24
Jul
Fourteen says the Maine. The formal name for Arctic char is Salvelinus alpinus.
Fourteen says the Maine.
Maine arctic char waters. Arctic charr in Maine are descendents of anadromous or sea-run arctic charr that populated coastal waters after several glaciation events during the Pleistocene era. Three genetic lineages of charr exist in North America. Through genetic studies arctic charr in Maine.
North Maine Woods NMW. North Maine Woods is the largest land manager in Maine. Several of the targeted Arctic charr waters are either on their land or only accessible via their land.
NMW operates under a gate-fee system and has offered us free day-use to put up the signs. Premier Maine Fly Fishing Outfitter for Trophy Maine Arctic Charr. We know our waters intimately and fish them often.
Fisherman come from great distances to have an opportunity at catching this Only in the lower 48 experience with Arctic Charr. Enjoy our World Class Maine. Arctic charr are found in only 14 waters in Maine.
They prefer deep cold lakes that lie at high elevation and have few other competing species. An illegal introduction of rainbow smelt at Big Reed Pond upset that delicate balance and threatened the charr population. MAINES NATIVE ARCTIC CHAR WATERS RANGE FROM 64 ACRES TO 3100 ACRES.
IN TOTAL THEY REPRESENT JUST UNDER 8900 ACRES OF WATER. MAINES NATIVE ARCTIC CHAR WATERS RUN FROM 52 TO 170 FEET DEEP WITH EIGHT OVER 90 FEET FIVE OF WHICH ARE OVER 100 FEET DEEP. Arctic char are widely distributed throughout the Arctic and subarctic regions of North America Europe and Asia.
But outside of Alaska Maine is the only state with a native population. Throughout their large geographic range Arctic char occupy a wide variety of aquatic habitats including lakes streams and rivers. Unlike the Arctic char anglers are most familiar with Maines Arctic char are landlocked not anadromous.
One of six species of salmonids native to Mainealong with Atlantic salmon brook trout lake trout landlocked salmon and lake whitefishArctic char are present in just fifteen waters one of which is closed to fishing. Even today when char expert Frank Frost is asked how many waters landlocked Arctic char inhabit in Maine he answers with a caveat. Fourteen says the Maine.
For decades Green Lake in Dedham Maine was classified as a native Arctic charr water. At 3132 acres it was the largest of the 12 native charr waters left in the contiguous United States and twice as large as the next biggest. They dwell only in Maines deepest coldest waters where they rarely venture near the surface.
Bluebacks are known to exist in a mere dozen of the states 6000 lakes and ponds and most of these waters require a plane or a sturdy pair of hiking boots to get. Arctic Charr Blueback Trout Sunapee Trout. Arctic Charr in Maine can live up to 15 years and attain a size of about 20 inches and 3 poundsMore often Arctic charr are much smaller.
In some lakes the average size is closer to 6 inches and a few ounces in. Yet Maine holds other aquatic prizes as well like a large population of wild brown trout which are found in waters that havent been stocked in at least 25 years as well as exceptionally rare arctic char. Maines 6000 lakes and ponds as well as its prized rivers and 3500-plus miles of coastline make it a special and unique destination.
Fishing Maines Arctic Char. If you tell any native Mariner you are headed up country they will immediately know where you are going. Aroostok County the northernmost and one of the largest counties in the Pine Tree State.
Generations of sportsmen have made the trek toward the Canadian border in pursuit of fish and game. The formal name for Arctic char is Salvelinus alpinus. There are three subspecies of Salvelinus alpinus.
Those found in Maine are known as S. Oquassa named after Lake Oquassa now known as Mooselookmeguntic Lake. ARCTIC CHAR ARE CLOSELY RELATED TO BROOK TROUT AND LAKE TROUT.
The Maine chapter of Native Fish Coalition NFC worked with Rippled Waters University of Maine Bangor Water District and Maine Department of Inland Fisher. An endangered Arctic Char in Maine is under threat from invasive Smelt in its home water and resource managers are now apparently discussing relocating the entire population. Bald Mountain Pond is home to one of only twelve of the last remaining wild Arctic Char populations in the US which are considered the oldest strains in North America.