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Bradford Camps’ Outback Camp on Big Reed Pond. Bob Mallard

New York City. That this remnant of the Ice Age has survived this long is actually quite amazing. Equally astounding is where some of these char populations are found. Bald Mountain Pond in Somerset County is just over an hour north of the state capital in Augusta. Floods Pond is located on the outskirts of bustling Bangor. The former is open to fishing, the latter is closed to protect a public water supply.

Most of the remaining Arctic char waters are located in the northern part of the state. Almost all of them are found off a network of unmarked—and often unmaintained—dirt roads. Most are also outside the power grid. This means that gas, food, conventional lodging, and general supplies are often an hour or more away, and subject to business hours that are conducive to profitable commerce in rural areas. As is the case with regard to Maine’s remote brook trout ponds, this can create something of a problem for the traveling angler.

Fortunately, there are a few traditional sporting camps that are located on, or near, char waters. This gives those seeking to fulfill a bucket list item (catching a rare and beautiful Arctic char) a place to base out of. These businesses offer lodging, food, guides, rental boats, and fly-in service, allowing the angler to focus on fishing rather than logistics. One sporting camp even maintains an outpost cabin on Big Reed Pond, which is now open to catch-and-release angling, and once again putting up wild native Arctic char to anglers willing to put in their time.

Fall arctic char from Big Reed Pond. Bradford Camps

If you think you can just show up at an Arctic char lake and catch fish, you are wrong. Arctic char are deepwater fish that come near the surface only at certain times of year: spring and fall. They can, however, be targeted with sinking lines at other times of year. Fishing for Arctic char is not a numbers game. It is a chance to catch a rare fish in a remote setting. It is a chance to do something that most fly fishers have never done, and never will do. It is a chance to do something truly special—hold a rare and beautiful remnant of the Ice Age in your hand for a fleeting moment.

After years of working to provide the level of protection due these rare fish, there have been several major breakthroughs. First was the so-called Heritage Char legislation. This prohibits the use of live bait on any native char water.