There is an article in the latest T&S in which the author (Chris McCully) talks about a decline in Grayling in the Upper Swale over the past few years. My understanding is that there are no Grayling above Richmond because of the falls there providing a barrier to movement. I've certainly never caught a Grayling above Richmond. Am i right in thinking there have never been Grayling above Richmond? Does anyone have any further information on this?

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'If you're doing things the way you've always done them then you're probably doing them wrong'

Hi Imago, can`t confirm for sure but I was informed by a gentleman in the tackle shop at Richmond that there were no grayling above the falls.......

John

Yes, that's my understanding and experience. However, I've only fished the Swale intensively for about 5 years. Who knows if there was a population above the falls many years ago that died out? I just thought I'd tap into the experience on the forum to see if anyone knew anything about it.

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'If you're doing things the way you've always done them then you're probably doing them wrong'

Imago, if you've fished the Swalefor the last five years have you noticed a decline in the population of grayling below Richmond falls?

I have fished for 10 years on the upper swale & the Upper Ure most weekends weather & water permitting and I have had 3 Grayling from the Richmond stretch below the bridge at Cat Bank, which is above the Richmond falls, & that was last year.

They were not meant to be there, or thats what I was lead to believe also. They were not of any size the largest I'd estimate to be around 7", but Grayling are present, in what numbers I honestly dont know as only ever caught them 3. I have spoke to other anglers who have also came across them but nothing of size.
Have they been reintroduced? I cannot find any evidence to suggest & not heard of anything locally, and I did ask a lot of anglers from the area but they too never heard of any.

I honestly have not seen a decline in numbers of Grayling around Richmond & Catterick as there are still plenty small fish but there arent as many larger Grayling these days, the largest I have had in the past 2 seasons from the swale is 2lbs which was from the Red farm Stretch at Easby.

Some of the Feeder Becks to the Swale are stuffed full of Grayling and I frequently fish for these when the Swale or the Ure is in Flood as the becks run off a lot quicker and generally nobody ever bother to fish them, Ive only bumped into 3 other local anglers who bother to fish them.

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A Scotsman in Yorkshire now there IS a combination

Many years since I fished above Richmond and cannot remember any grayling up there.Plenty downstream-have caught from Catterick to Skipton on Swale.Lots of fish in river but v few of any size - much better ones in Cod Beck for example.

with a bit of luck weather permitting i should be heading up to fish at richmond a week sunday just hope the rivers aren't like they have been the last 3 sundays i've wanted to get out bugging

Not looking good at the minute Mart Im going out this afternoon but concentrating on one of the Becks, will let you know.

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A Scotsman in Yorkshire now there IS a combination

Thanks for that - most interesting. Especially hearing that there are some Grayling above the falls. That does raise a lot of questions.

Like you I haven't seen any decline in the numbers of Grayling, although there are variations for year to year. It used to be that around Brompton there were bigger than average fish but few small ones. However, this year fish are smaller, but if anything more numerous. Good to see in some ways as I used to wonder about the sustainability of the population when there were no small fish.

A 2lb Grayling is a very nice fish. I've never had anything much over 1.5lb and that is from hundreds of fish. Good to know they are around as it is something to aim for. I'm fly fishing and I suspect from your avatar that you are trotting? One of the issues for the fly fisherman on the Swale is that in the winter some of the best parts of the long dubs are not really accessible for flyfishing. I've often considered trying trotting but not got around to it. Likewise with the becks; I presume you are fishing Skeeby beck and Bedale beck as I don't think there are any others that are big enough?

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'If you're doing things the way you've always done them then you're probably doing them wrong'

Hi Imago,
Im doing both mate as I like to alternate, If the weather suits the fly then I will be there will fly rod in hand, if not then I do revert to trotting the float.

Last year I had a 3lbs 2oz Grayling from the Upper Ure and was absolutely gutted that I had no camera with me at the time, I did have it verified by a farmer who was in the field feeding cattle at the time so can always say it was witnessed.

You would be correct with the becks that I fish and from time to time the cod beck also. I was out on saturday trotting though on one of the becks and had an absolutely outstanding day mainly chublets, Roach & dace but did have a few small Grayling also.

I agree with the fish being smaller in the main rivers this year like you say Bromton was good for over average fish in the past but it seems this year there are nowhere to be found, but always nice to look for them weather conditions allowing.
Best regards
George

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A Scotsman in Yorkshire now there IS a combination