Fishing for grayling using a spinning rod

There is an opinion that you can successfully catch grayling exclusively by fly fishing. It's not like that at all. During certain periods (deep or muddy water) you can only catch fish with a spinning rod. Spinning tackle is also appropriate in the summer, when the water is clear. The more time you spend on the river, the more the opinion becomes stronger that grayling, even a more predatory fish than perch, can easily attack large wobblers over 80 in size. As you can see, fly fishing is not a panacea. The main thing is to assemble the gear correctly and stock up on the necessary bait.

Choosing a spinning rod for grayling fishing

As my twenty-year practice of catching grayling on the river has shown, the label on the rod does not matter at all. “Label” is the brand of the fishing rod manufacturer. Nowadays there is an incorrect stereotype in the minds of modern fishermen. It is based on marketing engagement of various kinds of champions of planetary fishing competitions. You should not count on the objectivity of their judgments. They are ordinary people, they go to work, they are paid salaries and bonuses. So the thought forms in the mind of the average person; The champion fishes with a fishing rod from Graphiteleader, which means I need one too. If you have money, buy it. My recommendations for choosing a spinning rod are completely different.

The spinning rod should fit very well in your hand. When fishing for grayling, all fishing is carried out, the rod will be in your hands all the time. Whether this handle is “spaced” or not is not important; cork or synthetics also does not matter. The main thing is convenience!

Don't bother with the design of the reel seat. Any modern reel seat copes with its tasks very well. Pay attention to the weight of the rod. There are no recommendations here, try to understand that you will have to swing this fishing rod all day.

Rings . When fishing for grayling, we always use monofilament. There are “no” requirements for rings here.

Now about the length of the rod. A key value in sea fishing. A lot of all kinds of spinning rods, different in their structure, weight and length, have passed through my hands. Empirically, it turned out that the optimal rod length for catching grayling is in the range of 6-7 feet. Using longer rods is not advisable. Less is possible, more is not recommended. In the 2015 season, I fished throughout June with my old Banax, 7 feet long, until it broke on one of the fishing trips. The spinning rod served me faithfully for 4 full seasons, having been on about 150 fishing trips, a good result. A little math: the cost of a spinning rod is approximately $50, divide by 150 days and we find that one day of operation costs 34 cents.

Build. Recently, the national love for fast and super-fast fishing rods has increased, and the reason for this is twitching. In grayling fishing, this technique is almost never used; fishing is done using spinners and oscillations weighing from 1.5 - 2 grams and small wobblers. We will need a rod with a regular fast (medium-fast) or regular (medium) action. What is the rationale for this choice? Grayling has a “carp” mouth, we don’t need to break through the jaw with tees, plus we have a fairly strong current. Now let’s imagine a bite that occurred on the river. What happens if the fish are not caught strongly? Using “fast” rods we will get an instant release, but in the case of a slow one, we have a chance.

Based on the findings of this material, we will create a spinning matrix that suits us best:

• Rod 6-7 feet, medium-fast or medium action, weight from 1.5 to 7 grams.

Grayling reels

Choosing a reel for grayling fishing is a more important undertaking than choosing a fishing rod. That's what I think. The choice is made for the specific rod that you have chosen. Buying a reel without putting it on a spinning rod is not a good decision. We must remember that a spinning reel is a complex mechanical instrument, and a lot depends on the quality of its execution. On my long fishing journey, I have become extremely disappointed in Chinese crafts, and I categorically do not accept them, but I don’t go to extremes either. There is a clear line where mechanics end and marketing begins. In other words, the next model costs significantly more, but nothing changes in terms of kinematics.

It so happened in life that all my reels are exclusively Daiwa. In the Daiwa model range there is just such a model, which I consider the most optimal - Luvias. The size of the reel for grayling fishing is from 1000 to 2000, where 2000 is already the limit and rather overkill. But not everything depends on Daiwa, there are a lot of worthy things.

A few basic requirements:

• the reel must be suitable in weight and size for your spinning rod
• have a precise friction brake
• work with monofilament lines

Why are these requirements so important? First of all, balance: the assembled tackle should not be heavy. In sea fishing, this is a key indicator, and an increase in the size of the reel leads to an increase in the weight of the gear. The accuracy of the clutch adjustment is very useful. We are dealing with fishing lines from 0.18 to 0.22, and the more accurately the gear is adjusted, the greater the chances of landing large grayling. Our gear is assembled specifically for fishing for grayling; it’s not worth it to waste money on passing pike fishing, sacrificing the much-desired bite!

