Grayling!

'The lady o f the Stream'

 

latin name Thymallus thymallus

 

Grayling fly fishing

Welcome to 'Grayling Hunter'.©

Web Page Design By Phil Price© all rights reserved!

This site was designed for the fly fisher man who love's to Catch Grayling ..

Beauty is not democratic; she reveals herself more to the few than to the many -- CS Lewis!

 

We recommend fiirefox to view this website its fast and best of all its free

Click your mouse on any of the following topics.

*****************************

Basics to catching Grayling on the Fly!

>Grayling Fishing Introduction By Danny Bennett<

>Introduction to Dry fly Part 1'Water craft' for Grayling

Part 2 'Dry fly for Grayling' By Danny Bennett

>Introduction to basics of Czech nymphing by Phil Price

>introduction to basic Upstream nymphing by Phil Price

>Introduction to Grayling Bugging by Steve Cullen

>Predators By Danny Bennett

>James Matthews Fly Tying New!

James' Matthews' pictured with grayling

graylinghunter loves firefox users

National Trout and Grayling Strategy

Welsh Dee Grayling (Picture D Bennett)

 

 

 

.

April 22nd 2008 In search of Welsh Dee Trout River Report!

I Set out very early this morning the weathermen had promised fine weather today . The sun was just breaking the horizon as i loaded the car. I was full of anticipation for the day fishing it has been several months since I last graced the Dee. The weather had been up and down and the river and my off duty had finally come together. Although not looking forward to the Drive as my own car was in dock I bundled minimal tackle into the hire car a tiny black nissan micra 1.0l I was sure the 140 plus mile round trip would take for ever but to my surprise the micra surpassed its outward appearance's and drove quite well getting me into the vale of the Welsh Dee in good time.
A slight mist was present in places and yellow blossom oussed from the farm hedge rows. The Vally was warming up as I reached the upper Dee above Corwen to Beat I had not fished in a long time. Like with an old friend i walked with light heart to the bank side and looked upon a majestic site that only anglers truly enjoy. A pin ripple covered the Welsh Dee and one or two of her children broke the surface as if to say hello.
I sat on the bank and carefully threaded the line through my zr2 10 foot rod. I pulled the line a little and the reel sang as it gave a little more line. Just enough to tie in my leader.
The first fish sent my line shooting under the water and a two lbs fished darted into a deep pool pulling the rod tip over. I angled the rod a little and levered the fish out, it splashed its way to the landing net. this was the first of well over twenty fish that would find its way to the net. I looked up and said thank you as another fish was hooked and also found its way to the net. I thought this would go on but after three fish the pool gave me no more. I edged down river covering many pools. The winter floods had ripped an old tree away from the bank and another was missing from another spot. This gave new challenge to the beat as last year marks were now gone. New pools had formed and water meandered along new paths, the slightest white derbies and bubbles lining the path for my team to follow.
The indicator shot gown deep into the far bank i lifted the rod Into another fish and a repeat of the previous pool followed I was also mind full that march brown were hatching and fish were starting to take them. I marked each rise on my journey downstream as i would follow them up on the way back even if they were not revealing them self. a blind cast over a know lie will often lift a fish.
After i had worked my way down river I sat and pondered for a while. My eye caught something moving very close to the bank. A springer or a well mended kelt?? As I drew closer I noted it was a pike in fact there were two. I had never seen many pike this far up river and these gave me full advantage to tail it if i had wished. They were probably spawning or hiding from one of the larger females post spawning who would welcome any high protein diet to regain condition. I estimate they were about 5lbs.
My Journey back up river witnessed swifts darting in and out of the bank side plundering the rich hatch of terrestrials and march browns sipping the cool water of the Dee on the Wing.
I choose a small ginger klinkhammer tethered to very light tippet of 3lbs. Some trout swam at the head of a slow pool sipping the browns as they danced and skipped across the water. My fly fell for the same punishment and my first strike reslulted in snapped leader and a pool that sank into a quite still. I waited for a while and the fish began to move again. This time the trout was mine and i played it to my hand and then slipped it back into the water.
I took many fish before I ended up back where i had begun the day was still young. It was 2pm and time to head home my young gun aged five was being presented with his second martial arts belt this evening. My face was blessed with a little sun and my mended waders had stayed dry. A few thoughts for times gone bye had echoed missing my m8 who's spirit i am sure had watched the days events from the bank.
After a little chat with one of the game keepers I headed home content that my mistress the Dee had welcomed me back to enjoy all the delights of her beauty I feel unwound and ready for the week to come.
Air temp 14 deg water gin clear Dee at summer level. fly life observed throughout the day
tight lines
Phil

