Arctic Grayling: Distribution, Introductions and Angling Records

Arctic Grayling is a fairly common fish in that has been stocked into many high elevation lakes. I knew very little about grayling until a friend wanted to catch one on a fly rod (read post). While gathering information about where we could catch grayling, I found a lot of information which may help you to find a place to catch Arctic Grayling in your state.

Distribution of Arctic, European and other grayling. Click for larger map.

Arctic grayling and European grayling Distribution

Arctic grayling (Thymallus arcticus) is a Holarctic species meaning they are distributed in a circle around the arctic region of the northern hemisphere. They range in northern regions of North America, Asia and eastern Europe; east of the Ural Mountains. The Northern part of western Europe is inhabited by the European grayling (Thymallus thymallus). There are other species of grayling found in Russia (Siberia), China and Mongolia (see map).

• Arctic grayling (T. arcticus)- North America, Asia and eastern Europe
• European grayling (T. thymallus) – western Europe and the British Isles
• Amur grayling (T. grubii) – Russia, China & Mongolia
• Hovsgol grayling (T. nigrescens) – endemic to Lake Hovsgol, Mongolia
• Baikal grayling (T. baicalensis) – Lake Baikal basin of Russia (Siberia) and Mongolia
• Mongolian grayling (T. brevirostris) – Russia and Mongolia

Arctic Grayling in North America

In North America, the Louis & Clark expedition recorded “white trout” in the Beaverhead River, which we now know was the Arctic Grayling (T. arcticus).

The only remaining natural, native remnant population in the continental United States is in Big Hole River, Montana and was proposed for threatened or endangered protection under the Endangered Species Act in 2010. All other populations of grayling in the continental U.S. have been introduced. Including Alaska and Montana, Arctic Grayling have been introduced into 26 states.

States with Documented Introductions of Arctic Grayling

• Alaska
• Arizona –  Big Lake and the Salt and Verde drainages
• California – at least 26 bodies of water
• Colorado – Zimmerman Lake, North and South Platte rivers, the Rio Grande headwaters, the Eagle and Frying Pan rivers and the Arkansas drainage
• Connecticut – Housatonic drainage
• Idaho – the Kootenai, Spokane, Salmon, Bear, and Snake river systems
• Iowa -the Maquoketa and Coon-Yellow rivers
• Maine
• Michigan – Ford Lake
• Minnesota – Twin Lake in the Rainey headwaters, and several lakes in the Arrowhead region, including Musquash Lake
• Missouri
• Montana – Glacier National Park, the Belly, Red Rock, Madison, Gallatin, upper Missouri-Dearborn, Sun, Clarks Fork Yellowstone, Pend Orielle and Rock rivers
• Nebraska
• Nevada – high elevation lakes in the northern part of the state, Desert Creek, Ruby Valley and Steele Lake in Elko County
• New Hampshire – Long Pond and Sunapee Lake
• New Mexico – the Canjilon area
• New York
• Oregon – upper Deschutes and Umatilla river systems
• Pennsylvania – Susquehanna and Delaware river systems
• South Dakota – Missouri River system
• Utah – high elevation lakes and streams in Beaver, Cache, Daggett, Duchesne, Kane, Garfield, Summit, Uintah, Wasatch and Wayne counties
• Vermont – Caspian Lake
• Virginia – Smith River below Philpott Res.
• Washington
• Wisconsin – the Namekagon, Wolf, Brule and Beartrap-Nemadji systems
• Wyoming – Yellowstone Lake, Bighorn, Wind and Medicine Bow rivers, Big Sandy Reservoir, Jackson Lake, Babione Creek, Beartooth Lake and Frye Lake

Why so many Arctic Grayling Introductions?

Prior to the 1960s may introductions were done with little thought to ecological consequences. Today, introduction of grayling into high mountain lakes of the Rocky Mountains is done purely to provide recreational fishing. This because many trout species can not survive when dissolved Oxygen concentrations become very low during the winter in high elevation lakes (winter kill). Arctic Grayling can survive in low Oxygen concentrations of 0.6 to 4.8 mg/liter where other fish cannot. For comparison, studies have shown that 50% of rainbow trout die at Oxygen levels of 1.75 mg./l and most trout die at 1.5 mg./l.

