Hi all, I've got five days off work (wonder of wonders!) and am minded to angle for grayling on the Avon above Salisbury. It's quite a haul for me, and if anyone can tell me what the conditions are like with the recent rain, it might save me a trip that ends up with me looking forlornly at a river the colour of drinking chocolate. Cheers in advance.

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Navybloke

Last Wednesday 29/11 I fished the Avon Springs lakes and their stretch of the river was well up and coloured. Can't believe it will be too different now with all the rain in the last week down here. The lakes themselves were clear and fished well, if that's any consolation or indeed a feasible alternative.

If you call the fishery they might advise you about the latest

http://www.fishingfly.co.uk/

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"In wine there is wisdom. In beer there is strength. In water there is bacteria." - German proverb
JH based near Southampton

Cheers chap - I take it you didn't bother with the river then? It will likely be my last foray before the end of the grayling season, so I might have to chance my arm anyway come what may...now where are those eye-blisteringly bright pink shrimps??? Tight lines.

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Navybloke

Nope, it was always going to be a lakes only session.

Must admit I always think the best of the grayling fishing is from about now to the middle of February - but that's with the trotting gear rather than the fly....

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"In wine there is wisdom. In beer there is strength. In water there is bacteria." - German proverb
JH based near Southampton

Funny you should say that - I haven't trotted for grayling since I was about six, and my grandfather took me out on the upper Severn near Llanidloes. They've all since been taken on the fly, after I discovered fly fishing about a year and a half ago-a revelation, after a lifetime of coarse fishing.

A general question - it may be blindingly obvious, but is it hopeless fishing the fly when the river is high and coloured? I've yet to try in such conditions.

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Navybloke

Our experience with chalkstream grayling in the winter season is that as long as the water is reasonably clear you can expect to catch, and that applies whether the water is low, normal or somewhat higher. However really dirty water turns them right off.

The words "on the chalkstreams" above are important, because I have seen in another string here that the lads who fish rain fed rivers are more optimistic when targeting grayling in coloured water. With no experience of this to draw on, I can't comment further.

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"In wine there is wisdom. In beer there is strength. In water there is bacteria." - German proverb
JH based near Southampton

Navybloke, you have a PM

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