Catching grayling with a spoon

For several decades now, the spinner has been the most popular bait for catching grayling. The rivers in the vicinity of the fishing and hunting recreation center Markovo are no exception. The size of the spinners is mainly numbers 1, 2. Using smaller spinners will lead to an increase in bites of small fish. The colors of the spinners we successfully fish with can be seen in the photo

As you can see, there is nothing unusual in the set of spinners for catching grayling. Sold in any store. You can go another way, based on the search for the “ideal” spinner, buy “two cars” of them. This stage passed quickly for me. A super catchy spoon for catching grayling simply does not exist. Sometimes he prefers a certain model, but that's where it ends.

The influence of the tail on the spinner does not provide any advantages. At a certain stage, I specifically focused on this topic and conducted experiments. The conclusion is unexpected - the edge on the tee reduces the number of bites.

Tackle for grayling fishing

To equip the spinning rod necessary for fishing, you will need:

• ultralight rod of short length;
• spare spool with monofilament line;
• spinning reel;
• braided fishing line;
• baits – artificial flies, small spoons, wobblers, etc.

Fishing for grayling using a spinning rod

Grayling is easily caught using a spinning rod. The main thing is to choose the right fishing tactics, select the right tackle and bait. An ultralight rod is used because very small baits are used for fishing. The best bait when fishing for grayling using a spinning rod is spinners .
The fish bite great on them. This may be due to the fact that such bait resembles a moth that has fallen into the water, which grayling really likes to feast on. Most often, spinners No. 00 are used for fishing with spinning rods. However, if fishing is carried out in the rivers of Siberia, such spoons should be larger, because the fish in these places are large in size. The diameter of the braided line should be 0.1 mm. It is strong enough and will not scare away the fish.

Large specimens are caught on spoons, however, fish do not bite on such spoons very actively. It is advisable to use spoons in places where there are a lot of grayling . However, if they are not widespread enough in a particular body of water, then for better results use spinners No. 00.

Small spinners are great for beginners who are just starting to master spinning fishing. In this case, it is almost impossible to catch large fish.

Grayling has one peculiarity - in sunny weather it can be caught with rotating copper-colored spoons, and in cloudy weather it prefers silver bait . But it is not worth saying that this is suitable for all reservoirs, since even on neighboring rivers the fish can differ greatly in their behavior.

Along with spinners, the most wonderful lures for grayling are wobblers, which is why anglers often combine them during the fishing process, replacing the spinner with wobblers and vice versa, choosing the best option. The immersion depth of wobblers should be 0.51 m .
When fishing for grayling using a spinning rod, artificial flies are often used. However, they are quite difficult to cast due to their light weight.

Taburo Trout – wobbler for grayling.

Taburo
Trout – wobbler for grayling.
An unforgettable classic of our hunting and fishing literature, Leonid Pavlovich Sabaneev wrote the following about grayling: “This name, used throughout northern Russia, is obviously non-Russian and is of Finnish origin”…. “In many of its characteristics, grayling is, as it were, an intermediate link between salmon and whitefish” ..... “Grayling is very easy to distinguish from all other fish by its huge dorsal fin, which sometimes, being folded, almost reaches (in males) the tongue-shaped adipose fin, which characterizes the entire salmon family" (L.P. Sabaneev. "Life and fishing of freshwater fish").

Our handsome “sailfish” begins to catch as soon as the rivers return to their channel after the spring flood and the water becomes clear again. Most often, we spinners catch grayling using various spoons. But a separate topic is wobblers. They also catch this wonderful fish, of course, they catch the best of all large grayling, but sometimes small sailfish are not averse to tasting such a curiosity. Wobblers provide the spinner with additional opportunities. Wobblers are easier to control in the current. As in trout fishing, sinking models come first, followed by suspenders and floating ones; the latter are useful in that they can be floated downstream to the place where the fish are likely to stop, which sometimes brings success. Of course, only those models that are able to cope with it are allowed to fish in a fast current; the rest will simply be thrown out to the surface by the flow. The most common sizes are 25-45mm, larger ones for larger rivers.

