Despite the active industrial activity of man, the underwater fauna on Earth is still quite diverse. There are simply a huge number of fish species that live in the seas and lakes on the planet. They inhabit natural reservoirs not only in hot and warm, but also in cold regions. For example, one of the varieties of fish that prefer polar regions is the arctic char. The distribution range of this fish is very wide. It lives mainly in the Arctic Ocean.
What varieties are found
One of the features of the cold-water Arctic char is that it has a pronounced ecological plasticity. The size, and in some cases, the biological characteristics of this fish depend on which particular reservoir it lives in. There are basically three varieties of northern char. These fish can be lake, anadromous or lake-river.
The largest view: description
The photos of the Arctic charr of the migratory form presented below in the article clearly show how much this fish canbe big. Representatives of this species in nature reach the largest sizes. The body length of adults of this form can reach 88 cm, and weight - 15 kg. The anadromous char spends most of its life in the ocean. However, this fish, like many other salmonids, spawns in the lower reaches of the rivers.
This representative of the underwater fauna looks quite impressive. The body of the anadromous char is torpedo-shaped. The color of the scales of this fish ranges from steel to light silver. The main distinguishing feature of anadromous char is the presence of a bluish mother-of-pearl stripe on the back. Rare light spots are clearly visible on the sides of this fish.
During spawning, when entering rivers, the belly of male Arctic charr often turns orange. The light spots on the sides also acquire the same color.
Distribution area of anadromous species
In the Arctic Ocean, this form of char lives everywhere. There are huge populations of this fish, for example, in the area of the Kola Peninsula, Svalbard, off the coast of Alaska. Arctic char is also found in the Pacific Ocean. Here the fishermen call it the Dolly Varden.
Lake varieties
The passage form of the char, therefore, is distinguished primarily by its large size. Lake varieties of this fish are classified into large, small and dwarf. All of these forms live in natural fresh water, in the cold regions of the Northern Hemisphere.
Large arctic charrs have a body length of approximately 35-45 cm. In appearance, these fish are somewhat reminiscent of brook trout. The weight of large chars is usually 450-500 grams.
Small lake varieties can reach a length of 240-370 mm. Such chars weigh about 150-450 grams. Dwarf lake forms have a body length of only 170-150 mm. They weigh 50-130 grams.
Outwardly, the loaches of all these types are very similar to the anadromous form. However, the stripe on their back is usually not bluish, but olive or greenish. In small and dwarf forms, as well as in large juveniles, on the sides, among other things, transverse dark stripes are also clearly visible.
Features of food
All varieties of this northern fish have fairly well-developed teeth on their jaws and palate. Anadromous chars, as well as large ones, eat mainly live fish. They can hunt, for example, grayling or common minnow. With pleasure, representatives of large forms eat their own juveniles, as well as Siberian char. Small and dwarf species in the wild feed mainly on plankton. However, their diet can vary greatly depending on environmental conditions.
Fish spawning
Arctic loaches usually spawn in autumn. And they do it, unfortunately, not every year. Anadromous forms in some cases can also spawn in spring (according to unverified data). Lake chars spawn from time to time in June. But still, almost always this fish spawns in September-October. The coloration of lacustrine males during this period, like that of anadromous males, becomes morebright. The belly and spots turn orange.
Adromant forms, as already mentioned, for spawning in large flocks enter the lower reaches of the rivers. The juveniles that subsequently emerged from the eggs remain to live and feed at the hatching site for about 4 years. After that, young anadromous arctic charrs, who have gained weight, go to the ocean. They usually do this in the summer.
The timing of the onset of puberty in this fish depends on the specific form. Dwarf and small charrs can start laying eggs as early as 4-10 years of age. Large and migratory forms reach puberty later - at the age of 8-13 years.
Can I catch?
The range of distribution of Arctic char is quite wide. However, despite this, it belongs to the category of rare and endangered fish. In the lakes of hard-to-reach areas of the taiga and tundra, the populations of this char can be significant. In the BAM zone in our country, as well as in the areas of geological exploration and gold mining, this fish, unfortunately, is becoming less and less. In some areas, in lakes and rivers, its populations are almost completely eliminated due to uncontrolled fishing.
