The Winter Grayling thread

[Paulg]

Hmmmm.....LIF fish-in...sounds a good idea !

 

My on-going chemo means I currently have a bit of time on my hands....I'll try and sort one for next Feb......watch this space! If I can do something I will start another thread in a couple of weeks.

[Worms]

Every spring I see some absolutely huge grayling shoaling up ready for spawning on the same stretch every year, then they disappear...I've gotta find where they lurk during the open season. I had one of the "smaller" cock fish a couple of years ago but sod's law I didn't have my 'phone with me so didn't get a picture of it.....3lb 9oz on a single white maggot on a size 16 hook, using an unweighted 3" porcupine quill 5' above the hook trying to lure him out from the tail of a pool...the float cocked, bang! I spent ages trying to get the sod out of the current and back up to me before deciding to get downstream of it....not easy given the steep banks and dense hawthorn scrub, trying to keep the tension on him with a pin and passing the rod around the trunks of the hawthorn. I got scratched to bits and a boot full of water but I netted him in the end!

[sebn]

Managed another decent grayling on the dry fly this afternoon, river very low and gin clear, only one fish visibly rising. took a few casts but it took it, felt very heavy when i struck, it just sailed off into the current, apologies for bad image was wading and had to get my phone out of my trousers under my waders, bit of a faff, didnt have any scales, any estimation on its weight? my pb either way, it was such a beautiful fish when i was recovering it, beautiful red lined fin, amazing.

 

[lutra]

Managed another decent grayling on the dry fly this afternoon, river very low and gin clear, only one fish visibly rising. took a few casts but it took it, felt very heavy when i struck, it just sailed off into the current, apologies for bad image was wading and had to get my phone out of my trousers under my waders, bit of a faff, didnt have any scales, any estimation on its weight? my pb either way, it was such a beautiful fish when i was recovering it, beautiful red lined fin, amazing.

 

Guessing from your hand would say its around 15-16 inches long which would make it around 1lb 8oz. How big is your net?

[Chris Plumb]

I came up with 16 inches too - which would make the weight estimate 1lb 9½oz on the 'old' Fishing Gazette weight by measurement scale.

 

C.

[Worms]

You lot must have big hands!....I made it about 13-14" which would make it just over the pound!....either way a nice fish on the fly.

[sebn]

Guessing from your hand would say its around 15-16 inches long which would make it around 1lb 8oz. How big is your net?

Net is 12" at its widest point. I must have really tiny hands, lol.

[Steve Walker]

I have a friend who has tiny hands - maybe I will get her to hold my grayling while I photograph them!

[Phone]

I agree with Lutra.

 

 

 

 

 

about 18 lbs

 

 

Phone

[Vagabond]

I agree with Worms - ie that is a nice grayling to have caught on the fly.

 

I can understand the captor wanting to know the exact weight of his personal best, and the best advice I can offer is to underestimate it a tad and call it 1lb 2 oz ( or stick to length as John Geirach does and call it a 14-incher) - that way, you are more likely to beat your "PB" in the near future, and moreover a reputation for modesty is no bad thing.

 

I rarely carry scales these days, and certainly would not if wading the stream, but a small camera or phone in the pocket will give you a picture of a nice fish in the net to remember the day by. May you have many such !