a day on the annan

This forum is for discussing grayling.
User avatar
Ian
Eel
Posts: 2112
Joined: Mon Apr 04, 2016 8:29 pm
7
Location: Scotland

a day on the annan

Post by Ian »

an hour and a halfs drive from the house,the annan is a river well worth the journey for anyone who's serious about their grayling fishing and rab and i are of that ilk.
We left at 6:30am and headed south on the m74 motorway to our destination full of enthusiasm about what the day might have in store.
On arrival we noted the river was carrying a bit of colour from the rain the day before.
The weather was cold,crisp and overcast,just the conditions we had been hoping for and a chance to try out my home made floats.
The walk to the top pool is a good half mile but a welcome one which offered the chance to warm up from the morning chill.
A cata of maggots at the head of the run and it was time to set up the trotting gear.
Rab cast in first and before i had sorted the depth on my float he was already into the first fish of the day,a brownie of a couple of pound.
Walking down the run i found an area that looked perfect for the loose feed to accumulate and as if to confirm it the float dipped and the dogged fight told me i was into the first grayling of the day,a lovely fish of one and three quarter pound.
Making our way down stream we noticed the weather was getting milder with drizzle in the air but not enough to dampen the spirits as this pool had produced lots of nice grayling in the past.
Like the saying goes,dont try to fix something that is'nt broken and like the first pool a good cata of maggots was put out at the head of the run before we started to inch our way down stream.again rab was the first to hook up and it was his first grayling,a half pounder.i,once again tried to assume where grayling might have gathered to give them the best chance of intercepting the maggots,albeit this being an entirely different type of run but this time when the float dipped i instantly knew this was no grayling as the fish kept deep in between strong runs that could only be one thing,a seatrout and after a few minutes a fish of three and a half pounds came to the net.rab managed a couple of small brownies.seatrout like to try to make good use of a whole pool when hooked and the grayling dont appreciate the commotion,no doubt they moved quieter area of the river and it was time for us to do so as well.
The third and final pool would be the grand finale with a grayling to two and a half pounds being my biggest from it two years previous.
By the time we got there the drizzle had turned to rain,never good with the grayling sensing the inevability of rising water.
About seventy five yards long this run has plenty of room to fish,which was lucky as there were already a couple of guys out in the water nymphing half way down the run.
We decided to fish above them as they were moving down anyway.
Even though the rain was getting heavier i couldnt have known that sea trout would be my last fish.nobody told rab though and he managed another couple of small trout and a fingerling grayling.
After another good hour the light started to fade fast and with an owl twooting somewhere on the opposite bank there was no better time to pack up.
Rab on the other hand thought there was no better time to catch his biggest of the day and instead of packing up i was the netsman and after a good fight i managed to slip the net under a grayling if one and a half pounds.his biggest grayling of the day and his biggest grayling ever.
Verdict:a great days fishing,even in the cold november rain.well done rab.
IMG-20161113-WA0001.jpg
Don’t cast doubt,cast out.

User avatar
Scott
Tench
Posts: 2699
Joined: Thu Mar 22, 2012 10:22 am
12
Location: The Lake District

Re: a day on the annan

Post by Scott »

Nice one Rab and Ian! Can I ask which beat you were on? I fished the Annan a couple of years ago on a day ticket for grayling in the dead of winter and blanked (had a brownie). Can't remember the name of the beat just remember driving through a farm to get to the river. Not too far from me either, about the same as you but in the opposite direction. I might give it a go myself with the nymphing gear, you've whetted my appetite!

User avatar
Ian
Eel
Posts: 2112
Joined: Mon Apr 04, 2016 8:29 pm
7
Location: Scotland

Re: a day on the annan

Post by Ian »

Scott wrote:Nice one Rab and Ian! Can I ask which beat you were on? I fished the Annan a couple of years ago on a day ticket for grayling in the dead of winter and blanked (had a brownie). Can't remember the name of the beat just remember driving through a farm to get to the river. Not too far from me either, about the same as you but in the opposite direction. I might give it a go myself with the nymphing gear, you've whetted my appetite!
Hi scott
The beat we fished is hoddom castle,do you know it?if not,let me know and i will fill you in with all the details.
Don’t cast doubt,cast out.

User avatar
ExeAngler
Chub
Posts: 1167
Joined: Fri Mar 13, 2015 8:23 am
9
Location: Wiltshire

Re: a day on the annan

Post by ExeAngler »

Nice fish that. Oh for some Grayling fishing close to me.

User avatar
GhyllManor
Grayling
Posts: 686
Joined: Fri Jan 24, 2014 1:54 pm
10

Re: a day on the annan

Post by GhyllManor »

Most enjoyable read Ian, I'm a novice to Grayling fishing but have a day planned next week on the Test.

User avatar
Ian
Eel
Posts: 2112
Joined: Mon Apr 04, 2016 8:29 pm
7
Location: Scotland

Re: a day on the annan

Post by Ian »

GhyllManor wrote:Most enjoyable read Ian, I'm a novice to Grayling fishing but have a day planned next week on the Test.
A dream venue,id love to try one of these famous english rivers and chalkstreams Mmmm.
Don’t cast doubt,cast out.

User avatar
Dave Burr
Honorary Vice President
Posts: 13482
Joined: Fri Jul 20, 2012 7:03 pm
11
Location: Not far from the Wye
Contact:

Re: a day on the annan

Post by Dave Burr »

Cracking grayling :Thumb:

User avatar
GhyllManor
Grayling
Posts: 686
Joined: Fri Jan 24, 2014 1:54 pm
10

Re: a day on the annan

Post by GhyllManor »

Dave Burr wrote:Cracking grayling :Thumb:
I am very fortunate indeed, in August I rode my motorcycle to the Arctic Circle, (another story!) whilst going up through Norway I met up with a biker from a village near Stockbridge! well we travelled together for a few days - it transpired that one of his best mates is a river keeper in that neck of the woods, perfect serendipity! An invitation materialised hence my opportunity.

Paul D

Re: a day on the annan

Post by Paul D »

Great write up Ian, sounds like you had a good day. :Hat:

User avatar
Ian
Eel
Posts: 2112
Joined: Mon Apr 04, 2016 8:29 pm
7
Location: Scotland

Re: a day on the annan

Post by Ian »

GhyllManor wrote:
Dave Burr wrote:Cracking grayling :Thumb:
I am very fortunate indeed, in August I rode my motorcycle to the Arctic Circle, (another story!) whilst going up through Norway I met up with a biker from a village near Stockbridge! well we travelled together for a few days - it transpired that one of his best mates is a river keeper in that neck of the woods, perfect serendipity! An invitation materialised hence my opportunity.
Mind and let us all know about your river test adventure,i for one want to know every detail.i might never get to fish a place like that,but a story will be just as good.good luck ghyllmanor.
Don’t cast doubt,cast out.

Post Reply

Return to “Grayling (Thymallus thymallus)”