ALL TO SHOT

Author: Andrew Cartwright (FFFT, Nov 2005, pp. 9)

My main method of fishing for grayling on the upper Severn and Wye in the winter months is Czech Nymphing. I prefer to see a slight colour in the water, especially a green tinge. My bugging set-up is a l Oft rod for a #5 floating line (I only ever use floating lines on rivers). To the fly-line I add a custom-made 6' braided leader - half orange, half 101b braid, the type used for coarse fishing that I make myself. I have tried it longer, all the way to the reel, as other people do, but found that grooved up my tip-ring very quickly.

The orange braid is marked up with a black felt tip marker, for added bite detection. On the end of the braided leader I put a small stainless steel ring to which I connect my tippet; I prefer Stroft, but any good nylon, copolymer or fluorocarbon would be fine.

I fish three flies spaced between 18" to 12" apart (closer together in coloured water) I usually put the heaviest fly on the middle dropper, with lightly weighted flies on the point and top dropper so they can waft above the river bed.

I've been experimenting with split shot for the last two seasons, so that in deep, fast flow I can get the Bugs to the bottom quickly.

Sometimes, without the shot, by the time my flies have got to the bottom they will swing round and start to lift. I've found that positioning the shot between the point and middle dropper helps avoid tangles. Another advantage of shot is it is a lot cheaper than tungsten beads and can be removed and added at will. Also, I can use slimmer flies.

I fish them in the Czech style of tossing them upstream, 'windmill fashion', and leading them through the swim slightly slower than the surface current. You can use the black and orange braid to detect bites. Or you can 'feel' a tish pick up the fly. Once you feel the bite, just lift upwards to strike. If you miss the fish and you're in the middle of a drift, simply lower the rod and let the Bugs carry on drifting along the bottom. At the end of every drift make an upstream strike - it is amazing how many fish will take as the Bugs leave the bed of the river.

Reading the river is just as important as fly choice. For Bugs, your water needs to have a bit of pace and depth. Follow seams in the current. Where you see the small bubbles of froth, this is where the lines of food will be going and that's where the fish will be. Never forget to try in that awkward hole under a tree or overgrown back eddy. You might lose a fly trying, but there might be special fish tucked in there. Always have an open mind when you are on the river and keep your eyes open. My best ever grayling came to a size 20 dry on a bitter day in November two seasons ago - 51 cm and 3.SIb, but that's another story...