Alaska Dolly Varden

The Alaska Dolly Varden is one of Alaska’s most important and sought-after sport fish and is another great Alaska fly fishing opportunity. To fish successfully for sea-run Alaska Dolly Varden, you need to learn their migratory habits. Since the Dolly Varden migrate to sea from lakes in the spring, a lake outlet stream or stream mouth should be good from April through June. Good Dolly Varden fishing can be found in salt water during May through and July. As the mature fish return to their home stream to spawn and feed in August and September, most coastal streams in Southeast Alaska and up through the Aleutians provide good fishing for Dolly Varden. Try fishing in deep holes and at the creek mouth on an incoming tide. Lake fishing for sea-run Alaska Dolly Varden can be good from late August through November. The fish begin entering lakes in late August and are in prime condition after their spring and summer growing season.

Dolly Varden will usually strike readily at almost anything the angler offers and pound for pound, they are awesome fighters. During the spring, try small spinning lures in the lake outlet streams and in salt water. Coastal streams in August and September can produce excellent fishing for those using spinning lures or a single salmon egg bounced along the bottom. I’ve also heard of anglers being successful with both wet and dry flies.

Alaska Dolly Varden is excellent for eating. The flesh is pink, firm, and full of flavor. The most popular method of cooking it on the road is to wrap it in foil with a little butter, salt, pepper, and lemon juice and cook it on the in the hot coals of a camp fire.

Young Dolly Varden have about eight to ten wide, dark parr marks or oval blotches which contrast with the mottled olive-brown color of their body. The sea-run fish are silvery with an olive-green to brown color on the dorsal surface and numerous red to orange spots on their sides. The mature males become brilliant red on the lower body surface and the lower fins become reddish-black with white along the leading edges. Mature females are similar but are less brightly colored. Males develop an extended lower jaw which hooks upward, fitting into a groove which is formed in the upper jaw. A hook also forms in the females but is considerably less developed.

The young Dolly Varden rear in streams before beginning their first migration to sea. During this rearing period, their growth is slow, a fact which may be attributed to their somewhat inactive habits. Young Dolly Varden often remain on the bottom, hidden from view under stones and logs, or in undercut areas along the stream bank, and appear to select most of their food from the stream bottom. Most Dolly Varden migrate to sea in their third or fourth year, but some wait as long as their sixth year. At this time, they are about 5 inches long and are called smolt. This migration usually occurs in May or June, although significant but smaller numbers have been recorded migrating to sea in September and October.

Once mature, Alaska Dolly Varden return to spawn in the stream from which they originated usually during the fall from mid-August to November. Those of the southern form that survive the rigors of spawning return to the lake shortly thereafter, while northern form Dolly Varden usually overwinter in the river in which they have spawned.

Mature Alaska Dolly Varden will range in size from 12 – 24 inches long depending on its migrating and spawning habits. Mortality after spawning varies depending on the sex and age of the fish. Males suffer a much higher mortality rate after spawning, partly due to fighting and the subsequent damage inflicted on each other. Few southern Dolly Varden appear to live longer than 8 years. Northern Dolly Varden may live as long as 16 years, but individuals over age 10 are uncommon.