Sitting at work dreaming of grayling? David Walker takes us to a to a river where he has been lucky enough to find some sizeable fish.
Typical Nith Grayling. Pic courtesy of Mr Matt Eastham
The secret has been out for quite sometime. Anglers in Scotland who refuse to put their rods away once the brown trout season stops have been regularly making the journey to Dumfriesshire targeting the resident population of grayling. A population that for the last several years has withstood the constant bombardment of tungsten artillery being launched in their direction and thrived! Grayling in the magical 3lb range are not that uncommon and most anglers with a fair idea can reasonably expect to do battle with one at some point during the winter months. But where the Nith shines is not just in its capability to throw up big fish, its ability to produce real red letter days in terms of fish numbers is where it stands out from the rest.
Over the years the Nith has seen several articles from well-known faces published in the angling literature and this has increased the amount of anglers fishing the water. A privilege most of the Riparian boat owners are now thankful for. With the salmon fishing in somewhat of a gradual decline, one can imagine a probable drop in revenue going along with it. As a result every year sees new beats open their doors during the prime grayling season in order to recoup some income. A fact that is quickly becoming apparent amongst some as year on year sees a steady rise in day ticket prices. Some beat owners even allow grayling anglers to pay salmon prices in an effort to flout the grayling opening day rules set by the river. Make of that what you will!
Grayling fishing particularly in Scotland appears to be thriving with each passing year seeing more and more anglers stay on the rivers by the traditional closure of the brown trout season. A few short years back it was almost rare to see another grayling angler up to their knees in water once the cold hard frosts bite, nowadays it’s the exact opposite. Thankfully most beats on the Nith operate an online booking system, which addresses the potential issue of arriving at a water only to find it ‘stowed out the door’.
Last season I joined a grayling syndicate on a stretch of the river that was home to a private salmon anglers' group. A new estate owner had come in and quickly set about opening the beat up to a very few select group of lads who although paying a premium would enjoy unlimited and unrestricted access to some fine grayling water. I was fortunate enough the previous year to be allowed a couple of days on the water and realising its potential I was quick to jump at the chance of a more permanent arrangement. It certainly avoids the crowds!
A most recent memory was spending the day with a mate from down south. Matt had heard my stories detailing the quality that was on offer from the river and that he had to get himself up here to sample it. A day was arranged and in true Nith fashion,Matt winkled out three lovely grayling in quick succession after only ten or so minutes in his first run. Further visits were duly undertaken and I can still recall him extolling the strength of Scottish grayling after he had hooked another lump; looking up and seeing his rod bent double with a huge grin on his face tempered with the fact that his arm must be aching as the fish refuses to give a further inch.
Usual stamp of fish
The quality of the fishing on the Nith surpasses all other rivers in Scotland in my opinion. Having fished most of them and enjoyed some fabulous days-nowhere else provides the quality and quantity that the Nith constantly provides. A fact that every year I’m wondering whether this will be the year that the Nith eventually suffers a bust rather than boom period. I keep hearing and reading that grayling numbers are cyclical; I guess the Nith is well overdue in that respect.
Jig-Backs. Flies tied by Mr Craig McDonald
Successful tactics aren’t too complicated. Once the hard frosts roll in then finding the shoals become the most difficult part of your day. When found, large numbers of grayling can be expected. The trio method allows a quick and effective way of searching the water fast. A large sighter Klinkhammer with two tones of aero dry wing in bright colours tied New Zealand style and two tungsten-beaded nymphs is usually my go to set-up. A second rod mounted with a French leader can be useful as winter days offer little in the way of daylight hours. Fly choice in the opening weeks of the grayling season aren’t that critical provided they get down quick. Jig-backs are a great point fly and with the addition of a little orange hot-spot as a trigger point and the usual Pheasant Tail Nymph dressings on the dropper should see you right.
The jig-back nymph was designed with one thing in mind-getting deep quickly! Although its competition eligibility is in question, something that FIPS-Mouche has yet to answer definitively in my experience; it’s a pattern that should be in most anglers’ boxes. It’s a relatively simple design and tying that has proved very effective on almost all the waters I’ve fished which ticks all the boxes when looking for a suitable point fly. The later addition of a little orange hot spot has seen the pattern further improved. I assure you that the strange looks when caught rustling through your missus's nail varnishes are worth it!
Something different?! Flies tied by Mr Craig McDonald
As the season progresses and the fish become accustomed to the usual offerings then mixing it up with smaller and drabber patterns should see continued success. Hugh Skeoch, a good friend of mine from Ayrshire even managed a successful day's angling fishing small dries in temperatures below freezing! Said angler has also had the biggest grayling I have ever seen from the same water. A fish that measured sixty centimetres and estimated around 4lbs.
Shug’s Nith lump. Pic courtesy of Mr Hugh Skeoch
Some beats allow bait anglers who are able to score impressively. Boasts of triple figures abound fishing forums and social media suggesting greed rather than sport but each to their own. Drip-feeding maggots into a swim will prove fruitless for quite sometime once that angler has departed for the fly fisherman. The upper reaches such as Drumlanrig and Mid-Nithsdale can be busy with both bait and fly anglers so be prepared to arrive early and/or fish above the baited pools. Beats such as Barjarg allow limited numbers on their water and for approx £10 a day it can be worth booking the entire beat out and prevent the above.
A pattern from Europe. Flies tied by Mr Craig McDonald
If you’re looking for a PB and the guarantee of some great fishing then I would certainly consider following the flock and heading to the Nith. It can’t last forever……can it?