The southern chalkstreams are at a 30 year low according to one river keeper I was chatting to. The fishing hasn't been easy and there have been too many trout getting in the way. There have been some good fish around though.....

From the Wiltshire Avon.....



....the Wylie...



.....the Test



....and the Lambourn.





All these fish came to size 18/20 tungsten beaded hare's ear nymphs, usually with a black bead (avoid gold beads, these fish see an awful lot of those).

Haven't visited the Itchin yet this season.

Oh, in the interests of giving an accurate picture, my visit to a northern chalkstream with Coasty and Viking resulted in me having a blank (they both caught fish!)

Regards

Peter

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Life is what happens to you when you're busy making other plans
John Lennon

http://walksandfishes.blogspot.com/

Those are some fine looking grayling Peter, going to get out myself next week and have a go for some !

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Those are some fine looking grayling Peter, going to get out myself next week and have a go for some !

Oops double post, how do I delete ?

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Lovely fish, seems good fishing there.

My river holds good grayling, as well as salmon & sea trout and brownies, however, some anglers feel fishing for grayling disturbs the redds at this time of year.

Not sure myself, what is your opinion.

I don't know splodge. Wading isn't allowed on all the chalk streams but where it is the keepers are very relaxed about it. I guess if they thought there would be a problem, they would ban wading.

Regards
Peter

__________________
Life is what happens to you when you're busy making other plans
John Lennon

http://walksandfishes.blogspot.com/

Peter, if you ever managed to get the time, could you please post pictures and dressings of the 18/20 flies you use. I know a hare's ear with a black bead is pretty much a hare's ear with a black bead, however I'd be very interested to see a few of your other successful patterns too.
Peter, what brand and strength/diameter leader are you matching up with these little patterns?

These blog pages should give you an idea

Walks and fishes: Flies 12 February 2011

Walks and fishes: More flies 13 February 2011

I use the hare's ear more than the PTN these days (for the simple reason that it's just as effective but easier to tie). For leader/tippet I use 0.1mm stroft (ie 3lbs BS)

Beware if fishing the duo of variations in depth. The bigger grayling will lie in the deeper holes and a duo rig may result in the nymph going over their heads. Take the dry off in these circumstances and just fish the nymph.

You are welcome to join me on a trip to the chalk streams if you can make it midweek sometime

Regards

Peter

__________________
Life is what happens to you when you're busy making other plans
John Lennon

http://walksandfishes.blogspot.com/

Thank you Peter.
I'll take a look at the blogs after the Saturday morning shopping trips

Thought it would be stroft.
Wonder if anyone's using fluorocarbon stroft with improved results...is it just as limp as the original mono, I do not know?

PS and thanks for the offer, I may take you up on that, but have found a piece of river very close to home which holds grayling, and I think your flies and set-up are the answer to saving a blank, though I don't mind a blank, it's just nice to be there.

Grayling Society

Super fish Peter, well done.
Regarding your above statement, it doesn't surprise me one bit with those two.
Did you check their pockets for maggots?
S.

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"A glint of sun has warmed the air,The flies will soon hatch out, To lure and tempt from their deep lair, The bonnie speckled trout." SKB tackle supporter. I love Furled Leaders.