Sea fish
Dolly Varden
Salvelinus malma
Get to know the species, pick your region, find your spot.
- Habitat
- Nehir ağzı · nehir · kumsal · kayalık
Best times of day
When in the day it bites best, month by month.
- Active day and night
- Poor at night
In October
-
Dawn 50
0.5 h before sunrise → 2 h after
-
Midday Best 60
2 h before midday → 2 h after
-
Dusk 40
1 h before sunset → 0.5 h after
Not productive at night
Moon phase
Effect of the moon on night fishing; the scores compare the phases.
- New moon 55
- First quarter 50
- Full moon 55
- Last quarter 50
Best phase: New and full moon
Windows across 12 months
| Best times of day | JJan | FFeb | MMar | AApr | MMay | JJun | JJul | AAug | SSep | OOct | NNov | DDec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dawn | 50 | 50 | 85 | 85 | 85 | 80 | 80 | 80 | 80 | 50 | 50 | 50 |
| Midday | 60 | 60 | 70 | 70 | 70 | 55 | 55 | 55 | 55 | 60 | 60 | 60 |
| Dusk | 40 | 40 | 85 | 85 | 85 | 80 | 80 | 80 | 80 | 40 | 40 | 40 |
| Night |
Windows follow sunrise and sunset; clock times change with place and date. Scores are relative within the month: 100 is the best window of the day.
6 sources · confidence medium
Habitat
Where it lives and in what kind of water: ranges compiled by the research.
Depth
0–200 m
mostly 0–50 m
Water temperature
-0.7–18 °C
ideal 6–12 °C
Salinity
Migrates between fresh and salt water
0–36.9 ‰
Shore types
- Delta / alluvial shore
- Cove / inner bay
- Shingle shore
- River / stream mouth
- Lagoon / weir mouth
- Harbour mouth
Bottom
Lives in open water
Ranges from FishBase, AquaMaps and the literature; a general tendency, not a hard limit.
Confidence: shore type high, temperature medium
Bait and tackle suggestions
Recorded baits and fishing techniques.
Bait by month
Baits documented for shore fishing, month by month and by water clarity.
In October
By water clarity
Pelagic sight hunter — Chases baitfish shoals by sight. Lures shine in clear water; in murky water its hunting range shrinks.
- Clear Visibility: over 8 m
- Lure First natural bait: Fish roe · Very suitable Usually in this water: Live baitfish or a whole fresh fish; thin fluorocarbon leader, no float or a light one. First lure: Fly · Very suitable Usually in this water: Hard minnow/stickbait, slim metal jig; fast, erratic retrieve. Colour: Blue-green back, Silver, White
- Slightly coloured Visibility: 4–8 m
- Lure First natural bait: Fish roe · Very suitable Usually in this water: Live or fresh whole fish; normal size. First lure: Spoon · Very suitable Usually in this water: Spoon, metal jig, popper/topwater; medium-fast retrieve. Colour: Silver, White, Blue-green back, Pink
- Moderately coloured Visibility: 2–4 m
- Lure First natural bait: Fish roe · Suitable Usually in this water: Cut oily fish (sardine/mackerel) with chum; under a float or at mid-depth. First lure: Spinner · Very suitable Usually in this water: Spinner, paddle-tail shad, metal jig one size up; vibration first. Colour: White, Fluorescent, Gold
- Murky Visibility: 1–2 m
- Lure First natural bait: Fish roe · Weak Usually in this water: Oily fish fillet, bloody chunks; chum for a scent trail; fish slower. First lure: Spinner · Suitable Usually in this water: If you must, a rattling vibe/lipless; near the bottom, slow. Colour: Fluorescent, Dark silhouette
- Very murky Visibility: under 1 m
- Natural bait First natural bait: Fish roe · Weak Usually in this water: A large, bloody chunk of oily fish; refresh the bait often. Catches usually drop. First lure: Spinner · Weak Colour: Colour does not matter
12-month bait calendar
- January
- Out of season
- February
- Out of season
- March
- Lures: Spoon, Spinner, Fly
- April
- Lures: Spoon, Spinner, Fly
- May
- Lures: Spoon, Spinner, Fly
- June
- Lures: Spoon, Spinner, Fly
- July
- Natural baits: Fish roe Lures: Spoon, Spinner, Fly
- August
- Natural baits: Fish roe Lures: Spoon, Spinner, Fly
- September
- Natural baits: Fish roe Lures: Spoon, Spinner, Fly
- October
- Natural baits: Fish roe Lures: Spoon, Spinner, Fly
- November
- Out of season
- December
- Out of season
This is the usual pattern; the water and weather on the day can change it. Colour is fine-tuning: bait type, size and action come first. Confidence: natural medium, lures high. Colour and presentation guide
Fishing rules
The regulation holds no separate minimum size or closed season entry for this species. The provisions for Türkiye as a whole apply.
Before you go, check local area and method restrictions.
Species profile
- Scientific name
- Salvelinus malma
- Water type
- Saltwater
- Other names
- Dolly Varden
