Grayling setup

[dale7637]

Hi all.
I am headed into the territories again next week. We were up there last year, and I had a blast.

The lake and river we fish both have grayling. We saw them rising last year, but had zero luck catching any. We tried various spinners and small jigs, buy no dice.

What is everyone's suggestion for catching grayling? We are running spin rigs, no fly fishing setups in the group. What does everyone think?
Thanks.
Dale.

[fishpro]

Get yourself some weighted bobbers and flies and go for it. Get some dry flies (like the Adams, Elk Hair Caddis, and Stimulators) and bead head nymphs and you'll be set to go!

[dale7637]

Cool thanks.

So do I want the fly to float or sink? What is the purpose of the weighted bobber?

Sorry for the stupid questions, I have never chased anything other than pike and walleye for rhe most part.

[fishpro]

The dry flies are made to float, while the bead head nymphs are supposed to sink. The weighted bobber will allow you to cast further with the light flies, you can also use split shot with the nymphs but not with the dry flies. I see you're from High Level, so I'm not sure what all is available, but even a basic bobber, a few weights, and some size 12-16 nymphs will work well.

In terms of presentation, you want to cast upstream and across, then let your flies float down stream with the current. The more natural of a drift you can achieve the more successful you will be.

[dale7637]

Awesome thanks for the help. Think I have it figured out.

[Sundancefisher]

Originally Posted by dale7637

Awesome thanks for the help. Think I have it figured out.

I have used small panther martins with lots of success and flyfishing and sweeping the flies back in. Small streamers will also work. Put a bit of flash in them.

[1/2 oz Bucktail]

Give a bobber and dry fly setup a try. Try dry flies with rubber legs like chernobyl ants, grasshopper patterns, salmonfly patterns. I know up here that if the flies have rubber legs the grayling will hit a lot more consistently.

If you try small spinners again, try letting the spinner fall and flutter after every two to three reel cranks. Up here on the Little Smoky the grayling will usually hit the spinner as it is falling and fluttering rather than while it is being retrieved.

[Calgaryguy1977]

chironomid and hares ear wet flies and mosquito, adams, or blue winged olive dry fly

[Alberta Bigbore]

The Adjust-Bubble bobbers are excellent tools for the spin fisher that wishes to use flies. Just open the one end and fill partially with water to the desired weight. The line runs through it.....and has rubber tubing. Just twist until the rubber tubing gets tight on your line and your set.

But make sure to have some fly floatant handy. Many styles and types to choose from.

[Calgaryguy1977]

or they could just buy a cheap fly rod, that said you still need to learn to cast it hahaha

[RapStaff]

Adjust o bobber is the way to go, see if you can find the clear ones.
I've had good success with black knats for grayling over the years.
Caught them lots on RM whitefish setups in the Mcleod.
Caught lots of big grayling on Panthers and Mepps in the Kakwa.

[Toirtis]

Originally Posted by Calgaryguy1977

chironomid and hares ear wet flies and mosquito, adams, or blue winged olive dry fly

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