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I went down this rabbit hole on refugia Grayling populations in Alberta and area. Interesting stuff to me https://www.zoology.ubc.ca/~etaylor/Stam&Tay2004.pdf A grayling fossil was found in January Cave ( Cataract Creek Region) that dates from if I remember correctly ~23,000 thousand years ago so I guess they were once native to southern Alberta

Perhaps 25 years ago I caught a Grayling of about 10” in the Belly River while fishing with Dean Baaynes. Heard fish Fish and Wildlife captured another near Glenwood. Don

Arctic Gray-ling do exist in the Belly although more-so on the Montana side of the border.... however these are considered exotic as they were introduced to the drainage. They do exist naturally in the upper Missouri drainage and were also found in Michigan which are now extinct due to habitat degradation ....... So while they are found in Southern Alberta occasionally they are introduced vs the native ones found from the McLeod river north in Alberta ie Arctic watershed

I caught a couple 10-15 cm ones in the Belly just downstream of the 49th Parallel. Area locals also confirmed to me that there is or was a population of Arctic Grayling much closer to the Belly headwaters on the Montana side. I remember reading somewhere that Barry Mitchell and Don Andersen caught one in a irrigation diversion on the Canadian side of the Belly which is what sent me on my quest to catch a native southern Alberta grayling. I have no idea of their current status as all this was 20-25 yrs ago.

Thanks aaa, the vest is an old Filson Strap Vest that I received as a birthday present back in '65 from the folks. Extremely well made and they seem to last forever. Thanks for the comparison.to Barry. But us old geezers look alike. yep I sure like my Butter and Boo.