When it comes to grayling fishing, maggots are the bait most anglers reach for. But there are plenty of other options that work, as David Pearson found out on a recent trip to Scotland, when he landed a memorable brace of grayling weighing 3lb 4oz and 3lb 1oz.
“I’d made the trip north a few weeks earlier, but after being hit by freezing conditions that made trotting impossible, I headed home empty-handed to Chesterfield.
“I was determined to get my grayling campaign properly underway, so I soon returned and, after a long journey, started fishing at around 10am."
“I’d begun the day trotting maggots but, after 40 minutes with no signs, I switched the hookbait to a section of dendrobaena worm. Soon after, I had my first bite, and hooked what was obviously a very large grayling."
“Once in the net, I realised the fish could be a three-pounder. The scales confirmed this, and at 3lb 1oz, it was a great start!"
“It wasn’t long before I had my second bite of the trip, again on worm, but that fish sadly came off. Things went quiet for around an hour after that, so I switched to a bait few use for grayling – bread."
“It’s a highly visible ‘trigger’ bait, which I’ve found can be successful on the first trot through a swim that appears dead. Such was the case on this occasion. On my first run down, I connected with a fish that took line but, agonisingly, that one also became free!
“I decided it was time for lunch. After that, I settled into a new swim and had my fourth bite of the day, again coming after I’d switched from maggots to worm."
“This fish made repeated, powerful runs and refused to come to the net."
“Eventually, my homemade elder pith float broke the surface and, with my heart pounding, I netted
a fish that seemed bigger than the first. At 3lb 4oz, it was just that!"
“That morning, I’d had four bites – three on worm, one on bread– and although I fed maggots sparingly throughout the session, they hadn’t been successful on the hook."
"Those results, despite my losing a few fish, certainly highlighted the value of having different hookbait options.”
THE BEST FLOAT RODS WILL HELP YOU TROT A FLOAT WITH EASE, HELPING YOU LAND SPECIMEN GRAYLING.
