Arctic Grayling fishing
Thymallus arcticus. Silvery to light purple sides with a bluish-white belly and a relatively slender body.
Arctic Grayling fishing uses a small dry fly or a worm. Arctic grayling are one of the species Utah stocks by aircraft into remote high lakes, arriving as 1-3 inch fingerlings rather than catchable-size fish.
Published by Fishypedia · Sources last checked September 19, 2026
Drafted by AI from the cited sources and checked before publishing.
- Active times
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- Line
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- Hook sizes
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- Stocked in
- 6 states
- Peak in AK
- June
Identification
- Silvery to light purple sides with a bluish-white belly and a relatively slender body.
- Long, high, sail-like dorsal fin brilliantly colored with shades of pink, green, and purple.
- Typically around 13 inches long in most fisheries, though fish up to 30 inches are recorded elsewhere in its range.
Sources: wildlife.utah.gov, accessed September 18, 2026 , fws.gov, accessed September 18, 2026
Top lures
Sources: adfg.alaska.gov, accessed September 19, 2026 , wildlife.utah.gov, accessed September 19, 2026
Top baits
Sources: adfg.alaska.gov, accessed September 19, 2026 , wildlife.utah.gov, accessed September 19, 2026
Line & tackle
- Rod power
Depth by season
Spring
In rivers, fish migrate upstream toward spawning areas in late spring.
Summer
In rivers, fish hold on the upstream feeding areas they reached in late spring before dropping back downstream in early fall.
Fall
In rivers, fish migrate back toward overwintering pools.
Sources: fws.gov, accessed September 18, 2026 , adfg.alaska.gov, accessed September 19, 2026
Stocked behavior
Arctic grayling are one of the species Utah stocks by aircraft into remote high lakes, arriving as 1-3 inch fingerlings rather than catchable-size fish. These plants need a full growing season or more before reaching catchable size, and settle into the same clear, cold habitat wild grayling use rather than schooling near a release point.
Common mistakes
- Fishing fast and deep through a hatch; drifting aquatic insects, especially black flies, mayflies, stone flies and caddis flies, are grayling's main food.
- Confusing grayling with small trout at a glance; grayling are the only salmonid with a sail-like dorsal fin.
Best time to fish Arctic Grayling
Most commonly stocked in June in Alaska, based on 879 stocking events on record.
Most commonly stocked in August in Idaho, based on 58 stocking events on record.
Most commonly stocked in April in Michigan, based on 21 stocking events on record.
Most commonly stocked in June in Montana, based on 59 stocking events on record.
Most commonly stocked in September in Utah, based on 35 stocking events on record.
Most commonly stocked in June in Wyoming, based on 21 stocking events on record.
Where it's stocked
61 locations shown. Tap a pin for details. · Open this area in Google Maps
Alaska
Michigan
Montana
Utah
State records
| State | Weight | Angler | Water | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colorado | 1.63 lbs | Derik Drinnen | Lower Big Creek Lake (Jackson County) | 2002 |
| Idaho | 2.44 lbs | Velma Mahaffey | Nez Perce Lake | 1992 |
| Montana | 3.63 lbs. | Glenn Owens | Washtub Lake | 2003 |
| Utah | 1 lb. 12 oz. | Terry J. Fieldsted | Big Dog Lake, South Slope Uintas | 1998 |
| Wyoming | 2.36 lbs. | Robert Doak - Rock Springs, WY | Meadow Lake, Sublette County | 1983 |
Common questions
What lures work for Arctic Grayling?
Small dry fly (Adams or mosquito pattern), a fly in gray and brown. Small inline spinner, a spinner in silver and gold. Small spoon, a spoon in silver and gold.
What bait works for Arctic Grayling?
Worm. Salmon eggs.
Where do Arctic Grayling hold?
Spring: In rivers, fish migrate upstream toward spawning areas in late spring. Summer: In rivers, fish hold on the upstream feeding areas they reached in late spring before dropping back downstream in early fall. Fall: In rivers, fish migrate back toward overwintering pools. Winter: Fish feed minimally and conserve energy, holding in lakes or the deeper, slow-current pools of rivers.
How big do Arctic Grayling get?
The Colorado record is 1.63 lbs from Lower Big Creek Lake (Jackson County) in 2002. The Idaho record is 2.44 lbs from Nez Perce Lake in 1992. The Utah record is 1 lb. 12 oz. from Big Dog Lake, South Slope Uintas in 1998. 2 more state records are on this page.