NORTHERN STREAM GRAYLING ON A DRY FLY
by
Pat Regan
Looking back over one's old, discoloured angling photographs sometimes creates pleasurably
lucid mental pictures in similar fashion to when we lovingly tie up that favourite 'killer' dressing
at the vice.
I recently found myself drawn back into such an astral flux when I rediscovered a forgotten
batch of snaps that I'd taken some years ago on the River Hodder, near Clitheroe in
Lancashire.
Images of this dark and mysterious spate stream are for me preponderantly recollected in rich
shades of golden-burnished brown, deep earthy greens and autumnal yellow ochres
competing with the peat-stained sherry red of the ebbing flood waters.
Shortly after the salmon angler has put away his gear for yet another long winter, rivers like the
Hodder and Ribble come into their own for a small but loyal band of fisher folk who realise the
great sporting potential of that 'Silver Lady of the Stream'' -the elusive grayling!
My personal love affair with Thymallus thymallus stretches back many seasons and has at
times been more of a 'love hate' situation. This is largely self-inflicted because of my single-
minded devotion to the dry fly.
In those early days, before the terrible dry fly addiction took control of my otherwise balanced
senses, I would frequently grass half a dozen good fish on a well presented Waterhen Bloa,
Snipe and Purple, Black Spider, Partridge and Orange or other spate stream, 'wet spider'
pattern. Then, I would be well pleased to quietly fish my little traditional 'team of three''
through the dashing pebbled rides and tumbles. Even the upstream wet or weighted nymph
would give the exciting required 'buzz' at the explosive moment of silver-flanked impact!
However, life isn't simple and before long the dreaded dry fly habit caused me to forsake the
longer standard river rod for a tiny home-made, six foot job, No.3 D/T line and a wee box of
home-spun dries dressed down to as low as No 24 hooks.
I put the reason for this transformation down to deeper levels of hunting instinct. Without doubt,
the nymph and wet fisher will on the odd occasion catch more than the dry fly angler. This is
not in question, yet the joy of that luscious 'visible' surface take is to me personally worth any
three subsurface pulls.
The mention of hunting instinct relates to that gut feeling of somehow 'knowing' the best place
and period to expect rises to occur! This special 'knowledge' is only gained through time, via
lengthy riverside experience and is not something that can be bought for money or easily learnt
in a stuffy, walled classroom.
Wending one's way upstream, slowly with a deliberate glaze for that tiny distant swirl.
Discerning the subtle audible tonal difference between water hitting stones, falling autumn twigs
or a big ol' grayling sipping down a late olive. Noticing that 'oh so slight' movement in the wind-
ruffled surface current which gives away the presence of a good fish gently taking sherry
spinners. All these magical things and much much more, over the years, hone the instincts to
near perfection with a dry fly! Here lies the realm of the quiet, stealthy and observant Nimrod!
The tiny natural sights and sounds so essential to success with the dry are often missed by the
long casting wet-fly fisher. This is not to say that there's anything wrong with the latter, It's just
that, for me personally, the thrill of finding that gratifying surface take is wholly unsurpassable!
To be quite honest though, with risk of upsetting some old hands, there is something flawed
with the modus operandi adopted by many unthinking river wet-fly fishers. On numerous
occasions I have seen wet fly anglers totally ruin lovely rises by romping straight into the swim,
virtually standing on the head of a good shoal and proceeding to smash a dirty great long line
downstream.
Needless to say, this foolish behaviour has sent every self respecting fish into a: 'let's get the
hell out of here-there's a maniac throwing a huge rope at us' frame of survivalist mind-set!
This isn't amusing for the poor old dry fly chap who has to wait for maybe an hour before the
river and its fishy residents recover their previous confidence to rise again!
River craft is the real name of the game, yet sadly this vital old countryside quality appears to
be a bit thin on the ground these days in many places. Too much emphasis is given to fancy
equipment and ludicrously expensive rods, reels, lines etc. In many ways I believe that anglers
are now being cleverly indoctrinated by powerful manufacturer's advertising campaigns into
believing that without their super-light and high tech angling gear it just isn't worth going fishing!
