‘Grayling’ our magazine and Journal of the Society is published twice each year in winter and summer.

This 64 page full colour glossy mag. is full of interest for
all grayling anglers. It contains many exclusive
articles, often by well known and respected authors, together with a selection of fine quality pictures, successful fly patterns
and angling techniques.

 

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Grayling

A short selection from a recent issue of ‘Grayling’ the magazine and Journal of the Society.

The Trout's Sister
by Frederick Mold

The grayling is probably at her best in November, but you can fish for her right through the winter.

To the all-important question, “Wilt thou have this woman to be thy lawful wedded wife …?" once came the unexpected reply, "Oh, yes, I'll 'ave 'er, but I'd rather 'ave 'ad 'er sister!”
In the spring and summer we fish for the trout. In the autumn and winter we angle for her sister – the grayling, and I want here to make the plea that she is not to be thought of as a poor compensation but a very exciting prospect indeed.

What does she look like? Something like a dace – silvery, metallic blue – hence the name "Grayling" – but easily distinguished from the dace by an enormous dorsal fin, unusual eyes, a small mouth and protruding upper lip. Oh dear, you would rather have her sister? Read on. She has been called the "Silver Lady of the Stream" and in the pure water essential to her existence she is as graceful and clever as any of her rivals. Despite the fact that Izaak Walton said she "grows not to the bigness of a trout; for the biggest of them do not usually exceed eighteen inches”, she nevertheless grows fast. If she is twenty-four months old by the autumn she will probably be a foot long and, to my mind, reign as the most interesting fish until the approach of the next trouting season.

When does she swim? Where does she not swim would be a shorter question to answer for she is to be found in clean, swiftly flowing water – preferably where the bottom is stony – from the South of Scotland through England and Wales, and in all parts of the river except where the water is very shallow or rough.

What does she eat? Insects of all kinds, worms, caterpillars, grasshoppers, maggots – the possibilities are legion. For the sake of brevity I will therefore confine methods of fishing for this species to two – fly fishing and worming.

When fishing for grayling with a dry fly it is important to realise that, unlike trout, which rise to the near surface of the water when inclined to feed, this "sister" lies near the bed of the river and rises almost perpendicularly to take the fly. This is followed by an instant descent and if the target is missed – which often happens – the grayling will try, try and try again.

Read the rest of this story and many others from the Winter 2006 issue of 'Grayling' by joining the Grayling Society now.

For details click the Membership Page links above.