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Fly-Fishing for Arctic Char
- Flies & Techniques
My all time favourite is the 'Adams', #14-16. Honestly, I did hardly try any other flies when Char was rising. I am sure, though, that most other dun imitations like Grey and Blue Dun will do a good job. Parachutes will also be a good choice, since a delicate presentation is not unimportant. Once you have spotted a rising fish and your presentation is fine the fish should take your fly readily, for it is unlikely it made an acquaintance with an artificial fly before.
Fishing with nymphs is a different story: First of all, the nymph has to float in the current as free and natural as possible! Sure, you will catch Char which are attracted by a salmon fly when stripping it back beneath the main stream, but fishing a nymph imitation is different: I have never caught a Char on a dragging nymph. When fishing wet I usually use my floating line. However, the leader is now extremely short, depending on the depth of the Char . Sometimes its just one meter or so. The tippet can be somewhat stronger, 0,22mm (2X) or more will be fine. We did quite well with all sorts of gold-head nymphs with brown and green bodies, #12-16. Hare's Ear and Pheasant Tail worked well, too. If you fish close to the bank under bushes you should try signal- green nymphs. In summer there are lots of green caterpillars falling from trees and bushes into the water. You will see that Char like them!!
I cast my nymph upstream and follow the drift with the tip of my rod. I strike whenever I perceive the slightest delay in the drift! Don't waste your time stripping the nymph back, Char will not follow it!
