The Opening Days on the Tay, Ness and other big catchments went well this last week, it was good to see STV covering the ceremony on the news.
The rivers that have opened and have produced some cracking bars of silver already, plenty of good craic on the banks too as the big rods were dusted off and Devon Minnows or Wullie Gunns taken out of storage. The rivers have been looking perfect for some Grayling bugging though, it’s going to be frosty and fresh mornings this weekend so I’ve been tying up a few variants in anticipation. I’ve seen a few very nice fish getting caught on my local water they’re coming to hotspot perdigons, bright collared pheasant tails and some non controversial squirmies! There’s nothing wrong with giving a bit of life to a pattern or something that makes it stand out and definitely nothing wrong in me tying up a few soft squirmy looking flies as a just in case.
It’s usually reds, pinks, purples and oranges as the best colours for hotspots and collars so a worm tail or two in those colours is in the just in case row. These will catch fish 1 day and maybe not another, great for low light or if the river is up as they stand out a little. The stretch I’m going to be fishing has some lovely long glides, I’ll be fishing nymphs on the way upstream to cover the pools but I don’t want to skip the water on the way back and leave out some hard to reach swims. I’ve had out “Clyde Style Flies” by John Reid and “North Country Flies” by Mike Harding to have a go at some wets and spiders. I might not be as delicate as some but trying to keep patterns minimal is good practise for me, I’ve got a few decent looking Purple Spiders ready for a swim. When you’re out on the river in the winter swinging these patterns is an engrossing, non- intrusive method and can help you reach pools that are unavailable in the usual way. So it’s neoprenes out and beanie on for me, some of the best grayling fishing I’ve had has been on days when most sensible anglers have stayed at home!
They don’t mind the cold, in fact a cold snap can help the shoal form up tighter meaning that when you find them there can be a bunch within the pools and runs. Usually the bigger fish at the front of the shoal, in prime position first choice on food items brought down in the flow. In clear water you can even spot these and give yourself the best shot at a proper specimen.
Fish of the Week - 21st January 2022
" This week's winner of the Daiwa Fish of the Week is Peter Wood with his Bass. Peter decided to blow the cobwebs away and get out for the first time this year, targetting flounder from the shore. After a couple of hours with not much to show aside from crabs or eels stealing the bait Peter hit into this beauty. As he was bringing the fish in to his fishing partner, the hook pulled right at the shore but luckily his mate dived and grabbed the beast. "
