The Grayling by Von Gruff

[Mekaniks]

The refuge I work for... we have some phenomenal grayling on many of the rivers. I take HS kids out for a summer float camp. We routinely catch 20+ inch grayling. Here's one caught by my oldest daughter a few years back; it was just shy of 20 but was her first fish on a fly rod.

That is an awesome grayling! Any grayling over 20" or 3 lbs is a monster. And yes, they are a blast to catch, even the small ones are tons of fun.

 

[Mekaniks]

The refuge I work for... we have some phenomenal grayling on many of the rivers. I take HS kids out for a summer float camp. We routinely catch 20+ inch grayling. Here's one caught by my oldest daughter a few years back; it was just shy of 20 but was her first fish on a fly rod.

Whats you favorite way to cook them?

For me its butter and onions. IMO the best is fresh, stuffed with onions, butter, wrapped in foil in the fire. Occasionally I will filet them and fry them in a pan on top of onions and butter.
I have cooked small ones in the fry pan whole with the fins trimmed off, stuffed with onions, but much prefer them in foil in the fire coals.

 

[Tundra Tiger]

Whats you favorite way to cook them?

For me its butter and onions. IMO the best is fresh, stuffed with onions, butter, wrapped in foil in the fire. Occasionally I will filet them and fry them in a pan on top of onions and butter.
I have cooked small ones in the fry pan whole with the fins trimmed off, stuffed with onions, but much prefer them in foil in the fire coals.

Confession? I don't eat them... or trout (we have monster rainbows - 25-30" )... or (gasp!) salmon. I never developed a taste for any of them. I grew up in Kansas. I like white, flakey fish, so here that's halibut or pike. Everything else, for me, is catch and release. Mostly what I eat is moose and caribou. The fish though... my little corner of the world and my employer... our rivers are remote and hard to get to. Frankly, the fishing is often obscene, in numbers and size. I am incredibly blessed and smart enough to know it.

 

[Tundra Tiger]

That is an awesome grayling! Any grayling over 20" or 3 lbs is a monster. And yes, they are a blast to catch, even the small ones are tons of fun.

I have a little Diawa pack rod I have had forever (spinning tackle). I usually run it with 6 pound line and it is a hoot on small rivers for grayling and Dollies. I have even managed one 36" hen king and last year caught several spawning silvers.

 

[freefall]

Oh, that IS lovely!

 

[dchamp]

This brings back memories. I worked for my uncle during the summers in Juneau & Skagway Alaska as a teenager in the 60's. We used to have the train between Skagway and Whitehorse drop us off in along the border in B.C. and fish for Grayling. It is one of my favorite memories. They are fun to catch and delicious.

 

[Tubby’s Canteen]

This a pic of the NZ Grayling (Prototroctes oxyrhynchus)

My picture was of a gaspereau found here in eastern Canada which appears remarkably similar to your grayling.

 

[Cervus elaphus]

My picture was of a gaspereau found here in eastern Canada which appears remarkably similar to your grayling.

They do look the same ... perhaps ours migrated to Canada?. Does your gaspereau co-exist with trout?

 

[Cervus elaphus]

Confession? I don't eat them... or trout (we have monster rainbows - 25-30" )... or (gasp!) salmon. I never developed a taste for any of them. I grew up in Kansas. I like white, flakey fish, so here that's halibut or pike. Everything else, for me, is catch and release. Mostly what I eat is moose and caribou. The fish though... my little corner of the world and my employer... our rivers are remote and hard to get to. Frankly, the fishing is often obscene, in numbers and size. I am incredibly blessed and smart enough to know it.

Thanks ( I think ). Here in Eastern Australia I've caught rainbows up to 10lbs but they are rare.

 

[Cervus elaphus]

My picture was of a gaspereau found here in eastern Canada which appears remarkably similar to your grayling.

I've since done a bit of a readup on the gaspereau, and their lifestyle is very similar to the spawning runs of Chinooks (NZ Quinnat) on the east coast of New Zealand's south island. Not just the Chinooks but also large sea-run trout. Interesting.

 

[Tubby’s Canteen]

I've since done a bit of a readup on the gaspereau, and their lifestyle is very similar to the spawning runs of Chinooks (NZ Quinnat) on the east coast of New Zealand's south island. Not just the Chinooks but also large sea-run trout. Interesting.

Sea trout chase the gaspereau up the runs here. There a really trophy if one can be caught.

 

[Mekaniks]

Sea trout chase the gaspereau up the runs here. There a really trophy if one can be caught.

Sea trout like Arctic Char or Steelhead??

 

[Tubby’s Canteen]

Sea trout like Arctic Char or Steelhead??

Steelheads and a variety of brown that spends part of its time in the salt. They all get lumped in together.

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

Thanks ( I think ). Here in Eastern Australia I've caught rainbows up to 10lbs but they are rare.

@Cervus elaphas
You need to change fishing spots. I've seen a 17 pounder caught out of the river near Jones bridge in Tumut
Bob

 

[Cervus elaphus]

@Cervus elaphas
You need to change fishing spots. I've seen a 17 pounder caught out of the river near Jones bridge in Tumut
Bob

I've fished the Tumut river and those are tiddlers Bob. Here's some really big trout from where I fish in NZ

 

[6.8KLR]

If it had the "bird wing fin" it was a grayling

View attachment 399073

PRAISE THE LORD !!!!

 

[Mekaniks]

@Von Gruff Grayling #1 arrived today complete with authentication card. What a cool little knife. Thanks Garry!

 

[Chukar]

Beautiful.

Congratulations!