Grayling on the Wharfe at Bolton Abbey

I am taking my son for a day on the Wharfe at Bolton Abbey next week.
I havn't done much of this myself, so would like to keep it simple.

would we catch by trotting a maggot?

any tips on tackle would be appreciated.(floats, shotting etc.

thanks
Colin

In article .com, cg
wrote:
I am taking my son for a day on the Wharfe at Bolton Abbey next week.
I havn't done much of this myself, so would like to keep it simple.

I don't know the Wharfe but I've caught a few grayling ;-)

would we catch by trotting a maggot?

Probably. Atm the water is still warm so they'll still take worm/bread and
other larger baits too.

any tips on tackle would be appreciated.(floats, shotting etc.

OK. In ideal (overcast) conditions concentrate on shallow, streamy water.
If v bright & clear water then deep water and under banks\ early and late
and shallow only when it's getting hard to see.

Bait a fast run with -three- maggots or one small worm at a time. Throw in
bait at least once a minute, more frequently in fast water. If you can wade
above the swim and shuffle your feet in the gravel then so much the better.
Set float with bulk shot just above bottom, a small telltale shot (about #3)
and up to half a metre (18") trail to the hook - but if the swim is
shallower than that keep the trail shorter than the drop. Hold back hard
(ideallyGuse a centrepin) and strike promptly but not violently. If at all
possible lay the rod on one side and get the fish out of the main bait
trail as quickly a possible. Keep up the groundbaiting during the fight and
the unhooking process.

Grayling are not float shy though they can be picky about hook sizes. In
really fast swims you might use a float carrying 3 swan shot in 35cm (14")
water with a #16 hook... But use a bigger hook if they'll take it.

I you are returning fish put them back at least 20 metres upstream so
they've recovered before they return to the shoal - else they'll be off with
the rest following. Despite what people say you *can* keep grayling in a
keepnet - imo they survive better that way. The net must be pegged out in
shallow water with the the closed end upstream and the net just breaking the
surface, scatter some grass on the top to give the fish some cover. If one
goes belly up it will drift back to the entrance where you can gently right
it and it will recover. I have seen fish returned straight to the water
which have floated to the surface ten minutes later. By then they've had it
as for some reason unless turned the right way up they die and by now
they're out of reach...

But if you hang a keepnet straight down in a deep pool you'll kill or damage
more than half of 'em.

Once you've taken a few the shoal will drop back and bites will slow. If you
have plenty of water stop before the fish decide to evacuate and go on to
another swim - give your fish holding water a wide berth as you go. Come
back a couple of hours later and they should have settled in again.

When the water cools you may do better ledgering with a maggot feeder.

Hth, Cheerio,

--

Coarse fishing? - surely fly only at Bolton Abbey?
"Derek.Moody" wrote in message
...
In article .com, cg
wrote:
I am taking my son for a day on the Wharfe at Bolton Abbey next week.
I havn't done much of this myself, so would like to keep it simple.

I don't know the Wharfe but I've caught a few grayling ;-)

would we catch by trotting a maggot?

Probably. Atm the water is still warm so they'll still take worm/bread
and
other larger baits too.

any tips on tackle would be appreciated.(floats, shotting etc.

OK. In ideal (overcast) conditions concentrate on shallow, streamy water.
If v bright & clear water then deep water and under banks\ early and late
and shallow only when it's getting hard to see.

Bait a fast run with -three- maggots or one small worm at a time. Throw
in
bait at least once a minute, more frequently in fast water. If you can
wade
above the swim and shuffle your feet in the gravel then so much the
better.
Set float with bulk shot just above bottom, a small telltale shot (about
#3)
and up to half a metre (18") trail to the hook - but if the swim is
shallower than that keep the trail shorter than the drop. Hold back hard
(ideallyGuse a centrepin) and strike promptly but not violently. If at
all
possible lay the rod on one side and get the fish out of the main bait
trail as quickly a possible. Keep up the groundbaiting during the fight
and
the unhooking process.

Grayling are not float shy though they can be picky about hook sizes. In
really fast swims you might use a float carrying 3 swan shot in 35cm (14")
water with a #16 hook... But use a bigger hook if they'll take it.

I you are returning fish put them back at least 20 metres upstream so
they've recovered before they return to the shoal - else they'll be off
with
the rest following. Despite what people say you *can* keep grayling in a
keepnet - imo they survive better that way. The net must be pegged out in
shallow water with the the closed end upstream and the net just breaking
the
surface, scatter some grass on the top to give the fish some cover. If
one
goes belly up it will drift back to the entrance where you can gently
right
it and it will recover. I have seen fish returned straight to the water
which have floated to the surface ten minutes later. By then they've had
it
as for some reason unless turned the right way up they die and by now
they're out of reach...

But if you hang a keepnet straight down in a deep pool you'll kill or
damage
more than half of 'em.

Once you've taken a few the shoal will drop back and bites will slow. If
you
have plenty of water stop before the fish decide to evacuate and go on to
another swim - give your fish holding water a wide berth as you go. Come
back a couple of hours later and they should have settled in again.

When the water cools you may do better ledgering with a maggot feeder.

Hth, Cheerio,

--

James,
I thought the stretch at Bolton Abbey was fly only too. I was kind of hoping
it is anyway!

Chris

"james.willsden" wrote in message
...
Coarse fishing? - surely fly only at Bolton Abbey?
"Derek.Moody" wrote in message
...
In article .com, cg
wrote:
I am taking my son for a day on the Wharfe at Bolton Abbey next week.
I havn't done much of this myself, so would like to keep it simple.