In order to preserve the population, the Arctic charr was even included in the Red Book in Russia. That is, it is impossible to get this fish in our country either by industrial or amateur methods.
Where to fish
It is impossible to fish for northern char in Russia. Below we will consider in detail how to catch it. But exclusively for the general development and in order tothe reader had an idea of how it is mined in other countries.
Fishing for Arctic char has a number of features. To catch him, you first need to know where he lives. The fish is northern. Therefore, even its lake forms prefer cold and very clean water. Because of this feature, on the mainland, such char can be found mainly only in glacial lakes high in the mountains. Sometimes you can see this fish in flat waters. In this case, the habitat of char is most often foothill lakes. But here the water is usually too warm for him. Therefore, in foothill lakes, this fish most often lives only at very great depths - up to 30 meters.
Catching Methods
Of course, ordinary fishermen catch Arctic char most often in lakes. In the Arctic Ocean, it is not fished either by amateur or industrial methods. In mountain lakes, this representative of the underwater world is fished both from the shore and from boats. In such reservoirs, char very often rises in search of food to the very surface of the water. In the foothill lakes, where this fish lives only at great depths, it is necessary to extract it, of course, only with the help of special watercraft.
What tackle is used
Both natural and artificial lures can be used to catch Arctic char. This fish reacts very well, for example, to ordinary plastic nymphs. The latter for char are often made in the form of a bloodworm green, black orRed. From natural bait, this fish bites well, for example, on maggot and pieces of fish meat.
In addition to nymphs, artificial baits for northern charr can be used:
- spinners and spoons;
- tacks with dead fish;
- wobblers and spinners;
- streamers and spinning lures;
- dry flies.
When fishing at depth in flat lakes, it is recommended to use light or even phosphorescent lures for this fish. Such gear is clearly visible in the dark and usually quickly attracts char. The catch in this case can really be big.
Very often complex types of equipment are also used for the extraction of Arctic char. Just fine, according to many anglers, it goes, for example, on gear with side eyeliners. It is they who are recommended to be used in the most famous golts places - in mountain craters.
Is this fish bred?
In our country, artificial Arctic charr is currently, unfortunately, practically not grown. However, it is bred in fairly large quantities by large fishing companies in some Scandinavian countries, as well as England. Although we do not grow northern char in our country, in this regard it is still considered a fairly promising fish. It is quite possible that domestic farmers will soon pay attention to it.
In addition, the breeding of this fishfor Russia is a matter to some extent even traditional. Once upon a time, northern char was grown, for example, by monks living on the shores of Lake Ladoga. This fish was used both, in fact, for the kitchens in the cloisters themselves, and for sale in near and far cities.
Growing Arctic char: features
Actually, the very technology of breeding this fish is determined, of course, primarily by the biological characteristics of its body. This representative of the underwater fauna lives, as already mentioned, for the most part at a considerable depth. Therefore, in artificial reservoirs, arctic char is most often grown with little or no lighting. 50 lux is enough for this fish in most cases.
The ability to live without lighting of all industrially bred fish is inherent, in fact, only to the Arctic char. Other salmon, for example, not only do not develop in the dark, but often die altogether.
Water in cages and pools when breeding this fish is most often used by the sea. But Arctic char can also develop well in fresh water. The stocking density of fish in cages is typically 10 kg/m3. Under such conditions, males reach marketable weight on the 18th month, females - on the 28th. The percentage of mature individuals in the herd when reared using this regimen is usually 10%.
When seawater is used, arctic char fish are kept at a temperature of 3-4 degrees. Fresh for him can be used and warmer. In this case, it is recommended to grow fish in water withtemperature of 7-13 degrees.
The Arctic charr is fed with a mixture of frozen fish, slaughterhouse waste, meat and bone and coniferous flour in a percentage ratio of 70:17:1:0.5. Compound feed for carp (12.5%) can also be added to the mass.
Interesting Fish Facts: Online Game
Despite the fact that northern char is a rare species, many modern people, including young people, know about it. The fact is that there is a popular multiplayer game "Russian Fishing" on the Web. Arctic char is one of her characters. Users of this game must catch as many fish as possible, focusing on their habits and using the right bait.
