Yomping up the Medway Part 2

[Vagabond]

Put in couple of early morning sessions this weekend to see what had happened to the grayling that used to inhabit this stretch.

The Medway is quite a small stream as far up as this (but this is still below the stretch I fish for trout). It’s well overgrown with Himalayan balsam, “gix” (that’s hogweed, hemlock and the like – perfect for snagging your float gear) and not forgetting lots of straggly nettles.



This swim looked good, but proved to be full of small chub of a pound or so which took in mid water, and gudgeon which took if the float was set too deep.

I didn’t bother with pictures of the chub, but this gudgeon had some built-in yellow neon lights, which I thought to share with y’all.




The next swim downstream was long, even and smooth –



- possibly not enough flow to suit grayling, and so it proved, plenty of dace, small perch and chub, and a shoal of obliging roach, with a very handsome orangy-brown tinge to the tail and dorsal fin.




The final swim I tried has produced grayling before, but this time nothing came to my hook for a long time.



I persisted with a constant stream of maggots – two or three once a minute, and eventually, just at the end of the swim under the willow bush, down went the float, and quite a handsome perch with very red fins was netted after a furious struggle during which it tried to get in amongst the willow roots.




Not a bad fish for this little stream – but still no grayling. On the way back I met another angler – a very rare occurrence this far from a road! During the course of chatting, I discovered he was first and foremost a trotter of float tackle for roach, but he too has yet to see a grayling this season.

So I shall have to “go foreign” for those grayling after all – looks like a trip West is on the cards.

[mithrandir]

looks like a nice days fishing, shame about the lack of Grayling. If you decide to come as far west as Hampshire give us a shout and maybe if it is a weekend we could meet up.

[Norfolkboy]

Looks a nice day anyway, Dave. Well done

[fishypaul]

no better way of spending the weekend

[Greenheart]

It's quite amazing just what large fish can be found in small streams & like you say Vagabond, people don't think to give them a try. I think everyone's too obsessed with Carp puddles these days. Great report & pics mate.

[perch_king]

well done mate awsome fishing and nice pics

[Vagabond]

Originally Posted by mithrandir

If you decide to come as far west as Hampshire give us a shout and maybe if it is a weekend we could meet up.

Thanks very much for the offer, but my trip in quest of grayling would probably be midweek, as Sept weekends are fully booked (one with rellies in Lancashire, two with more rellies in the IOM and one charter out of Weymouth) its all go for we retired folks!

Hope to meet up with you at some future date.

[mithrandir]

Originally Posted by Vagabond

Thanks very much for the offer, but my trip in quest of grayling would probably be midweek, as Sept weekends are fully booked (one with rellies in Lancashire, two with more rellies in the IOM and one charter out of Weymouth) its all go for we retired folks!

Hope to meet up with you at some future date.

Glad to hear that retirement is about relaxing and taking it easy, I think I might keep working awhile for the rest!!!