I don't know the Wharfe but I've caught a few grayling ;-)

would we catch by trotting a maggot?

Probably. Atm the water is still warm so they'll still take worm/bread
and
other larger baits too.

any tips on tackle would be appreciated.(floats, shotting etc.

OK. In ideal (overcast) conditions concentrate on shallow, streamy
water.
If v bright & clear water then deep water and under banks\ early and
late
and shallow only when it's getting hard to see.

Bait a fast run with -three- maggots or one small worm at a time. Throw
in
bait at least once a minute, more frequently in fast water. If you can
wade
above the swim and shuffle your feet in the gravel then so much the
better.
Set float with bulk shot just above bottom, a small telltale shot (about
#3)
and up to half a metre (18") trail to the hook - but if the swim is
shallower than that keep the trail shorter than the drop. Hold back
hard
(ideallyGuse a centrepin) and strike promptly but not violently. If at
all
possible lay the rod on one side and get the fish out of the main bait
trail as quickly a possible. Keep up the groundbaiting during the fight
and
the unhooking process.

Grayling are not float shy though they can be picky about hook sizes.
In
really fast swims you might use a float carrying 3 swan shot in 35cm
(14")
water with a #16 hook... But use a bigger hook if they'll take it.

I you are returning fish put them back at least 20 metres upstream so
they've recovered before they return to the shoal - else they'll be off
with
the rest following. Despite what people say you *can* keep grayling in
a
keepnet - imo they survive better that way. The net must be pegged out
in
shallow water with the the closed end upstream and the net just breaking
the
surface, scatter some grass on the top to give the fish some cover. If
one
goes belly up it will drift back to the entrance where you can gently
right
it and it will recover. I have seen fish returned straight to the water
which have floated to the surface ten minutes later. By then they've
had
it
as for some reason unless turned the right way up they die and by now
they're out of reach...

But if you hang a keepnet straight down in a deep pool you'll kill or
damage
more than half of 'em.

Once you've taken a few the shoal will drop back and bites will slow.
If
you
have plenty of water stop before the fish decide to evacuate and go on
to
another swim - give your fish holding water a wide berth as you go.
Come
back a couple of hours later and they should have settled in again.

When the water cools you may do better ledgering with a maggot feeder.

Hth, Cheerio,

--

In article , james.willsden
wrote:
Coarse fishing? - surely fly only at Bolton Abbey?

Always a grey area with grayling. Legally (in UK) grayling are coarse fish
but they seem to be generally accepeted as game enough on here.

If the venue is fly only then the OP is stuffed. The water must be rising
steadily by now.

Cheerio,

--

On 22 Oct 2005 09:03:39 -0700, "cg" wrote:

I am taking my son for a day on the Wharfe at Bolton Abbey next week.
I havn't done much of this myself, so would like to keep it simple.

would we catch by trotting a maggot?

any tips on tackle would be appreciated.(floats, shotting etc.

thanks
Colin


Colin

http://www.boltonabbey.com/ and follow links

Weather forecast is for rain next week - too much and it will be very
difficult with the fly. Only 5 miles away from me. There will already
be a "good flow" from the recent rain we have had locally. I'm off to
the Ribble - last chance for a salmon this year.

Keith

"waterhenbloa" wrote in message
...
"cg"

Bait fishing at Bolton Abbey is not allowed plus the grayling are a bit
thin on
the ground at Bolton Abbey. Get to the calder its full of grayling. Not as
pretty as Bolton Abbey but a better chance of your son catching a grayling
and
bait fishing is allowed on most stretches. Jim

Jim which stretches on the Calder and where are permits available although I
live in Wales I visit parents in Huddersfield.
and would love another river to play on.
John.

"emma & john whiteley"
@ne wsfe7-gui.ntli.net

"waterhenbloa" wrote in message
...
"cg"


Bait fishing at Bolton Abbey is not allowed plus the grayling are a bit
thin on
the ground at Bolton Abbey. Get to the calder its full of grayling. Not as
pretty as Bolton Abbey but a better chance of your son catching a grayling

and
bait fishing is allowed on most stretches. Jim

Jim which stretches on the Calder and where are permits available although I

live in Wales I visit parents in Huddersfield.
and would love another river to play on.
John.
Believe it or not there is plenty of grayling fishing through the centre of
Huddersfield itself. I was taken by a friend last year. I understand the
fishing is free in the town centre. The local fly shop at Homefirth should be
able to advise. On that trip we fished up the river to the confluence of holme
and colne. I waded up the colne to a very big weir where I had my best trout of
the season (but out of season!) from the foot of the weir. The fish of course
are wild as the wind. Check out
http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk...rl_1005995.pdf

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"waterhenbloa" wrote in message
...
"emma & john whiteley"
@ne wsfe7-gui.ntli.net

"waterhenbloa" wrote in message
...
"cg"



oups.com
Bait fishing at Bolton Abbey is not allowed plus the grayling are a
bit
thin on
the ground at Bolton Abbey. Get to the calder its full of grayling.
Not as
pretty as Bolton Abbey but a better chance of your son catching a
grayling

Believe it or not there is plenty of grayling fishing through the centre
of
Huddersfield itself. I was taken by a friend last year. I understand the
fishing is free in the town centre. The local fly shop at Homefirth should
be
able to advise. On that trip we fished up the river to the confluence of
holme
and colne. I waded up the colne to a very big weir where I had my best
trout of
the season (but out of season!) from the foot of the weir. The fish of
course
are wild as the wind.

Excellent !
Can you tell us what fly and size of hook did you use ?
or were you using a naughty wriggler ?

.......Zed