Arctic Grayling (Thymallus arcticus)
Where are they from?
Arctic Grayling were once abundant in the streams and rivers of Northern Michigan as well as parts of Canada and Alaska. Natural reproduction, in addition to cold, clear, streams and rivers allowed historic populations to live in Michigan.
When do they reproduce?
Arctic grayling spawn in April and May, often migrating and spawning in more than one river in their lifetime. Individual fish can vary, often traveling tens of miles annually between spawning and sheltering habitats.
What do they eat?
Arctic Grayling primarily eat aquatic insects like mayflies, caddisflies, and stoneflies. The rivers of northern Michigan have a high abundance of these insects. Grayling are known to eat eggs of other fish like salmon and trout as well as terrestrial insects that fall into the water in the summer. They sometimes eat smaller fish too. However, in the winter, the Arctic grayling feeds minimally.
What caused Grayling to disappear from Michigan?
In 1936, the last Grayling in Michigan was caught by a recreational angler. Overfishing and excessive logging caused the extinction of Grayling in Northern Michigan. Anglers loved the taste of this fish and often tied five flies per line to maximize the amount of fish caught per cast. Logging caused habitat degradation and allowed excess sediment to enter rivers, which altered streamflow patterns and existing channels.
