Grayling Outing on the River Clyde

Day One
I have recently spent 5 days back in Scotland visiting relations and having a bit of a break before going back to see the Consultant and hopefully giving me the all clear on my kidney problems before going back to work. How boring 2 months can be stuck in the house!

My wife luckily doesn’t share my passion for fishing so when she hit the streets of Glasgow and other places I managed to get onto the Clyde for 3 days Grayling fishing.

On the 1st day it was a day of 2 species, I of which I definitely did not intend to catch on single maggot & 4lbs trotting line.

I arrived early on the river in anticipation of the chaos of the M8 motorway getting through Glasgow on a work day. I Sat & watched the mist rise off the river as it started getting light and was met with how much the river had changed since my childhood days of fishing the same spot, A vast increase in Goosander numbers, counted 12 in the space of 30 minutes of sitting there.

Started fishing around 0750hrs and virtually on the 1st trot connected with a small fingerling grayling, then it wasn’t until a friend arrived on the scene trying to surprise me with his combat manoeuvring which he only got one shot of the camera off before I realised he was there that I connected which was to be the best Grayling of the day a fish that weighed in at 1lbs 8oz and apart from some minor flank damage was in pristine condition and fought well in the current.

Fished on in the now heavy rain and had a further 4 fingerling grayling.Started back again after lunch and a chat with some friends who came to visit me and had another fingerling Grayling, before the water became really coloured over & started to rise. I saw a fish move at the bottom of the trotting line and thought it was another Grayling so fished further down and connected with a submarine (not the one which ran aground on Skye I hasten to add) A Salmon of around 5 - 6lbs estimated, had the fish on for about 15 seconds before it parted my 4lbs line.

I wasnt the only fisherman on the Clyde today.

Day Two
Well was back on the Clyde a bit later this morning due to the lack of commuting traffic through Glasgow. Arrived down south (upper reaches) around 0745hrs to find the water in fine fettle, slightly up on Normal summer levels and running with just a bit of a tinge, excellent Grayling conditions & a lot better than the conditions being experienced by my friend who sent me a text saying it was well up and very coloured lower down the river.

Started off fishing some likely looking runs and was met almost instantly with a small grayling, followed by a trout of around 1/2lbs, fished on till around 1030am and then connected with what at 1st thought to be a big trout and was gob smacked when I saw the large fin come out the water...it was no trout it was a very large grayling, pounding heart and a softly approach then took over and after an absolutely cracking fight where the centre pin screamed away several times the fish slipped over the net and I just looked in amazement.

After a quick few pictures, length measurements & a weigh the fish thankfully recovered very fast and was returned to fight another day. the measurements were from snout to tail tip 45cm (17.7") The fish weighed 2lbs 1oz.

The day continued after a quick brew and a further 5 small grayling came to hand and all released, followed by several fish lost.

I was joined late lunchtime by a friend who had came for a few hours fishing and had a good chat & fish together talking nothing else but Grayling fishing! Nice.

As we chatted a fly hatch started and fish were freely rising to dry flies!

Day Three
Final days fishing before heading back home home and the temperatures had plummeted overnight to -3 when I went to scrape the ice from the car windscreen.Arrived at my fishing spot on the upper reaches of the Clyde and the temperature on the car thermometer was -5. I think I’m going to need the Glycerine today was my 1st thoughts!

Started off on Maggots trotting the deeper swims and it wasn’t until around 11am that I got my 1st wee Grayling a fish of around 1/2lbs , 3 other wee grayling followed from the exact same run before it died again and time to move on & stop for some lunch.

Bumped into another angler half way down the stretch who said he had 4 fish all over 2lbs today on fly so things were looking good if there was any truth in the facts.

Started fishing the bugs and within 20 minutes had a fish of 1lbs 9oz on the bank, but surprisingly it was a very long fish at 46cm long. Went to take a picture and disaster, my lithium battery gave up the ghost and wouldn’t turn the camera on so no pictures am afraid.Continued down the stretch to another deep hole I knew and within 3 - 4 casts connected with another solid fish which at first thought was a trout till I saw the silver glint of its flanks in the low gin clear water conditions....a BIG Grayling.

Got the fish out and just stood in awe...it was definitely bigger than Saturdays fish and that was a cracker.....measured it, 43cms but very broad...weighed 2lbs 4oz so another cracking fish, just GUTTED I couldn’t take any pictures so slipped the beauty back into the water and watcher her swim away.

Both fish were taken on a fly that my mate Munro had tied and gave me a few days earlier.Decided I couldn’t beat that & headed back up the river where I bumped into Scott from Clydestyle Fishing...out for his Monday fish. Had a chat where I left him to things and headed back to the car.

That was my day another trip over but 3 spectacular days fishing that I couldn’t top. Can’t wait for the next trip North.....See You soon again on the Clyde