Grayling

[Mike Window]

Julian
I fish the Test a lot and to be honest I get far more bites and fish on red maggot than I do with corn.
I also found that Grayling don't seem to be bothered on hook size so I use ready tied Drennan Red Maggot Hooks size 14
with double maggot and the micro barb pressed down with forceps.
The one problem I get occasionaly with the Drennan hooks is that the spade whipping undoes. Whether it's because
of the way I use the discorger I don't know, but it does happen.

 

[Alan Rose]

Managed a couple of hours on the Wharfe this morning. About a dozen grayling, nothing big, standard stamp for the venue. Fished until I became aware of the water getting more coloured and the flow feeling stronger, then turned and struggled my way back upstream (I was wading) and back to the bank!

Funny how your fishing evolves over time. I used to take a box or two of ready-tied (by me) hook lengths in different hook patterns and lines, but now I fish straight through with 4lb Float Max and tie a spade end hook to that without the help of a gizmo. Dead easy. Then a cut down 4g bolo float and hybrid 4g olivette above the hook. Takes no longer than any other way setting up.

Caught on red and white maggot today, had some redworms/brandling/Gilt-tails but didn't use them.

 

[Ben Marr]

Had a few hours on the Grayling on Sunday, first go at them this winter.
The stretch was still a bit on the high side, but perfectly fishable, but the fishing was quite hard, spells of nothing then a few bites.
Ended up with about 10 fish, with a couple of 14 to 15 inch fish, which bodes well for the rest of the winter, if it ever gets low enough again!

 

[Alan Rose]

Managed a couple of hours on the Wharfe this morning. About a dozen grayling, nothing big, standard stamp for the venue. Fished until I became aware of the water getting more coloured and the flow feeling stronger, then turned and struggled my way back upstream (I was wading) and back to the bank!

Funny how your fishing evolves over time. I used to take a box or two of ready-tied (by me) hook lengths in different hook patterns and lines, but now I fish straight through with 4lb Float Max and tie a spade end hook to that without the help of a gizmo. Dead easy. Then a cut down 4g bolo float and hybrid 4g olivette above the hook. Takes no longer than any other way setting up.

Caught on red and white maggot today, had some redworms/brandling/Gilt-tails but didn't use them.

Props to @Chris Jones for showing me the wisdom of approaching it this way.

 

[Graham Elliott]

Julian
I fish the Test a lot and to be honest I get far more bites and fish on red maggot than I do with corn.
I also found that Grayling don't seem to be bothered on hook size so I use ready tied Drennan Red Maggot Hooks size 14
with double maggot and the micro barb pressed down with forceps.
The one problem I get occasionaly with the Drennan hooks is that the spade whipping undoes. Whether it's because
of the way I use the discorger I don't know, but it does happen.

It's all those Spotties Mike.

Q

 

[Graham Elliott]

Had a few hours on the Grayling on Sunday, first go at them this winter.
The stretch was still a bit on the high side, but perfectly fishable, but the fishing was quite hard, spells of nothing then a few bites.
Ended up with about 10 fish, with a couple of 14 to 15 inch fish, which bodes well for the rest of the winter, if it ever gets low enough again!

Cricket. 14/15" inch fish Ben. Reckon they are 3 to 4lbers

 

[Richard Isaacs]

Cricket. 14/15" inch fish Ben. Reckon they are 3 to 4lbers

Certainly big 2’s at 14 inches

 

[Andrew Jackson]

Thoughts on Grayling fishing. The Grayling is a fish that I've largely neglected over the years. Pleased to say I've had a couple of days out on the Frome this week after them rather than moping about at home moaning about the weather.
My aim was to catch a 2lb plus fish ( not that difficult on the Frome you'd think). In the past, whenever I've hooked a decent one, I've lost it to a hook pull!
Last year I bought a Preston Supera float rod. I had an idea my trusty Graham Phillips Barbel trotter may have been the reason for some of the hook pulls, not that it's a stiff rod by any means. I bought the 14 foot rod as I planned to use it on other bigger rivers for Chub.
I made a short butt for the rod out of an old bit of blank to convert it to 12 foot for the Frome and have to say I'm pleased with the outcome.
Another thought I had was the hook size and pattern. I know this has been well covered but anyway, I went for a sizes 16 and 14 Drennan wide Gape Specialist depending on conditions and bait size. This is an eyed hook but I attach them using a knotless knot cutting off the loose end. This avoids the annoying crinkle you sometimes get with a knot and it is 100 percent reliable. Used it for several years now.
On to the fishing. Pleased to say, I caught my 2 pounder ( 2.06) and a number of others and lost few to hook pulls so I feel like I'm making progress. I also caught a couple of well healed Salmon Kelts up to 8 poundish so the set up got a pretty good testing! Loads of Brown Trout up to 2 1/2 as well.
Enjoyable couple of days fishing.

