Fly Fishing for Grayling

[Old Smoothound]

Hi guy's if you want to try fly fishing for Grayling some time then read on.....


Fly-fishing for Grayling


GRAYLING RISE FORM

The grayling's area of vision can seek out fly-life and trigger a response, in which they glide up from down deep to intercept a floating fly. Because they come from so deep and their mouth is much lower down the jaw than that of a trout, a surface fly is taken by the grayling in a near vertical position, quite unlike the trout, which generally just raises its position in the stream without changing its orientation. The tell tale sign that a Grayling has risen for a fly, is a “bubble” left on the surface, this is created by the Grayling turning on the fly with its upturned mouth open, and when it closes its jaws a tiny pocket of air is made. Most Trout do not do this.
In general their taking of a fly is very much quicker than that of the trout. They have less time to make a decision, as their position near the bottom means they have further to travel than a trout if they are to take the fly.
While the grayling's rapid near vertical rise often causes it to miss the fly, it will rise again and again to a carefully re-cast artificial fly. A grayling will generally rise 3 times to the same fly before it becomes wary. Wait another 5 minutes and it will rise again.
Grayling have soft mouths and demand a gentler strike. Just lift the rod into them and they are hooked, power strikes are not needed, as this will tear the hook from their mouths.
They also fight in a more dogged manner than a trout. They have a greater understanding of hydrodynamics than the trout and use the currents and downstream pressure of the water to help them fight for freedom.

Now that we understand and recognise the rise form we can develop our tactics to outwit and catch our fish.


Fishing Gear

For dry fly and upstream nymph fishing a light, tip action rod rated #4 or #5, double taper fly line and reel to match. (Balanced tackle)

For heavier Czech nymph fishing, then a longer and heavier line rated rod is required #5 or #6 weight with line and reel to match. You will not be casting, but a slightly heavier weighted line will allow you to control the rate of drift when fishing, and be able to “reach out” when it is called for. Fast tapered rods are required for ultra fast takes to connected to.

Dry fly
This, in my opinion, is the way in which to take Grayling, bring them up from the bottom of the river or stream and watch them engulf your fly. Precise casting technique is required to effectively achieve this.

Up-stream Nymphs

As the phrase suggests, we cast a nymph upstream of our position and let it be taken by the flow back towards us, less attractive than dry fly fishing, but just as deadly!

Rolled or Czech Nymping

This is perhaps, the most deadliest of all Grayling fishing techniques, where we use a short length of fly line out from our rod tip and cast 2 or 3 heavily weighted nymphs in an arc from 45˚ in front and to the side of us, and then let the flies trundle down stream on the bottom, always staying in contact by following with the rod tip, and raising the rod tip when the flies pass in front of us, then lowering it once they have passed. Takes are registered as a “stabbing/ jerking” of the fly line that is floating on the surface of the water. Some floatent will need to be added to your braided loop connection, to stop it from sinking and dragging the fly line down with it.

Playing a Grayling

As Grayling are mainly shoal fish, they should be steered away from the shoal once they are hooked. Try and play the fish quickly and use a knotless micromesh landing net to land them. Please, please, please practice catch and release as there is no need to kill these beautiful and graceful fish.

In my experience an average angler can take fish after fish from an unsuspecting shoal if you employ the simple rules of “stealth” and “drag free” drifts. For stealth, approach the fish from downstream and keep a low profile and do not put heavy footfalls on the ground. For drag free drifting, always put some upstream mends in your line. A qualified casting instructor can show you the easiest ways to achieve this.

I hope you all enjoyed my write up on the “Lady of the Stream” and you will hopefully take up the “Gentle Art of Fly-Fishing” some time you don't now what you are missing!





Cheers
Shaun