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3. grayling bugs?

off to Yorkshire once again. this time the trout are "out of season". guide says they've "other things on their minds than eating." grayling are the quarry this trip. i've caught little ones in Montana who would leap out of the water and attack the fly from above--looked like the cover of an old fishing magazine.

anyone here ever seriously fished for grayling? do they eat underwater trout stuff? and if so, what's on the menu in November in northern England? (perhaps they'd like a grannom for variety!)

now that there are Troutnuts all over the world, maybe there's one in Wharfdale...if so, you'll appreciate knowing that the avatar picture was taken at Bolton Abbey.

A buddy of mine and I fish for grayling here in Colorado. His favorite pattern is a size 14 bead headed Hares Ear. Mine is a Hares Ear Soft Hackle. Both of us fish the pattern near or on the bottom of the river (Creek).

oh, thanks heaps, Dubbin! i can tie both of those...and there is nothing like your own stuff to instill confidence. ;-)

The magic fly for me is a bead-head brassie. I have caught about 90% of my grayling on them...well maybe it's because that is pretty much the only fly I use for them.:)

Sam

are those as easy to tie as they look? shoot, that's a no-brainer!

They are so simple, cheap to tie, and EFFECTIVE that I always try to keep a plentiful stash in my fly box. I've caught grayling, dolly varden and rainbow trout on it.
There is one problem about the fly...or maybe it could just be my tying style.:) The peacock hurl tends to unwind. So instead of tying two or three hurls in at once I'll try doing one at a time.

an update for those who were kind enough to help me out with advice:

had two really great days grayling fishing on the Rivers Ure and Nidd. caught most on a small klinkhamer-style dry, a CDC "sedge" (trans: caddis), and a bead-headed nymph that bore a striking resemblance to a brassie, all supplied by the guide. the water was too high in the River Wharfe near my friends' house, so my one outing there was not productive--glad i had booked two days with a pro! had perfect, if chilly, weather. everyone over there was just delighted with the sunny moments; in November they are very rare.

off to the photo-posting place to see if i can add a couple of grip-n-grins...

Try making a dubbing rope (loop) with the peacock herl. I tie my prince nymphs that way and they hold up much longer.

Thata' fly :)