Angler holding an Arctic char by a fell lake at dusk

Arctic Char Fly Fishing in Lapland

Some Like It Cold. Arctic Char Do.

Three anglers smiling with a bright red Arctic char

Into the Arctic Wilderness

Arctic char is one of the most fascinating fish of the far north. They live in some of the coldest, clearest waters in the region and can be powerful, unpredictable opponents on fly tackle.

They are not the easiest fish to catch, but when the conditions are right even the dry fly fishing can be excellent. On these trips the landscape is every bit as important as the fishing.

The Mighty Arctic Char

Arctic char vary a lot in size, colour and behaviour from one water to the next. Some are beautifully marked and brilliantly coloured; others are powerful fish built for cold, fast water.

In our waters the bigger fish usually have a red belly and white edges on their fins.

Arctic char swimming over stones in clear shallow water

Dry Fly Fishing for Arctic Char

On calm days Arctic char can sometimes be caught entirely on dry flies. When the water is cool, the fish cruise close to the shore looking for food – and that makes for incredibly exciting sight fishing.

You see a char moving slowly along the shoreline, place a small dry fly ahead of it, and wait.

Hiker resting with a dog above a fell lake

Fly Fishing in Remote Arctic Waters

An Arctic char trip is not a standard day at the river. Depending on the water, it can mean a long hike or even a helicopter or floatplane ride into remote terrain.

That is part of the attraction. You are not simply catching a fish – you’re travelling into the Arctic to find it.

The Best Time for Arctic Char Fishing

The main season runs through the summer; the best period depends on the lake or river and current conditions.

The Best Time for Arctic Char Fishing
	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep
Arctic char		Excellent	Closed / not a good time	Good	Excellent	Excellent	Fair

ExcellentVery goodGoodFairPoorClosed / not a good timeIce fishing

March–April: sight fishing through the ice.
June: cold lakes and changing water levels – fish get active on warm, sunny days at the end of the month.
July: long days, strong insect activity and excellent dry fly fishing, also on lakes.
August–September: still good fishing, getting harder towards late September.

Guided Arctic Char Adventures

Private full-day guiding

€750/ 1–2 anglers

Fishing time: about 8–10 hours
Additional angler: €150

Check availability

Multi-day trips

€725/ day / 1–2 anglers

Additional angler: €150 / day

Check availability

Arctic char trips start from Kilpisjärvi or Kautokeino; multi-day trips can also start from Palojoensuu. Tell me your dates and goals – or see the complete fishing packages.