There is little chance grayling can escape into lower elevation streams because they show signs of stress in water temperature as as low as 16.5° C (61.7 °F). They can tolerate water temperatures in excess of 20° C (68 °F), but they actively avoid those temperatures when possible.

U.S. Geologic Survey Records of Arctic grayling in Seventeen States

The following tables are scientific records for Arctic Grayling from the U.S. Geologic Survey (USGS) by state. Tables are sorted by Locality. These records do not show all areas where grayling may have been stocked, but do provide additional information about where they have been stocked and where they have been collected. If you have a favorite lake with grayling that is not in any of these tables, or have more recent information, I will be glad to add your records to the tables.

Status refers to the status of Arctic Grayling introductions:

• Stocked – records indicate grayling were stocked
• Established – the grayling population is established
• Failed – the stocking attempt failed
• Collected –  Arctic grayling were collected

I removed all duplicate records and left only the most recent record from the table if the status of Arctic Grayling was the same.

Records of Arctic Grayling in Arizona

Grayling have been established in at least seven areas in Arizona.

Records of Arctic Grayling in California

Grayling have been established in at least two areas in California, but most recent records are from 1987.

Records of Arctic Grayling in Colorado

Grayling have been established in at least three areas in Colorado.

Records of Arctic Grayling in Idaho

Grayling have been established in at least four areas in Idaho, but the most recent records were in 1990. Grayling are still stocked from fish produced at the Idaho Fish and Game’s Ashton Fish hatchery.

Records of Arctic Grayling in Minnesota

Grayling have been established in at least two areas in Minnesota, but the records date back to 1974. Recent information indicates those populations have not persisted. The Minnesota Dept. of Natural Resources website does not mention Arctic Grayling.

Records of Arctic Grayling in Montana

Besides the last remaining natural population in the Big Hole River, grayling have been established in Glacier National Park in Montana.

Records of Arctic Grayling in New Hampshire

Grayling were reported to be established in at least one area in New Hampshire in 1907. The New Hampshire Fish and Game website does not mention Arctic Grayling.

Records of Arctic Grayling in New Mexico

Grayling were stocked into the Canjilon area of New Mexico in 1957, but that attempt failed.

Records of Arctic Grayling in Nevada

There were attempts to stock grayling in Nevada in at least four areas, but those attempts have apparently failed. There is no mention of grayling at the Nevada Department of Wildlife website except that the state record for Arctic grayling was 15 oz. caught in 1978.

Records of Arctic Grayling in Oregon

Arctic grayling introductions into Oregon have failed. There is no mention of Arctic grayling at the Oregon Dept. of Fish and Wildlife website except that the mountain whitefish is sometimes mistaken for grayling.

Records of Arctic Grayling in South Dakota

Records of Arctic Grayling in Utah

Grayling were reported to be established in at least 37 areas in Utah. The High Uintas area of Summit, Duchesne and Daggett counties are well known for grayling, but they can also be found in higher areas of Beaver, Wayne, Garfield and Kane counties in Central and Southern Utah.

Records of Arctic Grayling in Virginia

Records of Arctic Grayling in Vermont

Records of Arctic Grayling in Washington

The USGS data seem to show that grayling were established in 1946, but had failed by 1978. Fishermen report catching grayling in Granite Lake (Skagit County) in 2008 and 2009.

Records of Arctic Grayling in Wisconsin

Records of Arctic grayling in Wyoming

Arctic grayling were reported as established in at least six areas in Wyoming and continue to be stocked by helicopter in many high elevation lakes.

State Angling Records for Arctic Grayling

Nine U.S. states keep State Records for the largest grayling.

Arctic Grayling Provincial Angling Records

Three Canadian Provinces keep records for largest grayling. The largest recorded North American grayling was caught in Canada. It was 533 mm and 2.71 kg (almost 21 inches long and almost 6 pounds), but that fish does not appear in any Provincial angling record.

Catch and Release State Angling Records for Arctic Grayling

Only two states apparently keep catch and release records for grayling. So if anyone wants to claim the record for Arctic Grayling in any of those states or provinces, let me know.

Arctic Grayling Classification

The North American grayling were originally separated into at least three species based upon their isolated distributions, but today all North American grayling are considered to be Thymallus arcticus.

• T. signifer – Alaska and northern Canada
• T. montanus  – Upper Missouri River drainage (Montana)
• T. tricolor – Upper Great Lakes tributaries in Michigan (original population is now extinct)