Are there any grayling in the BWCA? I have no idea. I know there is an area in Montana that has them. I am unsure of how far north one must go to find them.
I ask because a guy at worked asked if they are found in the Bdub.

Thanks

No grayling anywhere in the Midwest. Used to be some on a few streams in Michigan many decades ago, but they went extinct. I've caught a lot of them in the Far North--great sport fish, but not good eating, IMHO.

There are no grayling in the BWCA, but there was an experimental introduction in 2 MN lakes a number of years ago. In the book Northern Fishes (Eddy and Underhill 1974), the authors describe how eggs from Montana were hatched by the MN Dept. of Conservation, and the fry were planted in Twin Lake (near Isabella) and Musquash Lake (near Grand Marais). The introduction was successful in that the fish survived, but unsuccessful because the fish did not reproduce. It is doubtful that any are currently present.

quote thebotanyguy: "There are no grayling in the BWCA, but there was an experimental introduction in 2 MN lakes a number of years ago. In the book Northern Fishes (Eddy and Underhill 1974), the authors describe how eggs from Montana were hatched by the MN Dept. of Conservation, and the fry were planted in Twin Lake (near Isabella) and Musquash Lake (near Grand Marais). The introduction was successful in that the fish survived, but unsuccessful because the fish did not reproduce. It is doubtful that any are currently present."

I feel like am reading an encyclopedia :) That is a compliment, of course. Thanks for the info.

T

Thanks for the info Arctic and Botanyguy

There is a few lakes just north of Yellowstone park area that has good grayling populations in the beartooth mountains. As mentioned about Minnesota grayling,that had to be at least 45 years plus since they were present in Minnesota.
I guess they taste real good.

quote fitgers1: "Are there any grayling in the BWCA? I have no idea. I know there is an area in Montana that has them. I am unsure of how far north one must go to find them.
I ask because a guy at worked asked if they are found in the Bdub.

Thanks"

Not just Montana, but I know they have them here in Utah and in Wyoming as well.

Actually where I am talking about is in Wyoming and 0.5 miles from Montana. Michigan once had a grayling lake.I don't know how it is doing now?

The State of Michigan stocked 145,000 yearling Arctic Grayling into 13 inland lakes and 7 streams in northern Michigan between 1987 and 1991. Eggs were taken from sources in Wyoming and the Northwest Territories of Canada, where wild grayling still exist. Good survival until age 5 occurred in only one lake, which was closed to fishing, patrolled to detect poachers, and which held only a few brook trout. Most of the grayling planted in the rivers disappeared within 6 months. The Department of Natural Resources chose to discontinue their attempts at stocking grayling in Michigan.

I think it would be interesting to see another test stocking take place in MN.

I agree.

With summers getting warmer all the time some of the brook trout lakes are having a hard time.
Yes it would be nice to have one catch and release lake,maybe in a state park. That lake would have to be reclaimed, I don't think Grayling can take much competition.

Doesn't Maplewwod State Park have a deep cold lake? I suppose a park farther north would be more beneficial though.

What’s old is new again in Michigan, on two very pleasing counts:

DISCOVERING | Cougars in the U.P. | Arctic Grayling Stocked in U.P. Waters

Perhaps you need to go to the Arctic? I've caught them in Nunavut.

mapsguy1955: "Perhaps you need to go to the Arctic? I've caught them in Nunavut."

I love it. A 12-year-old post revived.

gravelroad: "What’s old is new again in Michigan, on two very pleasing counts:


DISCOVERING | Cougars in the U.P. | Arctic Grayling Stocked in U.P. Waters "

Thank you for sharing that link, very enjoyable and informational!

mapsguy1955: "Perhaps you need to go to the Arctic? I've caught them in Nunavut."

I’ve caught them without crossing the border and without spending a night away from home. :-)












ALASKA ARCTIC GRAYLING FISHING SPOTS

Interesting new tactic to introduce them, makes sense.

T

fitgers1: "I think it would be interesting to see another test stocking take place in MN.
"

+1. This fish has a bit of a mystique for me and I have only caught one in my life. My grandfather moved to AK in his 20's and worked on gold dredges, panned for his own and trapped and hunted in his off time. He had several greyling trout mounted and I "restored" one of his old mounts that had fallen off the wall a time or two over the years. My brother and I camped near Fairbanks in 2006, near where he lived before moving back to WI.

I'd love to see them but it would be a senseless effort if there's just no chance for them to survive. I would imagine they need very cold and clean water.

Grayling are considered a rough fish in Alaska. I cleaned one once and it wasn't good table fare or woods fare. North Minnesota already has enough invasive crap in the lake.

If you want to fish for them in the lower 48, we have several good Grayling lakes here in Wyoming. I have caught them many times on a fly rod. Not great table fare because they tend to be a bit on the mushy side, however, smoked they are fine. About like Mountain Whitefish.