The choice of tackle and spinning baits is influenced by the diet of grayling. Since the main food is aquatic invertebrates, the baits should be small, and sometimes miniature. And you can only work with such baits with a light ultralight spinning rod.
Tackle for fishing grayling
A separate article about fishing gear for grayling can be read here. To equip a spinning rod for catching grayling you will need:
- ultralight rod with medium-fast action, length 1.8-2.4 m with dough up to 7 g;
- spinning reel with front clutch size 2500 (gear ratio 5.1);
- braided fishing line with a diameter of 0.10 mm and a length of 150 m;
- spare spool with monofilament line 0.16 mm of the same length;
- Small spoons, wobblers, and artificial flies weighing up to 7 g are suitable as bait.
Catching grayling with a float rod
This fishing method remains the most popular among beginners and not only fishermen.
This is due to the fact that float tackle does not require any special skills from the fisherman. An undeniable advantage is the affordable cost of gear and equipment. It is recommended to use a Bolognese rod; with its help, it is possible to make precise casts to promising points, and then effectively retrieve the bait. Fishing tactics include demolition techniques. This means that the bait is thrown upstream, after which the force of the current begins to carry it towards the area where grayling may be hiding behind an obstacle.
The chances of success are increased due to the fact that the cast is performed away from the fishing zone, due to which there is no splash that could alert a predator. Many anglers use standard fly rods. But with this approach, efficiency decreases, since it becomes necessary to perform constant recasts, which can alert even an active predator.
When fishing with a float rod, you don’t need to stay in one place for a long time in the absence of bites.
The chances of catching a cautious predator are significantly increased by fishermen who constantly move along the shore, fishing more and more new areas of the river. You need to move strictly downstream, casting is carried out while actively fishing a meter ahead of you
IMPORTANT! The grayling bite is a little sharp, but short-lived, it lasts only 2-3 seconds. Therefore, it is necessary to immediately make a hook only when you feel the tension or blow
If the hook is not timely, the fish will simply spit out the hook and bait.
You should always cast bait before mid-spring in areas where the current is not strong. Note that in March, grayling tries to avoid strong currents. An excellent place for fishing are areas with large stones; grayling will most often stand behind them.
Burdock, dung worms, and bloodworms are suitable baits for catching predators in the spring. In addition, flies are used quite often, but note that they begin to become effective only after the insects appear, and this is approximately the second half of spring.
Particular attention should be paid to the choice of rod in relation to length. Various options are suitable, namely from 3 to 7 meters, but in this case you need to take into account the characteristics of a particular reservoir where you plan to most often catch grayling using gear
It is important to understand that it is easier to fish with a short rod under the canopy of trees, as well as among tall bushes. For fishing in clear areas, rods 5-6 meters long are mainly used; the advantage is that it is possible to accurately cast bait over a distance of up to 20 meters
Regardless of the length of the rod selected, a spinning reel with a spool size of 1,500 with a front drag must be installed on it, which must be adjusted before the fishing process begins.
80-100 meters of ordinary fishing line with a cross-section of 0.2 mm are wound onto the reel spool; a leash up to a meter long is made from fishing line of a smaller diameter
We pay special attention to the choice of float. A large goose feather is best, but you can also buy floats in fishing stores
However, in this case, it is recommended to opt for models without bright colors and not too large in size; a load capacity of 5 grams is sufficient.
We attach a hook to a leash with a long shank No. 4-5, you should make sure the tip is sharp. As for the load, it is selected depending on the load-carrying capacity of the selected float and is divided into two parts of different weights. Most of the weight is fixed to the area where the main line connects with the leash, the smaller part of the load is attached below the main one at a distance of 25-30 cm.
The best baits for grayling
Among spinning lures for catching grayling, two categories are in the lead: spinners (rotating spoons) and wobblers.
The most popular grayling spoon Mepps Aglia Long No. 00
Spinners (rotating spoons)
- The leading positions in grayling fishing are occupied by spinners such as Aglia Long No. 00 and Aglia No. 00 from Mepps. It is on them that the average grayling weighing 150-300 g is caught well.
- The Panter Martin No. 1 spinner is perfect for catching such fish. The weight of this bait is 1 g, which is less than Aglia No. 00 (1.5 g). But this microspinner has the main advantage: it is designed for fishing in strong currents. The Panter Martin petal is placed directly on the rotation axis without additional adapters or clamps. Thanks to this design, when moving on a stream, the bait does not lose its action after collisions with stones. And it has significantly fewer hooks.
- If grayling fishing is carried out on Siberian rivers, then the larger size of the grayling in them allows the use of larger spinners. For example, Aglia Long No. 2 and Comet Decore No. 3 from Mepps, Myran spinners weighing 7-10 g, Blue Fox spinners No. 2-4. As for the colors of the petals, much is determined by fishing conditions and weather. So, on a cloudy day, spinners with silver petals perform well, and when the sun is shining, grayling bite better on baits with copper petals.