Why not post your reports on the graylinghunter forum

Outlook is good for the week ahead.

I never forget how majestic the Welsh Dee valley is around Corwen. This truly is a beautiful location,
Also watch your speed around Llangollen as the police where again out with mobile speed cameras I wouldn't mind if they put the vans around my estate in a morning where a child could be easly injured whilst walking to school.

Tip : When travelling in north wales, listen to local radio where the Police's Arrive Alive mobile speed trap campaign advertise where they will be or where they are on certain days.
You can also check the schedule of the mobile traps here to help you drive more safely

See the graylinghunter forum for your local river level updates! and past reports!

 

Project Fly Rod Build 2007

Over the next few months we are going to build a sage z-axis 590-4 fly rod from parts.

So if you want to buld a Sage z-axis rod for around £200 take a look..

Part 1 Building the rod wrapping jig

Part 2 ....Thread tension device

Part 3 ...Wrapping and building

Part 4 Mixing flexcoat Epoxy

Part 5 Fixing damaged epoxy

Part 6 Epoxy coating the Rod

Finshed Pictures .

 

 

 

 

Match the hatch Picture by D Bennett

##############

Are you Confused about rod and line tippet weights read this

Forum Read this first!!!

The Following Link will provide a link to the Graylinghunter Forum Its Free to Join. Please note when you have filled in your details you will be diverted to a sales pitch from the ez board forum sponsors look at the bottom of this advert page and you will see a submit button do not click on this!! instead look underneath you will see the words ' Thank You 'Click your mouse on this and your registration is complete if you click the submit button you will be diverted to adverts!

 

Klinkhammer Hi Viz and Weighted Polish Nymphs dont leave home without them

Trout and grayling love them ! \The Hi Viz Klinkhammers Help you see a very small fly in broken fast water!

I will have a few of the flies i use for sale as a site promotion in the next few weeks! Keep an eye on the forum!

 

 

Current UK Weather Corwen

 

**********

Caught By Phil 17 Jan 2006 2lbs 13oz on Czech Nymphs 47cm nose to inside v in tail

River Dee running high at 811 on meter

 

************

 

Fishing Around Corwen on the upper Welsh Dee

Click the play button to watch The Show!

Caught 10th Jan 2006 on the Welsh Dee 2lbs 11oz

Phils. This Grayling went off like A rocket once Hooked !

Hook me up another Barrel Hooper!!!

A Personal Best Grayling for Barry

'Just a taste of things to come'!

 

*************************************

 

A Big Congratulations to

Steve Cullen Well Done!

Who is now a member of the 'Total Flyfisher Magazines‘ team good luck with the new Job Steve. "Jammy bugger now gets to go fishing for a Job! Nice work if you can get it!" I am sure Steve will be a fantastic asset to their team. He is an accomplished skilled fly angler equally at home on river and still water.

 

See other big grayling click the Photo

Steve Cullen pictured with a 4lbs Tweed System Grayling

Steve and his fishing buddy Shane also featured on grayling hunter

we visited them

Tweed Monster Grayling feature

Graylinghunter PHOTO GALLERY

 

Pictures of the Week

Daz's Welsh Grayling 23rd Feb 2008

Thanks for the picture Hoppy

Hoppy with 44cm fish

River Dee Wales this one is put a good bend in the rod 44cm

Photo by SwimSwim

Graylinghunters 44cm fish Photo By Hoppy from the same trip Sunday 6th Jan 2008

Swimswims 40cm plus fish! Just shows just when you think a river is not worth fishing because its flooded think again. As long as the colour is dropping clear you are in with a chance. When Paul (hoppy) And Swimswim (Phil) found me on the river they thought the chips were down and it would be an early lunch and home and a wasted journey.

