Photo by Charles and Alex Jardine
The winter colors of a “lady of the stream” (grayling).
have you eyeing up a grand vin vintage in celebration. However, be careful for what you wish (or indeed, fish ) for. Grayling are as gentle as they look, and are wholly intolerant of rough handling. Given that grayling are the focus of serious national and international competitions they have as a result, had to endure greater fishing pressure and ever more efficient methods of catching them: greater numbers are being spirited from their watery homes than ever before. As a result, a moral dilemma ensues. How on earth do we square the conservation and ethical circle? It’s a conundrum. One thing is certain we must, simply MUST, urge care and consideration. I know from experience at some low-key contests
where I have flexed a rod, we have wrestled with this ethical question and put the fish first; the participant only having to demonstrate capture to the bank-bound controller via the briefest of glimpses: thus, offering speedy catch and release. None of the unpalatable business of hefting the delicate form from the water then laying the grayling along a hard measuring tray, getting it verified … and on and nauseatingly, on, that we so often see at larger internationals. Not good, in my humble opinion. I digress. But there can be no denying, that, with the grayling’s cult status, have come a cornucopia of methods and tactics which have touched so many mainstream methods – and for a Flyfisher Autumn 2016 - Winter 2017
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