Wobblers for fishing in the current
Micro-wobblers Anglers Republic BM-20SR come out on top
Catching grayling with wobblers has its advantages. With these baits, the angler has more additional options. Wobblers are much easier to control in the current. On a strong stream, it is best to use suspenders or sinking models. The main condition for using a wobbler is that it should not be thrown to the surface by a stream.
- Favorites among models for grayling fishing include the Anglers Republic BM-20SR and BM-25SR. What grayling like most is the uniform movement of this Fat class wobbler.
- The Aqua Bit wobbler copes well with strong river currents. It works optimally at a depth of up to 1 meter.
- It is worth paying attention to baits from Yo-Zuri. These are two babies in one package called Snap Beans MS with an immersion depth of up to 0.5 m.
Find out how to catch grayling with a fly fly in the previous article. There are several types of fly fishing and two types of flies.
How to choose an ultralight fishing rod - read our expert review.
Fly fishing for beginners - everything you wanted to know about this type of fishing, but couldn't find a fly fishing guide.
Features of fishing for grayling using a spinning rod
Many experts completely undeservedly push spinning rods into second or third positions. While there are many examples that this tackle is capable of showing very decent results. A very good indicator of this is fishing in small reservoirs and forest rivers. In such conditions, the peculiarities of catching grayling with a spinning rod are most clearly revealed.
The reason for this phenomenon lies in the simplest thing - the choice of food for this fish. It just so happens that grayling feeds on various small fry. These are invertebrates that live in bodies of water. The sizes of these creatures are very miniature. That is, you can catch this fish only using a rod that can supply micro-bait suitable for this fish.
This is where the spinning rod used for micro-jigging shows all its advantages. Fly fishermen are rarely able to keep up in these conditions. The quantitative and qualitative indicator of the catch will be up to the spinners. So take a good ultralight stick and go fishing. The best option is a rod with a medium-fast action. The length is usually used from 180 to 240 cm. Test - seven grams. You should be responsible when choosing a reel. We need a durable spinning wheel, size 2500 and with a gear ratio of 5.1.
Read: Catching dace with a spinning rod
When fishing, take two spools with fishing line at once. We put 0.16 mm monofilament on one, and 0.10 braid on the second. The length of the fishing line is 150 meters. Lures, as you already understood, are required to be small in size. This could be a small spinner, a wobbler, or an artificial fly. The leaders are usually spinners and wobblers. The weight of the bait is up to seven meters. There are spoons specially designed for catching grayling. Basically, these are spinners, such as Aglia Long No. 00 from Mepps. Fish weighing up to three hundred grams are easiest to catch with them. The weight of the bait is only one and a half grams. There is a gram micro spinner for strong currents - Panter Martin No. 1.
Technique for catching grayling with a spinning rod
Since grayling is not a pronounced predator, it will not chase a fast-swimming spinner or wobbler. Therefore, uniform winding of the fishing line should be done as slowly as possible. That is why the quality of the spinner or wobbler comes first. Even when the reeling of the line is stopped, the river flow should rotate the petal of the rotating spoon.
- The classic retrieve for grayling fishing is considered to be a transverse cast of the bait, and then a slow retrieve with drift diagonally.
- The next popular fishing technique is fishing against the current. The fishing line is reeled in very slowly, sometimes with pauses, the bait moves against the stream, slightly pressing against the shore.
- For lazy and well-fed grayling, you need to use the following method of feeding a wobbler or spoon. Casting light bait is done against the current. The main mission is performed by the river current, carrying the wobbler past the standing graylings. Even passive fish react to naturally passing prey.
Catching grayling with a spinning rod requires the angler not only to have the correct equipment and catchable bait. It is important to correctly present the spoon or wobbler to the grayling so that it cannot resist the temptation that appears.
How to catch grayling using a spinning rod
So, we figured out the baits and other things important in the process. Now our main goal is to figure out how to catch grayling using a spinning rod. So, let's start with the simplest, but very important points. For example, the behavior of fish in various conditions, and, in particular, during hunting. The first thing to remember is that grayling is not a classic aquatic predator. What does it mean? This means that it is extremely unlikely that he would suddenly start chasing, trying to catch up with a quickly floating wobbler or spinner.
What should a fisherman do in this situation? When winding the line evenly, operate at minimum speed. This is the only way to attract the attention of grayling. In these circumstances, the question of the quality of the bait, be it a wobbler or a spinner, comes first. The bottom line is that the petal should continue to rotate even if you stop reeling the line.
