Fish Facts
Lake Trout, Salvelinus namaycush, means ‘an old name for char' ‘tyrant of the lake'. They are a member of the salmon family, inhabiting large lakes and are silver, green or dark purple in colour. Their flesh can be orange or white in colour pending on diet. The smaller lake trout have orange-red flesh, this is a result of a concentration of flies, insects and crustaceans in their diet. On the other hand, larger trout commonly have white coloured flesh due to consuming other fish. They pursue and devour large prey, including other trout, as well as species like grayling, whitefish and ciscoe's. No lure is too big or too fast for these ferocious carnivores.
Trout in the far north do not begin spawning until 7-13 years of age. Typically, they spawn in the fall every second or third year. They are the only member of the Salmon family that spends its' entire life cycle in lakes.
Preferred temperature is 50-60ºF.
Nutrition: Lake Trout is a good source of protein and vitamin B. Fatty fish such as lake trout and arctic char contain omega-3 fatty acids, which aid against heart disease and may help prevent cancer. You can prepare fish on the barbecue, dry it, smoke it, bake it, cure it or cook it over an open fire.
Arctic grayling, Thymallus arcticus , are found throughout most of the mainland in the Northwest Territories. They generally inhabit only those lakes and rivers with clear cold water. In large lakes they stay close to rocky shores and near the mouths of streams. Their most distinctive feature is a large and colourful dorsal fin. The back is dark purple or bluish-black, shading to silver on the sides (speckled with a few black spots) and white below.
Arctic grayling can reach sizes more than 20” (30-40 cm), and can weigh up to 5 lbs.
Their diet is comprised of insects, as a result offer some of the best sport fly fishing. They are energetic fighters, putting up a good battle for their size. Their tendency to leap out of the water when caught, their readiness to take hook, their soft mouth, their beauty and good taste, all make the grayling a very popular sport fish.
