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How to catch Gray's charr

Salvelinus grayi (Günther, 1862)

About Gray's charr fishing

Grays charr is a rare lacustrine fish belonging to the salmon family, featuring a fusiform body that typically reaches twenty five centimetres in standard length and a maximum recorded weight of around zero point one seven kilograms. This species is distinguished by its deeper, laterally compressed body, a short caudal peduncle, and a dull grey appearance complemented by a yellowish to orangish belly and small whitish spots adorning its upper flanks, dorsal, and caudal fins. As a benthopelagic dweller, it inhabits deeper lake waters ranging from ten to thirty metres, feeding primarily on small planktonic crustaceans such as cladocerans. It migrates to shallow rocky areas during November to spawn, though its populations have suffered severe declines due to environmental changes and introduced species.

  • Difficulty

    Medium

  • Average size

    25 cm

  • Market value

    Very high

  • Habitat

    Freshwater

  • Also known as

    Melvin charr

Gray's charr

Adipose fin

Small fleshy fin located between dorsal and caudal fins marks it as a salmonid.

Forked caudal shape

Distinctly forked tail fin aids in swift swimming.

Whitish flank spots

Numerous small whitish spots distributed over the upper grey flanks.

Gray's charr fishing facts

Characteristics

  • Typical size

    25 cm (max 25 cm SL )

  • Typical weight

    0.2 kg (max 0.2 kg )

  • Depth

    10–30 m

  • Body shape

    Fusiform / Normal

  • Commercial?

  • Vulnerability score

    37.7

When to fish for Gray's charr

01
January
02
February
03
March
04
April
05
May
06
June
07
July
08
August
09
September
10 Now
October
11
November
12
December

How to catch Gray's charr

Tips for catching Gray's charr

Gray char inhabit deep lacustrine basins and feed primarily on small crustaceans suspended in the water column. Anglers target them using fine-tackled drift fishing or boat presentations over deep water trenches where the fish suspend off the bottom. Wet flies and micro-spinners worked slowly through the midwater column imitate their natural zooplankton prey.

Other names for Gray's charr

Local and alternate names anglers use for Gray's charr.

  • Melvin charr
  • Gray's charr

Best equipment to catch Gray's charr

Compare fishing methods for Gray's charr — sized kit for each technique.

Note: Typical fish is 0.2 kg Our algorithm will suggest the best equipment for you based on this weight.

Best lures and baits for Gray's charr

Ranked lures and natural baits from every method, best first.

How Gray's charr migrates — Bathymetric

Shifts between shallow and deeper water with the seasons rather than moving along the coast. Change depth before you change venue.

How Gray's charr migrates — Bathymetric 1. Warm months: Feed in shallow water through the warm months. 2. Cold months: Drop into deeper water as it cools.
Shallow water Deep water

1 Warm months

Shallow water

Feed in shallow water through the warm months.

2 Cold months

Deep water

Drop into deeper water as it cools.

Larger adults often stay deeper all year.

Hover or tap a number to read each stage.

Diet and behavior of Gray's charr

  • Diet

    Carnivore

Where Gray's charr lives

Lives near the bottom but swims in the water just above it. Cover the lower column, not only the mud.

Habitats
Freshwater
Depth zone
10–30 m
Water column
Benthopelagic
Just above the bed

Where this species lives