Good Conduct

Grayling Society members are expected to engage in good practice wherever they fish. 

Educating by example, they should be courteous and considerate to fellow anglers and others using the water amenity; park wisely; close all gates; treat hedges and walls as barriers not sporting obstacles and observe the Countryside Code.

Rules of the River

Valid permission to fish should be obtained before fishing, supported, where applicable, with a rod licence. Local rules can vary widely, even on adjacent beats, and they should always be consulted and complied with. Should you disagree with local rules, don't turn a blind eye and do it your way. If you feel strongly about it, a reasoned and courteous letter to the club or proprietor may prove a catalyst for future change. Constructive feedback is usually appreciated.

Wading

Grayling often inhabit trout and salmon rivers, so if your ticket permits you to wade do so with great care as it is a criminal offence to disturb redds and spawning fish. The Society supports trout and salmon interests in denouncing 'shuffling' (attracting grayling by shuffling your feet to release insects from the riverbed), for not only can redds be disturbed, but it can have an adverse impact on fry and other aquatic life. It can also lead to wading being banned or even access being denied, so please don't do it. For your own safety you should wear waders suitable for the conditions prevailing, use common sense over where you wade, and when deep wading employ a wading staff and a buoyancy aid, especially in unfamiliar water. Be particularly conscious of the need to prevent the spread of invasive species into our waters and adhere to the Check-Clean-Dry disinfection procedure:

Check - All clothing and equipment should be thoroughly inspected and any visible debris (mud, plant or animal matter) should be removed and left at the water body where it was found. Particular attention must be paid to the seams and seals of boots and waders. Any pockets of pooled water should be emptied.

Clean - Equipment should be hosed down or pressure-washed on site. If facilities are not available equipment should be carefully contained, e.g. in plastic bags, until they can be found. Washings should be left at the water body where the equipment was used, or contained and not allowed to enter any other watercourse or drainage system (i.e. do not put them down the drain or sink). Where possible, clean equipment should be dipped in disinfectant solution (e.g. Virkon) to kill diseases, but note this is unlikely to kill non-native species.

Dry - Thoroughly drying is the best method for disinfecting clothing and equipment. Boots and nets should be hung-up to dry. Equipment should be thoroughly dry for 48 hours before it is used elsewhere. Some non-native species can survive for as many as 15 days in damp conditions and up to 2 days in dry conditions, so the drying process must be thorough.

More information on invasive species and the can be obtained from the GB Non-Native Species Secretariat website.

Angling Methods

The Grayling Society is not a fly fishing club. Many anglers do use the fly, but bait fishing is widely practised, particularly in the winter months, and is sometimes essential if fish are to be caught. Please be aware that certain baits may not be allowed at specific times of year or on certain rivers/beats. Whichever method is to be employed, please check and follow the rules.

Catch & Release

Grayling are an important natural resource and the Grayling Society advocates catch and release. The following hints and tips will help in returning Grayling fit and healthy. Further information can be found on the Keep Fish Wet website.

• Use barbless hooks or hooks with the barb flattened.
  
• Nets with knotted mesh are illegal, please use fish-friendly nets. Never keep grayling in keep nets, as they quickly become stressed.
  
• Play your grayling firmly and bring it to hand quickly - never over play grayling.
  
• Keep the fish in the water as much as possible. Unhook and release the fish as quickly as you can and with the minimum of handling.
  
• If you want to photograph your fish, keep the stress to a minimum. Photograph fish in the water; never place them on the bank. Keep the fish as close to the water as possible and fully submerge it between pictures to give the fish a quick breather. Ideally, let the photographer call the shots - 1, 2, 3... raise the fish... and click. Help grayling, especially large grayling, to recover before releasing them. Hold the fish, in the net, facing upstream in a reasonable flow until it is capable of swimming on balance and under its own power. Never move any fish back and forth in the water - it can cause serious damage.

Taking Fish

Please be aware, when fishing in England or Wales, that there is a National Bye Law regarding the taking of Grayling. Only 2 fish may be taken each day and these must be between 30 and 38 cm.

Last Rites

If a fish is to be kept, then please despatch it quickly using a priest. Stones, pieces of wood or the butt of your rod are crude and disrespectful alternatives and should not be used.

Environmental Considerations

Never leave nylon or other litter on the river bank. Discarded hooks and nylon endangers wildlife.

Plastics

An increasing body of scientific evidence indicates that plastics carry significant risk to the aquatic environment. Grayling Society members should act responsibly with the sourcing, use, and discarding of all plastic materials in a manner that minimizes this threat. Adhering to the practices of schemes such as the Anglers National Line Recycling Scheme (ANLRS) or similar is recommended.



Reporting Pollution

Anglers are the watch-dogs of the river and its environment. If you witness a pollution event, the first thing to do is to report it.

Making the regulator (for example the Environment Agency or Natural Resources Wales) aware of an incident is an essential step to make sure the polluter is held to account for their actions.

Before reporting an incident, collect as much evidence and information as you can. This can be valuable in pinpointing the location and demonstrating the impact and extent of the pollution. Then report the incident immediately, don’t wait until you get home or until you have spoken to someone else.

Important things to note:

• Location - If possible, obtain a grid reference for your location. If not then identify the nearest road, bridge or recognisable feature. Alternatively, ‘What3words’ is a great way to obtain your location in the field. When you call the Environment Agency or Natural Resources Wales you will be speaking to a national call-handler, not a local contact, so assume they know nothing about your area.
• Date and time - When you came across it.
• What have you seen - Describe what you have found. Note any smells, changes in water colour, evidence of damage to the environment.
• Potential source of the pollution - If it is apparent where the pollution is coming from include in your incident report.
• Photos and videos - Take photos and videos, including the pollution source (if possible) as well as noticeable damage such as discolouration of the water, any fish or bird deaths. 

Inform the regulator:

You can report freshwater and estuary pollution incidences directly to the regulator using their Incident Hotlines. Who you report it to will depend on the location of the incident in the UK:

• England, Scotland, and Northern Ireland: 0800 80 70 60
• Wales: 0300 065 3000

And finally, ask for the incident report number and to be kept informed on the outcome.

You can also report actions by land managers or farmers that you believe contravenes the Farming Rules For Water, which are the laws which govern how farmers must protect water courses from damage by fertiliser, insecticide, slurry, run off or livestock.

You can read about the Farming Rules for Water at - Farming Rules For Farming

Safety

Like all sports, fishing can be dangerous so

• look behind before casting,
• wear eye and head protection, particularly in windy conditions,
• and take extra care when fishing near overhead power lines, electric fences, and in thunderstorms, when it is advisable to stop fishing altogether.

Final Word

The Society was born out of enthusiasm for the Grayling. Like the Grayling it is special, and has the respect of many in the world of angling and conservation. Let's all keep it that way by observing this Code and encouraging people concerned with angling everywhere to be committed to our cause and to our lovely fish.

Whenever and wherever you are fishing for Grayling enjoy yourself.

Tight lines!