Just back from a few days away so had my first grayling trip today. Went to the Lower Itchin fishery - prefer the Monnow/Wye/Lugg etc but they all involve a 240 mile+ round trip, the Lower Itchin is only 75 miles.

It was busy! Plenty of room though so it didn't seem crowded. Had 6 grayling and a good trout, 5 on nymphs, 2 on spiders. Lost another 4 of which 2 were grayling around the 2lb mark, both came adrift just as I was about to net them. Just about cried the first time and nearly threw myself in the second time!! That's fishin' though.

Good to bump into Phil (flyfishwithme on the forum) who was a long way from home!!

Couple of piccies

Regards

Peter

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If, when out with a gun, you were to drop a pheasant in September (perhaps silhouetted against the sky and mistook for a partridge) it would be a shameful event and certainly not one you would advertise on an internet forum. Trout are out...

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Warren i believe in some area's today is the last day for Trout.

WCB

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A bit harsh! I wasn't fishing for it, I happened to catch it and sometimes its inevitable. I was just reporting what happened during my day. I'm not "advertising" it and I can hardly say I'm ashamed, if I spotted any trout I was quick to move away from them. You will, I hope, notice that there is no photo of it, it was unhooked in the water and returned very quickly.

Regards

Peter

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Life is what happens to you when you're busy making other plans
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Actually Warren, trout were still in on the Test and Itchen until today so you were a bit quick of the mark with that comment. I had the great pleasure of fishing with macsas, Phil (flyfishwithme) on the Test on Tuesday and they were definitely in then although we were fishing for grayling.

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The Lower Itchen Fishery is superbly managed by Lindsay and her team and holds some superb grayling. From tomorrow it's open for very limited coarse fishing, both syndicated and limited day tickets. Even though that is restricted to certain beats, it's a class above anything else in the area including the Test. I'll be there several times until early next year.

Hey Peter - sounds a lucky day and interesting water, how long the stretch your fished and what nymphs were you on ?

Beside I don't understand the tone of some people in this forum, it happened to me few times by czech nymphing or going out for grayling to hook an out of season trout, this doesn't mean I was deliberately target it or keep it for the table.

Sorry! Its the middle of winter though up here with frosts and high pressure. No way they should still be in although I can guess why they are.

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The stretch is one and a quarter mile. But the Serious Grayling stretches are less than three quarters. The lower end has the bait fishing and consists of some lovely water. Deep pools and glides.
This area is worth it as every pool and glide has Grayling in. Even if bait rods are there you can catch. They move around like we do. The non bait fishing stretch consists of much the same but the river gets more thinner and splits into a loop. This area tends to hold more Trout.

Even this time of year and beyond there can be dries up. Iron Blues tend to hatch - even on cold days.

It is a good fishery and the prospect of a 40cm plus fish makes it even better.

Definitely worth a go.

Apology noted Warren, but not sure if we are missing the point. I don't think you are objecting to me catching a trout when they are out of season, you acknowledge that this will happen. It seems to me that your objection is to me "advertising" it on the forum. In other words, if you catch an out of season fish, keep quiet about it. My view is different, I posted a report about my day and the trout was part of it...seems reasonable to me. We'll probably have to agree to differ!

Best wishes

Peter

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