Trolling for char

One of the most memorable trophies, not only in Siberia, is the catch of a salmonid predator called the char. Anglers often hunt for it, and those who persistently try are often successful. Since char prefer deep water, it is traditionally caught by trolling.

What is it and the necessary equipment

Fishing from a boat or motorboat using a spinning rod and reel while moving is called trolling. It differs from trolling in that it involves a high-speed vessel. To catch Arctic char, professionals also use a fish finder to see the fish at depth. When choosing tackle for this type of fishing, it's important to consider the speed of the fishing, so the rod and lures must be appropriate. Furthermore, consider the depth of the chosen body of water, and then select the appropriate rod, reel, and other accessories. The tip of the rod signals that a predator has bitten, but since the lure moves along the bottom, the rod should be selected to show its steady movement.

What types of bait are used when fishing for char?

Wobblers are especially popular when trolling because they can easily reach the required depth. Other lures are also suitable, but their use involves many nuances. You'll need to adjust the boat speed, consider the lure's weight, and maintain the proper length of line. Anglers often use a small spoon, but to prevent it from rising to the surface, they add additional weight. Otherwise, this predator is considered unfussy and will attack a variety of lures, whether a spinner or an inexpensive, subdued wobbler.

How to find char

Experienced anglers, as we mentioned above, use a deep-sea fish finder, but there are other methods and secrets. When fishing for char, it's important to consider not only that they prefer great depths, but that they sometimes appear near the shore. For example, on cloudy days, which are common in the Arctic, they move closer to the shore, abandoning their favorite spots, which they frequent during sunny weather. This predator is adept at quickly and efficiently changing its location, but spends most of its time motionless.
The mere presence of the bait triggers its immediate movement. The char prefers to hang out in areas where the bottom is covered with rocks, snags, or thick weed beds. It also sometimes digs a cozy nest under rocks or even burrows into the sand. This is a very interesting and resilient fish, capable of surviving a complete freeze-over or, conversely, burrowing deep when the water dries up. And once the water returns, it resumes its life and hunts as if nothing had happened.