The Traditional Fisherman's Forum

Maggot worked well for me last weekend, a single white on a size twenty hook, although a couple of locals told me that sweetcorn is also a very good bait for the grayling there, and can sort out the better ones. The spotty herberts will take just about anything and the monster minnows anything they can get into their greedy little mouths.

Size 20 hook! I remember those from my gudgeon days. I'm sure I have one somewhere :chuckle:

tony1964 wrote:Size 20 hook! I remember those from my gudgeon days. I'm sure I have one somewhere :chuckle:

I seem to recall occasionally using an 18 as a boy but I think the smallest I have now is 16 - not too sure where though. :think:

These are what I used.....

http://www.leslies-luton.co.uk/store/pr ... 8lb-NYLON/

Go for the size 20 with 2lb 8oz mono and you'll be fine, makes life much easier buying them this way.

You might find the following articles helpful:

http://www.fishingmagic.com/features/di ... yling.html

http://www.fishingmagic.com/features/co ... yling.html

Whilst they were written about northern rivers and cold water grayling, they included a fair bit of "how to" that will apply anywhere. The same tactics certainly work at Barton Court on the Kennet and Salisbury on the Avon for example. At this time of the year the grayling will be spread out a lot more and will be more willing to move for a bait.

Have fun!

I usually shirt tail the shot, but sort of bait bias, if you see what I mean. ?.. . . . . . . . . Float! (forgive my improvised diagram! It seem to help keep everything neat when casting as well.

I'm with DW and bunch at about 18 inches. Anything else is too fiddly!

I use a bulk shot at just over half depth and two or three number six below this. One thing I have found is that it's best to use a string of smaller shot for the bulk. It seems to spook chub less than a couple of AA or Swan shot.

SeanM wrote:I use a bulk shot at just over half depth and two or three number six below this. One thing I have found is that it's best to use a string of smaller shot for the bulk. It seems to spook chub less than a couple of AA or Swan shot.

I set up much the same way, I also believe that using a string of smaller shot gives a cleaner strike.

I wouldn't have thought the colour of shot, within reason, would matter much as the river fish don't have that much time to inspect every detail as they dart out for the bait. in my opinion the way the bait behaves is far more important.

I don't do a lot and when I do I do it on smaller rivers so an 11' rod is fine. I use a Barder Merlin.