White-spotted charr

We decided to start the DNA study of White-spotted charr (Salvelinus leucomaenis). They are relatives of North American brook trout and lake trout. We have its subspecies S. l. inbrius called "gogi" in our area. Stocking of this sbspecies is not practiced, so virtually all gogi are native. It is also a threatened subspecies since its distribution is limited to the southwestern end of Honshu Island, warmer region for a charr habitat.

This is one of the gogi stream.

Last week I took some of my students to a remote area where gogi inhabit. My method for catching gogi is exclusively fly-fishing. I can't teach other means, so they also tried flyfishing for the first time in their lives.

They struggled but finally caught one fish. I caught around 10 fish. We cut off a small section of a caudal fin and store it in 70% ethanol. Phylogenetic information should be used for gogi conservation. My students wanted to eat them but all the fish were released alive.

My favorite fly, "Ginger & Tippet", which I created this year and really works.