The most popular wiring of wobblers when fishing for grayling can be called a transverse cast, and then wiring with the drift of the bait diagonally. The next option is to run the wobbler against the current. Here the line needs to be reeled in very, very slowly, with pauses; in this case, the wobbler moves against the stream, gradually pressing closer to the shore.

A compact, strong one, which for the second season in a row has brought stable results on grayling fishing, is the TABURO TROUT 35S, equipped with durable Owner tees, this shad geometry crank is increasingly becoming one of the most popular wobblers among fellow grayling and trout hunters.

With a length of 35 mm and a weight of 2.2 g, the wobbler shoots perfectly when casting with an ultralight and light rod into the light distance, which allows it to be used not only for fishing “underfoot”, but also on fast rivers and riffles, where you need to catch every whirlpool after every suspicious one. stone and every quiet place under the opposite bank. The Taburo Trout goes deep down to 40-50cm, which is just enough for catching trout and even grayling in shallow, fast and cold streams and rivers.

The wobbler has a high-frequency action with a small amplitude; it holds any jet very well, does not fall on its side and does not jump out of the water even with the fastest retrieve. Noise effects are built into it structurally in the form of a ball rattle inside, but the wobbler makes a quiet noise, although it can be felt very well by the hand on the wiring.

In terms of buoyancy, Taburo Trout is somewhere between sinking and quickly sinking. It lends itself very well to twitching; it can also be done with uniform wiring and stop and go wiring. It is quite natural that different fish are interested in such an appetizing little thing, perch and pike do not let the small, plump trout twitching jerkily past them, which this wobbler is so similar to, therefore, in places where the toothy predator is likely to be located, it is better to use a small light leash, otherwise losses of wobblers cannot be avoided . And if desired, treble hooks can be replaced with single hooks, which is what inveterate trout fishermen usually do with almost all wobblers and spinners - and hooks occur less frequently, and the fish are less injured, which will allow them to be released almost unharmed.

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.

Wobblers for grayling

When we talk about grayling fishing, we most often mean ultralight fishing with the most delicate gear, because not everyone has the opportunity to fish in Siberia and the northern regions - where grayling reaches considerable sizes. European grayling, which also lives in the rivers of the Moscow region, is usually quite small; a fisherman should mainly count on individuals weighing up to 150-200 grams and only occasionally on a more worthy trophy. That is why, until recently, grayling was caught with a spinning rod using a fly with a bombard or spinners. But, as soon as the Japanese wobbler industry, followed by a more gentle budget niche of manufacturers from Taiwan and China, began to produce small enough wobblers (for trout fishing areas), grayling on a wobbler ceased to be a “Siberian myth”.

First of all, it is worth noting that grayling really likes to stand on unremarkable runs of mountain rivers (fishermen disparagingly call such places “pipe”), where the fish, it would seem, have absolutely nothing to do. Also, like chub, grayling can often be found under overhanging branches of bushes and small snags.

Grayling wobblers – miniature and functional

Most baits of this type suitable for catching this swift predator of mountain rivers belong to the crank class, even if the manufacturer calls them differently (a striking example is the Smith 1C-minnow). The colors that grayling like most: in sunny weather, dark natural, in cloudy weather, bright and provocative, among them the leaders are red, white and yellow.

All micro-cranks are divided into 3 main groups, the first 2 are most often used:

1. Shallow-water floating micro-cranks with a depth of up to 0.5 meters;
2. Shallow-water sinking micro-cranks with a depth of up to 0.5 meters;
3. Relatively “deep” with a depth of up to 1 m.

We will need sinking ones for drift fishing against the current (since they are harder to knock off the game, but they are also more difficult to “start”). Skinny models include both Angler's Respulic Bug Minnow 20S and 25S, BassDay Kangoku Cranck 25s and the legendary Waterland Sonicra 22S. With all these baits you can successfully fish both monotonous runs and anomalies of the bottom and coastline. The main technique for “sinking” fish is stop-and-go, or a slight soft twitch. When it comes to grayling, retrieving should be done with short pulls of the rod, and only take up the slack with the reel.

Floating ones will be useful for a thoughtful spinning angler for upstream (downstream) fishing of areas behind rocks, obstacles, along the coastline with grass or bushes. Floating wobblers play better with less water resistance, and this is beneficial when upstream fishing. The most popular ones here are Smith 1C-minnow and Strike Pro Baby Pro 20F, Angler's Respulic Bug Minnow 20F and a size 25 model also work successfully.