There are also some classics of the genre. This is a retrieve in which the fisherman first makes a cross cast, and then uses the slowest retrieve possible. In this case, a diagonal drift of the bait is performed. Today there are not many equally effective ways to catch grayling using a spinning rod. Popular methods include wiring against the current. In this case, extremely slow winding is used. The fisherman pauses. In this case, the bait is pressed against the shore and moves against the direction of the flow. If a wobbler or spoon is cast against the current and swims naturally, even the laziest fish, which has been passively sitting in “ambush” all this time, will react to it.
Read: Light oscillators - non-snagging
Fishing for trout and grayling with ultralight on small rivers
> How to fish > Ultralight > Fishing for trout and grayling with ultralight on small rivers
There are many reservoirs where, for various reasons, trout are quite small in size and their weight does not exceed 0.3-0.6 kg.
It is quite natural that to catch it you need very delicate gear and bait. Of course, in such reservoirs it is best to fish for trout using ultralight
.
Typically, the biting activity of any type of fish is quite difficult to predict, and for trout it is almost impossible. The attitude of this fish towards bait, even within one day, can change more than once. Therefore, the arsenal of ultralight baits for trout fishing in streams and small rivers should be very diverse.
First of all, let’s look at the “oscillators” and determine their advantages. The main advantage of such baits is that with their help they can easily determine the horizon on which the trout is located at one time or another. The second advantage of oscillating spoons is the gliding movement of the bait in the water column. Often such planning can tempt trout, even if they were practically inactive before.
Therefore, trout fishing on small rivers
It is very effective for such a mini bait as a spoon.
This spoon has proven itself to be excellent when fishing on flatbeds. Catching trout that has already adapted to the conditions of the reservoir is not very easy. When fishing in paid reservoirs, anglers mainly use wobblers and spinners, but trout quickly get used to such baits. This means that even the use of artificial bait of a different type will already attract fish and hope for a good catch. Such models of vibrators as Nails and Daiwa Presso have proven themselves well.
Regardless of the type of reservoir, you should catch trout by making slow retrieves with pauses, with different time durations.
Fishing for trout in small rivers with ultralight
, of course, it can’t do without rotating baits. You can often get a decent catch with these spoons. Any predatory fish, including trout, loves such baits.
A very important quality of such mini baits is their ability to almost instantly start working in any fishing conditions. For ultralight trout fishing, Daiwa Presso or Mepps Aglia mini spinners with the smallest dimensions are best suited. But not all spinners are suitable for trout fishing; as always in natural conditions, trout will give preference. For those baits that are equipped with flies, this is especially true for small rivers and streams. It is recommended, if possible, to give preference to those models that have plumage, for example, American Rooster Tail spinners, or zero Mepps. In addition to the feathering, the hook of such lures can be attached using a winding ring. Therefore, the original tees can be easily replaced with single hooks that do not have a barb. Such hooks cause minimal damage to trout, they are especially relevant if you are fishing for trout using ultralight
It is conducted on a catch-and-release basis.
Swedish spinners from Myran, such as Mira or Agat, are well suited for long casts. Such spoons should have a minimum size; they perfectly seduce trout, both on small rivers and in paid ponds.
Fishing for grayling with ultralight on small rivers
Grayling fishing on small rivers
has a lot in common with trout fishing. Often these two species coexist in the same reservoir and are even hooked in the same place. It happens that an angler, from under one snag, can first catch grayling and then trout, or vice versa.
Large numbers of grayling can be found both in places of calm currents and on rocky rifts. If grayling stands on the rifts, it usually hides behind large stones, from the fast current.
Also, the location of the grayling can be easily determined if small grayling are playing on the surface of the water in good weather. In winter, it is better to look for grayling in the depths, when cold weather sets in and grayling and trout slide into the pits.
Catching grayling with ultralight baits
It can also be varied, but it responds best to small turntables No. 0-1. If trout can still be caught with a deuce, then such spoons are already too big for grayling. However, if large grayling from 300 grams and above bite, then such baits will be relevant.
Usually the cast is made across the riffle so that the current carries the spoon slowly past the place where the grayling is supposed to be standing. As for wiring, just as in the case of trout, it should be done slowly with pauses. The spoon should be cast either against or across the current.
Unlike trout, grayling does not rush at a fast-moving spoon; it will either be frightened by it or simply not pay attention. For catching grayling, spinners from the Polish manufacturers Dragon and Wirek are excellent. Preference should be given to dark flowers that have different patterns on the petals. If the water is cloudy, it makes sense to use Blue Fox model spinners.
Catching grayling in small rivers with ultralight
, in general, is much more difficult than trout fishing. When fishing for brook trout, to check its presence in a certain place, you just need to make a couple of casts. Even if the trout is inactive, it will still show itself in some way. But grayling can wait a long time and take the lure after the tenth or even twentieth cast.
