As the weather turns colder, many anglers hang up their rods until spring, assuming the drop in temperatures makes fishing pointless. Fear not, though—grayling will feed even in the harshest freezing conditions. Not only do they provide excellent sport, but the "Lady of the Stream" may well be one of the most beautiful fish in British waters.
With the right tactics, grayling are fairly easy fish to catch making them great to target for all abilities of angler. While simple float fishing techniques generally best, you can catch grayling on the feeder, but its more much exciting catching them with running line tactics.
THE BEST FLOAT RODS WILL HELP IMPROVE YOUR PRESENTATION TO FOOL BIG GRAYLING.
Location and features
Grayling can be found in rivers from Scotland all the way down to the south coast and almost everywhere in between. My personal favorites are the River Frome and the River Itchen—not only are these waterways truly stunning, but they also offer the chance to catch monster grayling weighing over 3lbs.
Choosing a swim can vary from session to session. Sometimes, grayling will hold in fast-flowing shallow water, while on other days, they may prefer deeper pools. If it’s bright and sunny, focus on areas with cover, such as overhanging trees or rushes, and a bit of depth. On overcast days, the fish are often more spread out. My advice is not to approach with preconceived ideas and explore a range of swims, letting the fish dictate where you fish.
TROTTING ON RIVERS CAN BE TRICKY, OUR ARTICLE WILL HELP IMPROVE YOUR FLOAT FISHING!
Tackle
Grayling fight hard, using their sail-like dorsal fin to navigate the river’s flow, so your gear needs to reflect their strength. They aren't notoriously shy fish, so you can get away with decent end tackle, which also helps prevent rogue trout from snapping you up—where there are grayling, hungry trout are often nearby.
I prefer using a centerpin reel, as I believe it can significantly improve your success rate. That said, it isn’t essential, and plenty of grayling are caught with fixed spool reels. I pair the reel with a 13ft–15ft float rod, as the longer length helps with line control, especially when long trotting or running a float along the far bank cover where grayling often hide.
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Rig and line choices
Low-diameter mainline is crucial for trotting, as it makes controlling the float much easier, I typically opt for a line with a breaking strain of around 4–5lb. Look for the lowest-diameter line you can find—there are excellent options available, so choose one from a brand you feel confident using.
The choice of float depends entirely on the conditions. For a low and clear river, a 2–4g float is ideal. However, if the river has extra water and flow, I won’t hesitate to use an 8g loafer float. Don’t worry too much about sensitivity; it’s all about presenting the bait correctly.
Bulk your shotting down the line—a line-friendly olivette is an excellent way to add weight, pair this with a size 14–16 hook, and your rig is complete. Simple!
WADING CAN BE BENEFICIAL WHEN TROTTING, CHECK OUT OUR GUIDE TO THE BEST WADERS.
Bait choices
When fishing for grayling, I only take two baits to the riverbank: red maggots and sweetcorn. While other baits can be effective, these two have caught me countless grayling, including some real specimens, and I have total confidence in them.
One tip I’d add is to feed sparingly if the river holds a lot of trout. The more you feed, the more likely it is that trout will move in, outcompete the grayling, and quickly ruin your chances.
IF YOU NEED MORE TIPS ON CATCHING GRAYLING, READ THIS EXPERT ARTICLE FOR MORE TACTICS.
