Dolly Varden

ENVIRONMENT YUKON

Yukon Fish Species

Dolly Varden

Dolly Varden have a trout-like body, slightly oblique mouth, forked tail fin and small scales.
They are dark blue to olive-green on the back and sides covered with light coloured yellow spots on the dorsal surface and orange and pink spots on the sides fading to white or dusky under-parts.
The spots are usually smaller in diameter that the pupil of the eye. The non-anadromous fish found in Yukon average 0.5 to 2 kg (1 to 4 lbs) and are much smaller than the anadromous form.
These fish are easily confused with bull trout which are now known to be a separate species.

Adult fish are carnivorous, feeding on fish, aquatic insect larvae, crustaceans and gastropods.
They are autumn spawners.

Contact Fish and Wildlife, Fisheries

Environment Yukon

Government of Yukon

Box 2703 (V-5A)
Whitehorse, Yukon
Canada Y1A 2C6

Phone: 867-667-5721
Toll free (in Yukon): 1-800-661-0408 local 5721
Fax: 867-393-6263

Email: fisheries@gov.yk.ca