Dolly vardon biography

Like the two species to which is it closely related—Arctic char (Salvelinus alpinus) and bull trout (Salvelinus confluentus)—the Dolly Varden (Salvelinus malma) is a true char that is found throughout a wide range in the North Pacific watershed. Although they were once thought of as nuisance fish that ate the eggs of more high-profile species, dollies are now prized by fly fishermen for their aggression, their size, and their remarkable colors. In spawning season, males are arrayed in brilliant pink, green, and orange and are among the more beautiful trophies of the north.

Range and Life History

The range of the Dolly Varden extends from Puget Sound north, around the coast of Alaska, to the McKenzie River in the Canadian arctic. In the eastern Pacific, the species inhabits waters from Japan north to the Bering Sea. Attempts have been made to in