Hi. I went fishing for grayling one or two weekends ago and the river was EXTREMELY clear.

Just wondering what flies I should be using for clear water. Should I be using the usual flies; Snipe & Purple, Waterhen Bloa etc. Wickham's Fancy, plus czech nymphs etc etc


Arctic

I expect the flies you mention will do just fine, however I would tend toward the more dowdy coloured patterns, especially if the clear water is combined with bright sunshine.
It pays in clear water conditions to try and move like a stalking panther! Even though grayling aren't as spooky as their speckled cousins, they will still bolt if you give 'em a reason to. Sudden movements are near the top of my list of all-time fish-scaring manouvres!

Alex

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Thanks for your reply. I will tie some 'darker' flies up.

Clear water (dreamy eyes in many readers) what is that? You lucky, lucky man. Where is it?

Could not agree more with Bloody Butcher's advice, but you could try going smaller, especially if they have seen alot of flies.

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Your lucky indeed if you can find some clear water with the present weather; I wish I could. Usual patterns and czech nymphing will still work in streamy water and deep water, but don't believe that Grayling are immune to the presence of anglers. Stealth is needed in shallower less streamy water and it may be worth using longer leaders and fishing further off. In clear conditions I'd say this is more important than the fly pattern/size.

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It was on the River Wharfe at Addingham.

It wasn't actually during flood. The river was clear after the last time the rivers were flooded.