Roger's Angling Pages
The Alpine Charr Salvelinus salvelinus		Salmon Family Salmonidae

This fish likes cold, high locations in the Alps, northern Norway, Ireland, Scotland and Iceland. It inhabits lakes situated at high altitude, about 2,000 m and above. Different types and varieties of this species often live in lakes not very far from each other .

The Alpine Charr is reminiscent of the Brown Trout in the shape of its body, but its coloration is different. The back is blue-green, the belly is yellow or a light orange-pink and small light yellow spots are to be seen on its sides and back. The vomerine bone is short, the scales are minute. All except the dorsal fin are lined with white on the lower side; a feature which is more noticeable in the males during the spawning season, when their belly turns deep red. Anglers have identified several forms in the Alpine lakes, which apart from other features differ in their breeding seasons; one form spawns in winter near the shore, another one in summer in deep waters. The largest predators reach a weight of 10 lb. Smaller fishes, living in deep water, feed on planktonic organisms and hardly grow to a length of 20 cm.

Angling techniques are similar to those used for other members of the Salmon family. When fishing in lakes, a boat is indispensable. These fishes can be caught by fly or by trailing artificial or natural bait. At dusk or at night they rise to the surface, and at such times fly fishing is usually most successful, The flesh is pleasantly flavoured, especially that of smaller fishes.