 

[Ian Woods]

Thoughts on Grayling fishing. The Grayling is a fish that I've largely neglected over the years. Pleased to say I've had a couple of days out on the Frome this week after them rather than moping about at home moaning about the weather.
My aim was to catch a 2lb plus fish ( not that difficult on the Frome you'd think). In the past, whenever I've hooked a decent one, I've lost it to a hook pull!
Last year I bought a Preston Supera float rod. I had an idea my trusty Graham Phillips Barbel trotter may have been the reason for some of the hook pulls, not that it's a stiff rod by any means. I bought the 14 foot rod as I planned to use it on other bigger rivers for Chub.
I made a short butt for the rod out of an old bit of blank to convert it to 12 foot for the Frome and have to say I'm pleased with the outcome.
Another thought I had was the hook size and pattern. I know this has been well covered but anyway, I went for a sizes 16 and 14 Drennan wide Gape Specialist depending on conditions and bait size. This is an eyed hook but I attach them using a knotless knot cutting off the loose end. This avoids the annoying crinkle you sometimes get with a knot and it is 100 percent reliable. Used it for several years now.
On to the fishing. Pleased to say, I caught my 2 pounder ( 2.06) and a number of others and lost few to hook pulls so I feel like I'm making progress. I also caught a couple of well healed Salmon Kelts up to 8 poundish so the set up got a pretty good testing! Loads of Brown Trout up to 2 1/2 as well.
Enjoyable couple of days fishing.

Great stuff ! .

 

[Alan Rose]

Nice one Andrew! I either catch a bucketful or nowt depending on whether I can find them and if another cold snap has hit and put them off the night before I show up.

Last trip was a beautiful day, but followed the temperature suddenly dipping down to about -4 the previous night. Only one fish, but must have been 1.5lb I reckon, perhaps nearer 2lb. Week before saw me take 23 fish with 18 of them Grayling. It goes with the territory really- they don’t mind the cold, but fishing immediately after a sharp cold snap is not often good.

 

[Alan Rose]

Nice one Andrew! I either catch a bucketful or nowt depending on whether I can find them and if another cold snap has hit and put them off the night before I show up.

Last trip was a beautiful day, but followed the temperature suddenly dipping down to about -4 the previous night. Only one fish, but must have been 1.5lb I reckon, perhaps nearer 2lb. Week before saw me take 23 fish with 18 of them Grayling. It goes with the territory really- they don’t mind the cold, but fishing immediately after a sharp cold snap is not often good.

View attachment 28105

Photo doesn’t do it justice- it was pretty thick across the shoulders

 

[Andrew Jackson]

Photo doesn’t do it justice- it was pretty thick across the shoulders

18 Grayling. That's good fishing!

 

[Ian Woods]

Photo doesn’t do it justice- it was pretty thick across the shoulders

Alan, might be worth you havin' a trip to specksavers bud .

Only pullin' yer leg .

 

[Alan Rose]

Ach, I’m not mithered about the weight really. It gave my line a good tug and that’s alright for me

 

[Alan Rose]

18 Grayling. That's good fishing!

Thanks Andrew, it’s a good spot. Nice to catch on the Acolyte carp waggler I got from Daniel Earl too. Used it with an original Hardy Conquest. Unbelievably light set up.

 

[Andrew Jackson]

Here's a couple of lovely Grayling from the Frome. I've made some progress with this fish this winter. The Drennan Specialist Wide Gape size 16, red maggot, 4.4lb Supplex Fluro with my Preston Supera float rod working well.

 

[Andrew Jackson]

Better picture.

 

[Neil Maidment]

The Dorset Frome has finally retreated within its banks and, whilst still racing towards the sea, has calmed down just a tad.

Following in Andrew's footsteps I've had a couple of short sessions and managed to find a few grayling including two exceptional specimens.

Many of the grayling are clearly survivors from cormorant strikes. There are far too many of these predators on the Frome valley (and other southern rivers).

Yesterday's three hour session was exceptional. A couple of out of season brown trout and seatrout preceded the first grayling which looked very big. It was, the scales showed 2lbs 10oz.

A short while later an even bigger fish finally came to the net (both grayling had "walked me" downstream in the excessive flow). This one tipped the scales to 3lbs 02oz.

It was my 4th 3lbs+ grayling from the Frome in 9 years of fishing the river!

 

[Andrew Jackson]

Top angling Neil. You have 'the knack'. No doubt about that.

 

[Graham Elliott]

Stunning Neil. Beauties
See you in a couple of weeks.