Among the relatively deep-water wobblers, Scagit Design's Nuts 25SP and the new product from Lucky Craft Micro Air Blow performed well. The main thing is to play “deeps” quite slowly, since a large blade makes the game too amplitude when moving quickly.

We have presented models of only some of the most popular wobblers for grayling. Below you can find other lures from well-known brands that perfectly catch this fish in suitable conditions.

Habitats

To decide on the fishing method, the spinning angler must find out what grayling is currently feeding on and where to look for it. One thing is certain: grayling loves rivers with clean and clear water, rich in oxygen, where there is a stream and there are riffles.

If there are a lot of stones and snags in the bottom topography, most likely there will be a lot of fish there. Grayling will stand behind almost every stone. A good shelter for it would be flooded trees or bushes.

Such conditions occur on small rivers. On small rivers, fishing with a spinning rod is carried out mainly by wading, when the fisherman goes against the current. On rivers, going against the current is beneficial because all the turbidity will be carried away by the current. Fishing on small rivers will require special equipment, high boots or waders, and possibly a mosquito net.

When the sun is bright, it is better to catch it in the shallows; if clouds roll in and it becomes cloudy, then it hides behind stones and snags.

Bait selection

Grayling feeds on a variety of insects, at all stages of their development. There is a very simple way to recognize the eating habits of grayling. The first fish caught with a spinning rod must be gutted and the contents of the stomach checked. Let's assume this is a flying insect, which means it needs to be caught on the surface. If you found deep-sea crustaceans, look for them in the near-bottom layers.

Spinner is the best bait

A spoon for catching grayling is one of the best baits. If you set yourself the task of catching only adult fish with a spinning rod, then use large spoons or a large fly of size 8.10. A smaller fly will catch a lot of small fish. But since grayling is not a large fish, a specimen weighing 400-500 grams will be a worthy trophy.

The size of the fish depends on the river. In my opinion, on those rivers where there is enough food, it is larger. In some central regions of the country, grayling fishing is generally prohibited. But fly fishing is more of a fly fishing topic.

On some days, it happens that a couple of fish try to grab the spoon in one retrieve. Be sure to take the Mepps AGLIA LONG No. 1 spinner with you. And there are days when the spinner does not show itself in any way and spinning fishing is done with wobblers or a fly.

Watch the video for a review of lures for spinning anglers:

Often the size of the spoon does not depend on the size of the fish itself. And, most likely, it depends on the nature of the reservoir and you must definitely pay attention to this. Indeed, grayling prefers small baits in rivers. But if the river flows into the lake, then it is wonderfully caught with a large-sized spoon.

It is good to use various fly baits or a tee with feathers. The spinner should maintain stable play, not stick or twist into a tailspin.

In the photo, look at what fly baits can be, only the protruding feathers need to be trimmed:

Various fly baits

The grayling that prefers small baits will not chase them. With quick actions you will not only not seduce him, but you may even scare him. Slow retrieval of a super-small spinner, most likely even with the drift of the spinner being carried away by the current, is the right solution.

Wobblers

Spinning anglers use wobblers with a slight depth. They attract fish in the upper layers of the reservoir. The main requirement for these baits is that they are not thrown upward in the current, then the fishing will be effective. Try playing with small Fat-class floating wobblers.

Front sight

If you fish with a fly, you will have to study the flight time of insects on your pond. The correct selection of flies is the result of several years of observations. After all, each insect has its own coloring and its own period of activity.

A very smart fish and careful. Quickly gets used to the bait. Hence the conclusion: change the bait more often. The hook must be done sharply, although if it is caught on the lower lip there will be a lot of detours.

When pulled out, it desperately resists, showing excellent fighting qualities. The bite clearly falls into the hand. Larger specimens should be looked for near pits. On the jet itself, more and more small things come across.

The most popular spoons for catching grayling

The most productive period for catching grayling with a spoon is considered to be September-October. It is at this time of year that the water level in the water areas decreases, the riffles become bare, and the boundaries of shallow water and deep holes are clearly distinguished.

Make it a rule, on every fishing trip, the first thing you do is...

Thanks to the stabilization of the water level, it is much easier to calculate the right place for the predator to stay. Taking into account all the natural components that have a beneficial effect on the progress of fishing, the hunt almost always ends with a good catch.

