Dolly Varden

The dolly varden is part of a closely related group (chars) and is difficult to distinguish from external characteristics.

 

HOW TO IDENTIFY A DOLLY VARDEN

Due to past misidentification of species in various locales and lack of scientific knowledge, much of the available literature on these species is either misleading or incorrect, and there is still some disagreement among scientists on their distribution.The Dolly Varden and bull trout can generally be distinguished by their size and habitat. The Dolly Varden is usually a coastal species whereas the larger bull trout is found inland in large, cold rivers and lakes draining high, mountainous areas. A greater problem arises in trying to separate Dolly Varden from Arctic char. Much of the published information on the distribution of these species is incorrect and often presupposed that only one species occurred in areas or rivers where it is now believed both species may occur. The two are outwardly almost identical in every respect and to complicate matters, significant variations occurs in both species. The spots on the Dolly Varden are usually smaller than the pupil of the eye, while on the Arctic char they are larger than the pupil. When returning from the sea both species are silvery and lack spots. Arctic char on the average have more gill rakers on the first gill arch (25-30 as opposed to 21-22 in the Dolly Varden) and more pyloric caeca (40-45 as opposed to about 30 in Dolly Varden), but fish with intermediate counts (i.e., 23 or 24 gill rakers and 35 pyloric caeca) are not at all uncommon in either species.

WHERE TO CATCH DOLLY VARDEN

The Dolly Varden is known to occur from the Sea of Japan through the Kuril Islands to Kamchatka, through the Aleutian Islands and around Alaska to the Yukon and Northwest Territories (Canada) in the north and the northwestern United States in the south. Like the Arctic char (Salvelinus alpinus), it is an anadromous fish though some populations are landlocked. The following list includes additional details on where to catch this fish:

 

BACKFLOW                                                            BAYS AND ESTUARIES

OUTSIDES OF BENDS                                               RIVERS AND STREAMS

SCHOOLS                                                               DROP-OFFS

MERGING CURRENTS                                               STANDING WAVES

CURRENT EDGES                                                     BAYS

CHANNEL ENTRANCES                                             ROCK AND BOULDER POCKETS

RIPPLES, CURRENTS, SWIRLS AND SPRAYS        DAMS AND FALLS

EDDIES                                                                  SMALL POINTED WAVES

UNDERCUTS

 

HOW TO CATCH DOLLY VARDEN

The following are fishing methods used to catch this fish:

 

JIGGING                                                       FLY FISHING

STILL FISHING                                               DRIFT FISHING

TROLLING

 

DOLLY VARDEN LURES, TACKLE & BAIT

The following are lures, tackle or bait that can be used to catch this fish:

 

CURED FISH ROE                                           FLIES

SALTWATER LIVE BAIT                                    SPOONS                                   

PLUGS                                                SPINNER BAITS