One can go out and spend literally thousands of pounds on the best equipment but without the
long-acquired intuitive hunting skills needed, successes will be very hard won indeed!
That glorious six hundred quid carbon rod just doesn't seem such good value when a crafty
local farm lad, with keen instincts, outshines it's proud owner with his dad's old, battered glass-
fibre or cane model!
Old Jack Hargreaves of the Thames T.V. Countryside/Out-Of-Town programmes was my
ultimate hero as a youngster. His marvellously earthy 'keep it simple for success'' philosophy
must never be forgotten, for it contains an ancient native angling wisdom which we are in
danger of losing!
When out hunting, our antediluvian ancestors relied on their inherent instincts for survival and
so must we too. To lose them in favour of dependence on modern technology is a sad mistake
that we must guard against at all costs!
One of the most important points when stalking grayling or trout on the spate streams is to be
'aware' of your immediate situation! In other words, as we tell our kids with the Green Cross
Code, "look and listen all the time!" Lazy mental attitudes on rivers lead to missed takes.
If you're fatigued or have pressing things on your mind then just retire from the water or at least
take a break and sit down until you feel more alert. Flogging away is both tedious and largely
unproductive unless you are lucky enough to find a co-operative shoal of hungry risers, willing
to forgive your intransigent attentions. Grayling can be forgiving (but not always!)
Spate river grayling are really at their best from about August onwards. However, on hot sultry
evenings when the odd sea-trout splashes playfully in deeper pools, the 'Silver Lady' can be
very awkward to tempt.
The Fisherman's Curse, (the Caenis) and other assorted tiny insects are often the reason for
this testing dilemma. A quiet stream seemingly before devoid of all life, albeit the occasional
yellow wagtail, can suddenly transform into a plethora of active fish when the 'Curse' or his little
pals drift onto the water.
Even a size 18 hook can look, during these events, like the massive bucket on a JCB digger.
The only answer is to scale right down to No. 22-24, fine wire hooks. You'll also need to slim
your leader down to about double strength, 1 lb. B/S or equivalent line. If you don't then you'll
probably suffer miserably from plenty of frustrating nudges, pecks and missed affairs without
the desired contact. Trying to cast too far is both usually unnecessary and tiring on the eye
when fishing the 'Curse Hatch' for grayling. Seek out steady risers close enough to allow you
to actually 'see' your fly pattern. This small fly/leader 'close-line' technique applies when
fishing virtually any other tiny imitation too.
Fast strikes are not always a good idea either and result in missed fish. This is because the
grayling are at these times preoccupied with grabbing as many naturals as they can quickly
before the feast ends. One must be single-mindedly persistent, target individual risers rather
than just aiming at the general shoal and present the tiny dressing with care and accuracy.
Long casts often lead to broken tippets when using ultra fine, double strength line, so do hunt
out the nearer rise forms and leave any distant challengers until their diet alters later on.
On occasion, 'Caenis-obsessed' grayling will fall for a well presented larger fancy fly like the
Red Tag, Witch, or Treacle Parkin. Incidentally, grayling can be very predatory on occasion. I
know this personally for I have had big specimens hit No.6 hook lures when sea-trouting at
night on the Northern streams !
We somewhat incorrectly call Red Tag type dressings 'Fancies' yet there are a plethora of
bugs and beetles which sport bright red, yellow and orange coloration in their makeup. In effect
then, we are still imitating certain 'naturals' when using fancies, even if we fail to actually
realise what type of insect it is at that given time!
I find that fancies come into their own when the water temperature drops, either later on after a
warmish, late summer day or in the colder months when drabber flies are becoming scarce.
Another type of pattern that I would be loathe to omit from my box at any time of year is the
Pale Watery. Grayling are very fond of this little fly and a day is never complete unless one of
my own pale watery dressings has seen the water.
I remember the last two specimens which I took on pale watery flies from the beautiful Northern
River Eamont near Penrith, Cumbria. I was visiting the region last August with a friend for the
trout fishing and incredibly we hadn't even realised that the system held grayling.