The main thing is to properly equip the tackle, find a suitable bait, decide on the place and the desired object of fishing will not keep you waiting.

The best baits for trolling a predator include:

The leading positions in grayling hunting are occupied by Aglia Long number 00 and Aglia number 00 from Mepps. They attract the average grayling weighing 150 – 300 grams well. The Mepps Aglia Long spinner is considered an excellent tool for beginning spinners. The elongated petal creates little drag when rotating. The spinner quickly gets into operation, starts literally with half a turn, a stable position is observed throughout the entire fishing process (regardless of the speed of the retrieve).

The best results were observed when moving with the flow; the “upstream” method is most appropriate here. The spinner is designed to catch predators in still water. Due to its high persistence, the bait is used in shallow waters, in the upper layers of water, above underwater vegetation. Due to the powerful hydroacoustic and sound waves, the product attracts prey from a long distance.

Blue Fox spinner with number 2. This is a universal option for catching such a neat predator. Working with this bait is quite simple. The choice of color should be based on the nature of the fishing spot and time of day. Predominant colors: bright, pearlescent, clearly visible in the water. In a reservoir with clear water, a black spoon works well.

Lukris Spark spinners. The products are designed exclusively for hunting on currents. The elongated petal makes the bait stand out from other products. Despite the heavy core, the petal is capable of deflecting at an angle of 30 degrees, which leads to minor resistance during wiring. The working depth of the bait reaches 2 meters, and in reservoirs without current - 3 meters. In the autumn season, when grayling is especially active, such a dive is of serious importance.

Panther Martin spinner. The bait is a prominent representative of the In – Line class. The turntable is distinguished by its stable operation and its versatility, regardless of the speed of wiring. Her movements are simply impeccable, capable of starting with half a turn.

The compactness of the bait attracts attention, which makes it possible to cast it over long distances

The winning colors (silver-blue, silver-gold, golden-green and golden-orange) in combination with the scales applied to the petal create bright flashes when rotating. Such a tandem cannot leave a predator indifferent.

Aglia No. 2 spinner from Mepps. This is a classic in grayling fishing; with its help, the process takes on a new flavor, expands the range of possibilities and allows you to experiment with the pace of the retrieve. It is the second size of bait that has gained the most popularity. The spinner is silver in color with red stripes, which adds special interest to the eyes of a predator.

Heints spinner. The bait has incredible performance. But to use it correctly you need to have a certain skill and experience. The product begins to rotate as soon as it enters the water, the fish’s reaction to such movements is immediate. Often they use a spinner with either a copper or silver color.

Gear selection

Tips for choosing a fishing rod may be as follows. The more delicate the tackle, the more interesting the fight against grayling will be. Therefore, an ultralight spinning rod will come in handy. Depending on the fishing conditions, take into account the length of the spinning rod. If you fish in medium and small forest rivers, then the length of the rod is short. You understand that a long rod is only needed for fishing from the shore.

It is better to equip with a thin braid, 0.1 mm in size. Deal with the leash yourself, tie it if you want, or not, but, in my opinion, with a leash there are more snags.

It is better to use hooks without barbs and take it in a landing net. So, she will be better preserved and will receive fewer injuries. It won't die when you let it go.

These are the types of gear for fishing on small rivers: a fast or medium action rod blank with a cast of 1-7 grams, up to 2.1 meters long. Monofilament line without a leash, baits are tied directly without the use of swivels. Although the line will have to be constantly untwisted. But when using a monofilament, the game of the spinner does not change.

Posting the spinner

The first cast is made across the river flow.
As soon as the bait touches the bottom, you need to sharply lift the end of the spinning rod to lift it a little, and make a series of quick turns of the reel in order to eliminate the slack. Read Methods for soaking salted fish

Next, the line is released again, but again without allowing any slack, and a new moment is expected when the bait reaches the bottom. With 3-4 turns of the reel, the bait rises from

The direction of movement of the bait in relation to the direction of the fish's throw determines the nature of the bite.

With a transverse bite, a feeling of a hook or a soft blow may be created, while at other angles there is a push or the line sags, then the reeling stops; The rod is held at an acute angle of 30 degrees to the surface of the water.

Then the current itself will carry the spoon away. The new cast should be made either a little further or a little closer than the previous one.