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Grayling have an exotic air about them for many anglers in the Lower 48. We\u2019ve seen them in books and magazines, but they\u2019re mostly pictured in far-flung destinations like Alaska and northern Canada where they thrive in large numbers. Historically, however, these salmon relatives were abundant in parts of Michigan and Montana.<\/p>\n
Montana\u2019s grayling, which are confined to the upper Missouri drainage and a handful of high mountain lakes, are remnants of a wild population. Michigan\u2019s grayling, on the other hand, once thrived in the state\u2019s streams but went extinct generations ago. Now, thanks to years of restoration efforts, anglers in Michigan will be able to target grayling once again this fall. <\/p>\n
It\u2019s been nearly a century since wild Arctic grayling swam in Michigan waters, Bridge Michigan<\/a> reports. They used to be the most abundant fish in the state, according to the Michigan Arctic Grayling Initiative<\/a>, but years of overfishing and the introduction of non-native species like brown trout played significant roles in their eradication. Widespread logging during the early 20th century arguably took the biggest toll on these fish, which require clean, cold, and clear water to spawn in. By removing the trees that provided essential cover and choking some river stretches with debris, these practices ultimately doomed Michigan\u2019s grayling. <\/p>\n Efforts to raise grayling and reintroduce them into their historic Michigan range have been ongoing for years<\/a>.\u00a0State-run hatcheries began rearing grayling for reintroduction in 2019, and just recently, two things have fast tracked the ability of anglers to actually find a grayling on the end of their lines.<\/p>\n