Crouching low behind an overhanging willow I spotted what appeared at first to be a small shoal
of rising trout. Out swished my dry pale watery to match the hatch and on the third attempt I
was into something powerful. Calling to my pal Vic, who was several yards below me, I gained
line on the subsurface leviathan. I remember our surprise as a huge dorsal fin finally broke
through the dark waters, whipping my six foot midge rod over into a fierce arc. "Funny looking
trout they've got in this river! " I grinned with a wry wink to my chum.
Minutes later, we slipped back the lovely, pear-eyed 2 lb. grayling. Vic was very pleased to
discover that grayling existed in this river as he, like me, appreciates this species for its
true sporting worth.
Later, just as the last silver rays of late summer light flickered on the river, the fish had a short
mad flurry. I landed another gorgeous 2 lb. grayling from a difficult run in between fronds of
long, wavering weed growth and only one solitary brownie from a swim which really appeared
to belong in an old Constable painting! Rich, golden evenings like this should last for ever.
Alas though, like the hatches we seek, they never do!
The grayling of the River Hodder can grow as big if not bigger than their Cumbrian relatives. I
have long held the belief that a record fish could be produced by this fine river one day. I have
never managed to beat my personal best of 2« lb., yet I've had many of this weight over
previous seasons. These lusty specimens sometimes appear as if by magic. One day you
will find only small fish, then a day or two later-there they are! A terrific congregation of hungry
giants rising in the very same swim!
There's a lot to be said for hunting this species in winter on the spate streams. If you possibly
can, get there a few days after a decent downpour following a dry spell. The extra turbulence
of 'a bit of fresh' will ensure that plenty of grayling are on the feed as the waters level off.
Why wait for the rising trout of spring when the Silver Lady of the Stream is so obliging in the
cold, bleaker winter months?
There's nothing to beat that incredible feeling of arriving at a nice quiet grayling river in October.
The harsh call of a cock pheasant breaking the cool foggy morning air. Jack Frost's icy
coating on the white-laced spider webs and alders. The faint drifting smell of burnt stubble
pastures and that exciting first riser moving steadily beneath an old, overhanging oak bough.
Can there be any greater angling pleasure than to catch such truly wild fish as the grayling
when other mortals are at home, dreading the coming dark heart of winter's chill?
To the few hardy souls who dare venture forth into this brisk climate, the rewards are very
great indeed!
Effective grayling patterns for the 'Northern Spate Streams' are as follows:
The Fire Bug (Grayling Fancy)
Hook: 16-20, fine wire
Silk: fine white
Tag: Bright red and yellow floss or wool followed by one twist of gold lurex.
Body: peacock herl
Hackle: Natural red cock
Regan's Pale Watery
Hook: 16-20, fine wire
Silk: Fine white or grey
Tail: Blue dun cock
Body: Grey goose herl
Wing: Waterhen or Coot wing slips (split and advanced)
Hackle: Pale blue dun cock
Tiny White Curse Buster
(use in caenis, midge or tiny reed smut hatches)
Hook: 20-24
Silk: Micro fine white
Body: White S.L.F or fine wool dubbed
Thorax: Black mole or rabbit fur dubbed
Wing: White poly-yarn or wool (tied spent as with spinner patterns)
NORTHERN STREAMS TO FISH FOR GRAYLING AS FOLLOWS:
River Eamont, Cumbria, run by Penrith AA. Tickets from: Sykes Sports Shop, Great Dockray, Penrith, Cumbria. Tickets also available on the rivers-Lowther and Eden.
River Hodder, Lancs. The Jam Pot, Chapel Street, Slaidburn, Clitheroe, Lancs, Tel: 01200 446225. Day tickets £7.00.
Southport Fly Fishers Club also has an excellent piece of water on the Hodder near Clitheroe. Contact: The Secretary, Mr M. Nash, 25 Lindley Drive, Parbold, Wigan, Lancs, WN8 7ED.
River Ribble: Old Stone House Restaurant, Mitton, Lancs. Tel: 01254 826544. DT- £6.00
Also R. Ribble (DT-£15.00) from: The Royal Oak, Settle, North Yorkshire, BD24 9ED. Tel: 01729 822561.