casting across the stream and swinging it across the river, will unquestionably satisfy any seasoned Salmon angler's appetite. Though it is often most effective with different lengths and speeds of stripping methods. After All, Char are active feeding predators that love to chase down their prey.
However, Sea Run Arctic Char can offer fly anglers so much more than blindly chucking heavy streamers across the river all day and most anglers eventually succumb to the more visual methods. Even with weighted streamers it is possible to sight fish the faster rocky pools with lots of pockets in and around the rocks. Fishing with a short line can be very exciting seeing the fish react to the fly. While attractor flies are highly effective, smaller and more sparsely dressed streamers can make all the difference, especially when the Char are being particularly difficult, or may have seen a few too many big flies beforehand. In some cases these flies can be nothing more than a few strands of hair, but they really work!
The unsung hero of Sea Run Arctic Char fishing however would have to be the humble nymph… with a bit of modern twist. Fished in #10-12 being the standard size, though #14-18 are always worth having when times are tough. Very simply tied, tungsten bead and ice dubbed bodies in bright colors work well, or better yet metallic colours like silver, copper and gold have become some of the deadliest flies in any body of water.
They can be fished alone, swung through a pool, fished slow to fast in the lakes, dead drift with or without an indicator, sight fished right into the bank, or rigged up as the secret weapon tied to the hook bend of a large attractor pattern 3’ - 4’ below. Just like trout the Char will come up to the attractor pattern, turn and take the smaller nymph instead. A great method to have in your armory when streamers or foam flies keep getting refusals or the ever frustrating fussy tail nips.
But the king of them all has to be, skating floating foam flies across the river and smaller glassy pockets within the rapids. Undoubtedly the most intense, heart stopping, memory making methods of fishing out there and it is what most anglers set out to achieve when traveling to Greenland. In particular the Erfalik river where these fish are the most active on the surface and will readily take a foam fly in most circumstances.
What’s all the fuss about?
Foam flies are tied super bright and create a highly visible V shape behind them as they wake across the surface of the water at any given speed, they even ride high on the waves of more turbulent pools. Casting to the far bank with your eyes locked onto the fly, anglers watch intently for the moment when the fish will reveal themselves. This may happen at any point in the swing.
Sometimes you see them straight away. Sometimes it’s right at the end of the swing. Sometimes you never even see the fish, only the fly disappearing as the line goes tight. Whether they actually take or they just come up for a very keen look at the fly, it is always a breathtaking moment when you get to see the fish. It is not uncommon in these moments for the fish to come up to the fly multiple times before taking, you may even see them slash at the fly several times in one swing, but often all they need to induce a take is just a little encouragement… speed it up!
When they do take and the line goes tight, it certainly pays to take a moment, look at your surroundings in which you’ve just achieved such a wonderful catch and truly savor the moment… it surely can’t get any better than this?
Interested in joining Jay fishing in Greenland in 2024 & 2025? Contact Jay Bartlett via Phone: +44(0)7983457451 or web: flyfishgreenland.com