Grayling Fishing

While cruising on the Denali highway this weekend, Derek and I went grayling fishing on a pretty little stream. I have never been grayling fishing before, so I was excited to see what one looked like. The average size is 12-13 ounces, so we were just expecting little guys. This is my firsy grayling ever:
They have cool top fins that look like a fan. (but the fish gets super mad if you touch it.. I found out the hard way....)

We caught a few of these small ones, and then I got a gigantic one on!! Of course, Derek wasn't near to see it, so I tried to keep it on my line and walk it up the river where he could see my record-size, enormous grayling. However, because it was gigantic and enormous and record-breaking ,I couldn't hold on to it any longer and it got away..... with my fly and hook in its mouth. All afternoon, all I could talk about was that fish, and how I can't believe it got away before I could show it to Derek. And it had my favorite fly in its mouth. I was whining about it for hours.

Then, about 6 hours later, Derek and I decided to try one more time. I was determined to catch a big one again and prove to him that I was no liar!!!

So I did:

And it just so happened to be the SAME ONE!! I was taking the hook out of its mouth and lo and behold was my fave old one, still in his mouth. SUCKER!!! Got ya twice, ha!

We kept him for the campground host and his cat for dinner. Derek and I didn't want to eat it, but the host told us "them's greylings is good eatin" He didn't have any teeth, so it came out a little garbled, but we knew what he meant. So we brought him a present.

I can't believe I caught the same one twice....