As with brown trout, the lower Dee is held in lower regard for grayling than the upper stretches. However, good bags of grayling can be taken on all our waters, but predominantly from beats 1 & 2. Since the big floods of 2000 and 2001, grayling have been wider distributed with better returns from beat 3. These are often at the larger end of the weight range.
Typical grayling taken from the club waters vary in size from 6 ounces to a pound and a half and sometimes bigger. Large shoals of smaller fish are found in the fast, shallow water in summer months with larger fish found in more favorable lies and in the body of pools. During the winter, shoals of mixed size are more common.
Fishing pressure for grayling tends to be light on BODSAA waters, but those who do fish for the lady of the stream are often rewarded handsomely. Bags of fish numbering into double figures are often taken on the fly, with fish being very free rising to the large hatches of fly.
During the winter, grayling are taken from many lies, but especially some of the more sheltered water. This includes the tail of the Church Pool, Duke's, the tail of Pylons, Joby's, the tail of Tolch, the tail of Plumly's, the bottom of the Graig Straight, the tail of Butresses, Johnny Morris' and George's. On beat 3, the runs above the ferry crossing, the tail of the ferry crossing and the water above and below the shingle's usually hold good grayling.
At this time, leaded nymphs come into their own. These are fished upstream (Czech style) or down and across. The Czech style has become more popular since proving to be the winning tactics at the Grayling World Championships when held on the Dee. Popular Winter grayling flies also include the Red Tag and Treakle Parkin. During calmer periods, small imitative patterns will also take fish.
In the coldest weather, the grayling retreat to deeper water. At this time, a trotted worm or maggot proves productive. The above water being excellent for this method. Many fish can be taken from the same shoal once the fish have been located.
Summer tactics are very similar to those for trout with fish rising freely to surface flies and emerging nymphs. Indeed, it is common to take both species from the same lies. Anglers have been known to take one species on one cast and the other species on the next cast and on the very odd occasion, one of each on the same cast when fishing a team of flies.
The traditional summer lies include the runs between pools or in the heads and tails of the pools themselves. Indeed, fish can be found almost anywhere. Much of the water described above provides fish together with the Bridge Pool and the fast water down to Duke's, the Monks Drain, Pump House, the broken water half way down Plumley's, either side of the Graig Island, Graig Straight, and Nunnely's.
At this time the lighter, more sparsely dressed flies come into their own. Spiders such as the Black Pennell, Greenwells, Pheasant Tail, etc. take fish, with small palmered flies succeeding when the sedges appear in June and July. At this time fish are also taken on dry flies. These include hackled dries such as Black Gnats, Olives, etc. and Emergers such as CDCs, Klinkhammers, etc.
Large bags of grayling (often numbering into double figures) are taken throughout the season.
During the past few seasons, 2 - 4 inch grayling have been taken during the summer months (along with fingerling trout and salmon parr). This is excellent news for the future of fishing on our waters.
EQUIPMENT
For most fly requirements, a rod of 8' to 9'6 rated #4 to #6 is ideal. The Dee, even in its lower stretches is not a large river and most grayling hold in water that can be easily waded.
Floating lines cover most days, but detachable sinking leaders can add to you options.
For worm and maggot fishing, a spinning reel holding 6-8 pound nylon, with a 4 pound bottom is adequate. Couple this with a light rod of 8' to 10' and you will cater for most eventualities.
For those wishing to travel light and cater for both types of fishing, why not simply use a spinning reel on the fly rod?
Thigh waders are required to allow best access to many of the better stretches for grayling. Chest waders offer additional benefits but are not essential.
NOTE : Extreme caution should be taken when wading stretches with which you are unfamiliar. If in doubt, keep out.
