In France's Peche Mouche magasine , I read with interest an article about fishing for char in Greenland and the writer was explaining how they respond well to surface disturbance flies. I am off to NOrway in August where catching salmon on dry flies is the norm and it happens that the river I am going to holds both species. I saw char last year stationed below a fall, and they were the size of Jeremy Clarkson's ego... So I am pretty excited and started tying.

This is the result so far: poppers for arctic char

I know what to tie for salmon but it is more of an open book for salvelinus alpinus (especially the large chunky "migratorinus" variant if you see what I mean!)

Would welcome any suggestion of surface lure patterns with pictures if possible. Especially if they have already caught arctic char.
Many thanks

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Nice article, I read with interest but I am confused with the title
Poppers for Arctic Char.
The flies shown whilst primarily wake or surface flies are not poppers. Poppers are buoyant surface lures constructed from balsa wood or sometimes deer hair. Sure they would work though if as you say this fish will hit a surface disturbance pattern. Unfortunately we do not have the same fish here in the UK. & whilst we have a speies of char that normally confines itself to deep Highland lochs & with a few exceptions does not grow to a great size.

Confused of Erskine

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Some of Northern Iceland's salmon rivers also have anadromous arctic charr; however they are not as responsive to the popular riffle hitch tubes.

The best fly for Icelandic charr is undoubtedly the Heimaseata, our Whisky fly is also good. I've seen the std Muddler recommended, but haven't tried it.


How big are the charr in the Norwegian river? JC's ego indicates 40 lb
They are about 2 to 4 lb in Iceland with maybe the odd one reaching 5lb.


PiB

Hi Highlander,

I see your point and I guess I sinned by haste in wanting to quickly put the photos online to illustrate my post. Surface or wake lures is more appropriate. So I have now changed the title of the article.
Seems to me though that the key point in describing a fly as a popper is its "popping" action that gives it its name, less so what it is made off: balsa, deerhair or other? ... and I thought these two flies would "pop" nicely but I am still to test them. Perhaps they are not worthy.

I actually have some bass popper heads at home but decided against using them as I felt they'd make far too bulky a fly for the quary I am after.

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I have only fished a handful of Norwegian rivers but the largest char I saw was the size of a plumb grisle, so 7 -8lbs. A hefty fish and quite a sight. Needless to say, these fellows had migrated back from the sea, otherwise they would not have weighted half that.

I would say that the average weight should be quite similar to Iceland. I assume you have to go to Labrador and other NOrth American territories to meet the really large salvelinus. It is on my list of destinations. So patience, patience...


What does the Heimaseata look like? I might tie a few if you told me more.
thanks

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I forgot to mention the Dentist, another streamer that's really good for arctic charr.
L/S#8



Smallish tubes too

Ouh, thanks Puss in Boots

They look absolutely yummy. Will have to make a few before I leave for Norway.

Am I mistaken or most patterns I see for char are very colourful?

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They certainly like hot orange.




An Icelandic selection from:

http://www.frances.is/english.asp?p=vorur&f=17&val=3


PiB

Hi,

Hope you don't mind me tagging onto your Char thread Jumping Frog!

I'm interested to hear if anyone has fished for Char in Britain, and how they got on. What techniques work etc?

So I know they like hot orange - but how do you get a fly to the depth required? What conditions bring them to the surface?

If all else fails I'll use some sort of downrigger and spinner.

Cheers

Duncan

to my knowledge, arctic char are not widespread in the UK and found only in a handful of very glacier lakes (Windermere, etc).

I am also under the impression that they are not free rising unlike their Scandinavian / north american cousins. I have only ever heard of Windermere char being caught with downriggers and spoons trolled very deep. not the usual fly fishing methods.

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