The Winter Grayling thread

[lutra]

I'd say from tail shape. Can't tell so no idea.

 

From its wrist, Can't tell so no idea.

 

Not many spots below the lateral line, but there are some signs. So no idea.

 

Eye to mouth lineup looks trout like if you go by the book, but if you look at enough photo's and hold enough fish, I'd say its not a very reliable way of telling them apart. So no idea.

 

Scale count, I got 13, but can't really see the top of fish. So no idea.

 

First look said Salmon, second said it could well be a trout. So no idea, but tell him well done on the pb.

 

 

[Vagabond]

tell him well done on the pb.

I'll drink to that

 

Put it in the log as a SALMONID

[Paulg]

I'll drink to that

 

Put it in the log as a SALMONID

 

Thanks chaps....I did drink to it, and very nice it was too

[Chris Plumb]

Anyway, grayling tactics in general were discussed with CP over a pint and dinner in the pub last night, brought up an interesting question...do folks have any specific hook patterns they use when grayling fishing?

 

P.

Yes! More specifically??? As you know last year I bumped a lot of fish using Drennan super spades. I switched to a Mustad pattern (mustad black nickel medium feeder - LP280) and the problem reduced significantly...

 

C.

[grayson]

Grayling fall off a lot especially when hooked downstream (ie when trotting . not flyfishing). I have to use worms for my grayling - maggots not allowed - and any decent specialist hook works. But I fish far heavier than many who , for various reasons(and sometimes the wrong ones ) , fish very light for grayling. I use .15 mm Reflo which is nearly 6lb bs and size 12 Drennan wide gape specialists. I don't lose many even though I am fishing for 2lb plus fish in powerful water

[Anderoo]

I remember a day at the Itchen a few years ago when I was losing quite a few grayling, and it was getting rather frustrating. I switched from a size 14 barbed drennan specialist to a size 10 barbless, and hardly lost any after that (using corn as bait). I figured - perhaps incorrectly - that it was mainly the barb that was preventing the hook from penetrating properly. Whatever the reason, it worked on that day.

[Worms]

Interesting comments about losing grayling and hook choice....what rods do you use?

I rarely lose grayling once hooked (that's put the mockers on it !) and I use my "basic" trotting gear, usually an 11' rod (Allcock Wizard, approx 3/4lb TC) with pin and 4-5lb line. I find light, medium actioned rods with a wealth of power in the butt are far preferable to long, match style fast action tippy rods. I let the rod do the work, I hold it low to the water and let the fish work against the spring of the rod until I can get it into a position to bring it to the net.

Edit: For some small streams that I fish for grayling on I use whole cane butt and middle with an "oversize" split cane tip rod of 9'6" which has a slow action which is very useful when a grayling hooked in a pool decides to go for the fast water and on to the next pool....along with some judicious palming of the spool of course!

Edited October 20, 2014 by Worms

[Paulg]

All interesting stuff, and the general consensus appears to be to use as big a hook as you can get away with...which certainly works for me in the fast currents of the Itchen and Frome. Also good point from Worms re rod action, I've been using a 15' Harrison for years, but intend to give my 12' pellet waggler rod a decent run out this winter, just to see if the really soft action is even better. Still prefer a 15' rod for float control on the bigger rivers but I think this other rod may show real advantages on the likes of the upper Kennet....we shall see. I tend not to try too hard to bring a hooked fish up to me, rather I'll walk it downstream past where it was hooked, having first sussed out a good place to leave the landing net!

[Tigger]

In all honesty every day seems different, somedays I don't seem to loose any and then other days I can loose a few. Since i'm pleasure fishing and not relying on them to fill my belly I don't mind loosing a few.

[Paulg]

Tried some new hooks out yesterday, Kamasan B560, size 16.....bumped a few fish, but didn't lose any that I hooked. Best of the day for me was this lovely fish of 2lb 1oz.