It often happens when fishing for grayling with a “splash” that the fish simply has to be forced to bite. He can play in one place for 10-15 minutes, but until the spinner hits him right under his nose, there may not be any bites.
Grayling, apparently, is a more patient fish than brook trout, which often immediately attacks any offered bait. In this regard, grayling are usually more finicky.
Typically, a very favorable period for grayling fishing is when the water level in the reservoir rises. As the water rises, grayling, like trout, rushes upstream. Often, even in places where, as a rule, it is shallow and the bite is rare, you can quite count on a good catch.
Published: 09/12/2015
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Oscillating spoons for grayling
Spoon baits are also widely used when catching this predator. These are mainly relatively small spoons, the length of which rarely exceeds 4-5 centimeters. However, when fishing with these baits, you should take into account the fishing time - if a lot of insects fall into the water, it is better to use something more reminiscent of an insect that has fallen into the water, for example, it could be a small unloaded rotating spoon.
Important! An inexpensive oscillating spoon can work well, but the rings and hooks on budget models are usually of disgusting quality; before going fishing, they should be replaced with something more durable and of higher quality.
Also, we should not forget that miniature oscillating spoons designed for trout fishing are quite suitable for grayling. A large selection of shapes, colors and sizes of these spoons allow you to choose the right option for any fishing conditions.
Popular manufacturers and models of spinners
The following are quite popular among turntables:
- “Aglia Long”, “Comet”, as well as “Lusox” from the legendary.
Photo 1. Aglia long spinner. - "Daiwa" "Silver Creek Spinner", which is compact and heavy. The load is made in the shape of a fish.
- "Blue Fox" is a "Super Vibrax" model that maintains stable operation at minimum wiring speed.
- The “Panther” “Martin” is also considered by a number of anglers to be a very catchy spinner.
- "Pontoon21" "Trait", characterized by stable play.
Photo 2. Spoons “Pontoon21” “Trait”.
All of these spinners are distinguished by their fairly high versatility - they catch not only grayling, but also pike, perch, and 00 numbers sometimes work even on peaceful fish.
Many fishermen consider the following to be catchy spoons for catching grayling:
- "Mepps" "Syclops".
- "Acme" "Little Cleo"
- "DAIWA" spinners "CHINOOK" and "CRUSADER".
Photo 3. Spinner “DAIWA” “CHINOOK”. - "RIVER OLD" model "Satelite Maximum Vespa".
- Miniature trout "Jackall" "CIBI TEARO" and "Apeed".
Tips and tricks
- For bait, rotating spoons of bright colors, various patterns, and small sizes are more appropriate.
- The gear should only be of high quality, comfortable, and preferably light.
- The bait needs to be presented not just the right way, but the right way.
- There is no universal wiring and there cannot be; only experience will help you find the best option.
- If fishing on the track, use only oscillating spoons.
- In deep-sea reservoirs with strong currents, it is advisable to use heavy spoons.
- In quiet places and short distances, light spoons should be used.
- Heavy ones are suitable for moderate, fast currents (depth 2.5–4 m).
- In sunny weather, it is necessary to use spinners that do not produce bright glare.
- If the fish is interested in the bait, but does not bite, stop reeling for a few seconds.
Grayling is a noble representative of the underwater world. That is why he is so prone to being overly cautious. Hunting for grayling will require both a creative approach and complete preparedness from the hunter. Properly equipped gear, suitable bait and a good place will help not only to hunt successfully, but also to catch the coveted trophy specimen. Happy fishing!
Requirements for spinning rod and reel for grayling fishing
Catching grayling with a spinner involves selecting a fishing rod based on the characteristics of a particular body of water, since there are a number of factors that influence the choice of a specific spinning rod in each case. Of course, there are universal options, but most anglers still prefer to have specialized tools.
The length is selected based on the size and features of the banks of the reservoir. For small rivers with thickets along the banks, short models less than 2 meters long are more suitable; for large bodies of water, spinning rods longer than 2.40 meters are more appropriate for a sufficient casting distance.
Since small-sized spoons are used to catch grayling, the test of the rod must be appropriate - depending on the size of the expected catch, these are blanks up to 7, 14 or 20 grams.
Spinning rods of any construction work normally with spinners. However, when fishing for grayling, precise casting and fast hooking are often required, and fast and ultra-fast rods are more suitable for this. However, slow trout blanks also work well with the smallest baits (for example, size 00 Meps spinners).
The reel must match the rod. In the vast majority of cases, models of sizes from 1000 to 3000 are used. When fishing with miniature light spinners, thin cords and fishing lines are often used, which must be taken into account when choosing a suitable inertia-free bait, since many budget models do not cope well with laying thin braid.