Over 32 fish between us Hoppy accounted for 16 0f these alone! A few more pics on the forum!

******************************

New 20th Jan 2008 Flooded Rivers No problem!!!!

Hoppy with yet another monster grayling this is his PB at 52cm (4lbs)

Full story on the forum ,.

Grayling Can be found in shallow water! This one is pictured in less than 18 inches

 

*****************

*******

My tip of the year tell everyone you know how wonderful wild roast cormorants taste!!!

 

 

It's that time of year again when nothing beats the Czech Nymph for winter Grayling!

over the next couple of weeks we will feature some of the finest nymphs I have

ever laid my hands on. Not only do they look realistic, the fish found them irresistible!!

Its Here!!!! The Scurr. By James Matthews'

The Scurr link

If it was any more realistic it would crawl!!

Do you want to learn how to tie the above flies? They are here now!

James Matthews fly tying

Over the next few months James Matthews will endeavor to show you some bugs,

nymphs and flies, call them what you will, that I feel no grayling angler

should be without in his grayling armory. click this link to read more

....................................

Welsh Dee grayling in a natural lie taken 8th of March by Phil Price

The picture was taken in less than 18" of Water. The fish could not be seen from the surface.

 

New Graylinghunter Forum!! Enter Here Read this first!!!

The Following Link will provide a link to the Graylinghunter Forum Its Free to Join. Please note when you have filled in your details you will be diverted to a sales pitch from the ez board forum sponsors look at the bottom of this advert page and you will see a submit button do not click on this!! instead look underneath you will see the words

Thank You

Click your mouse on this thank you and your registration is complete if click the submit button you will be diverted to adverts!

Master of the dry fly 'Danny into a winter grayling 11/11/03 upper Dee

River Updates! Tackle! Fly's! Predation! and more Have your say!

New Members need to register to post comments on our forum please

Enter Here to register first ' Its free' Grayling fishing. UK Rivers. Your thoughts on grayling fishing? Find a fishing buddy. Remember we don't do this for profit of any kind!

Forum

Some people have emailed me and said they have had very poor days on the Dee. Most river fish do need some skill and experience, they are not like stocked still water fish that will take the first thing that's presented to them. Experience is often the key. So don't give up. Do a little reading prior to going. Just go for walks down the riverbank at first watch out for anglers who are taking fish. Talk to them; see what rig they are using. Look how they let the dry fly/wet or nymph team work through the glide or run. Many fishing magazines would have you believe you can turn up at these countryside venues and the fish will sleigh themselves onto your hook its simply not the case. I was lucky when I started I dropped on Danny who's twenty five years experience soon brought me up to speed (Still took a couple of years and I am still learning all the time and so is Danny). I do remember when I first started. Danny said you cast a beautiful long line but that isn't the key. I continued to do it my way for a couple of visits and then listened to the voice of experience as I soon got fed up of catching very little. Meanwhile Danny shouts up river 'and another' You get the picture. I now have taken on board this experience and adapt it to other methods such as Czech nymphing/ upstream nymphing which I have perfected my own style, of which Danny is not to proud to ask me the way forward with. I have got to admit nothing beats Grayling on Dry fly its magic. Keep plugging away. And remember everyone has a Blanc day once in a while. If they tell you otherwise look for alternative advice. Enough said.
Phil

www.graylinghunter.co.uk

***************************************

Summer Dry Fly Danny pictured

....................................

 

Graylinghunter visits the Environment agency's state of the art Nottinghamshire fish farm.

Calvertons Biologist Alan Henshaw preparing a shot of a developing fish lava.

SEE GRAYLING BIOLOGY FROM INEX

 

Phil into a nice Grayling on the Welsh Dee 6 August

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This Photo Captures the beautiful colors of a graylings fins!

 

 

 

 

 

Graylinghunter PHOTO GALLERY all pictures featured

 

 

Important News!!

Madelaine McCann !