I normally fish the above for Sea trout when visitng the in-laws with some success. With the sea trout season over, I recall one of the locals said there was Grayling in the river. Has anyone caught them around Durham? I'd be fishing only the free stretch near the sands area...
thanks

Hi,
I've never caught them there, but there are dace there (so the water quality is ok) and I've seen grayling higher up beside the 1st weir at the ice-rink - so there are sure to be a few.

I've had plenty of grayling from the Wear, but further up. I'd be interested to hear how you get on if you are specifically targetting grayling on that stretch.

Cheers,

Dan,PM sent.
Pedro.

Hi there,ive just joined the forum im a grayling fan and i am a member of the grayling society.I will be coming down to Consett to visit my son shortly and will be staying a few days and would like to try the Wear for grayling.Any imformation on the river would be appreciated,my prefered method is trotting if allowed.I would like to try the Derwent but was told to leave it for a year or two because of the pollution earlier this year its a braw wee river when i had a look at it last year.

What's the day ticket situation on the Wear? I understand the stretch passing through Durham is free - I'd never thought of it for grayling.

Its a lovely bit of river... unfortunately it suffers from the same fate as many urban rivers in terms of rubbish, undesirable chavs etc. I tend to get away from the latter by being waist deep in chest waders! The fishing is patchy, but good numbers of sea trout run up in summer/early autumn months and i have caught sea trout to a couple of pounds. I have also caught chub and dace whilst fly fishing, plus lots of small brownies. the fishing is free from the ice rink to kepier farm, with the rest controlled by durham anglers assoc. Locals have mentioned grayling to me - and some spots look perfect for them - but i've never fished for them on the wear...

Dan g
I have never fished the Wear now for over 15yrs.
If I remember correctly there were very few Grayling on the wear at that time.
Very few were regularly taken on the fly of course things may have changes now.
A good person to ask would be Hong Kong Stewy a board member practically lives on the water

Gary
Nicho Bamboo Rod Co

Grayling numbers seem to vary considerably every 3 or 4 years. Don't know if it a natural cycle or predation that reduces the numbers but I have heard reports of an increase in the last few months with fish up to 14".
Seems like it might be worth a chuck or 2.

John H

Thats good news... i'll maybe have a bash whilst i'm in the NE at Xmas.

Does anyone know what the Grayling numbers are like around the Houghall farm area?
Pedro.