The Grayling
Thymallus thymallus
The ‘Lady Of The Stream’
The grayling is part of the Salmonidae family of fish which they are easily identified by the adipose fin.
There has been some debate over the years wither the grayling is a course or game fish.
Grayling are silver in colour with large scales which are covered by a protective slime.
Wet hands should be used when handling grayling to minimise the damage to the protective slime.
Grayling have down wards facing mouth which is adapted to feeding in and around the bottom of the river bed most of the time.
Another prominent feature is the large colourful dorsal fin which gives them a great deal of power when fighting a strong current.
Grayling also have a particular cucumber smell.
Persecution:
Grayling were persecuted for many years, it was believed that they were in direct competition with the trout and salmon and it used to be part of the conditions of Your grayling permit to remove all grayling caught from the river.
This has since been proven not to be the case and i am glad to say that the grayling is now a highly regarded true wild game fish and with that recognition most people fish catch & release now when grayling fishing.
Thanks to Munro Reid for taken the time to write this article for River Clyde Fishing
The River Clyde has some excellent Grayling fishing to offer over the Winter & Spring months.
UCAPA & Lamington controlled water on the river has some excellent sport for any angler venturing out during the cold months.
Links
Some of the grayling so far from this season
Feeding:
Grayling mostly feed on the bottom of the river on vegetable matter as well as crustaceans, insects and spiders, molluscs etc.
Grayling can be caught on the dry fly but due to fishing in the winter it can be very challenging to catch fish on the dry fly.
Grayling like very clean well oxygenated water and they are very sensitive to pollution so any grayling in the river is a good sign.
Grayling are mostly found in gravel bottomed areas of the river, the fish shoal up in the winter so if you find one there is a good chance you will find another in the same spot.
Spawning:
Grayling spawn between the months of March to June.
A one year old fish is around 4 inches in length.
Life span:
Grayling live for an average of seven years in the UK
Methods for catching grayling are:
Trotting a float with bait (maggot or small worm), fly fishing (dry fly & Czech nymphing etc), well known fly patterns used for grayling fishing:
Red tag, Treacle parkins, Chadwick nymph & Various pheasant tail nymph patterns, Scuds, Klink hammers, Various F flies and other trout dry fly patterns.
Fishing season:
The grayling season can change depending on which river you are fishing,basically when the trout and salmon fishing is finished then it is the grayling season.
The river Clyde grayling season is from the 7th of October to the 14th of March inclusive.
Location:
Grayling are widespread through out the United Kingdom but in Scotland there are no grayling found above the river Tay system.
