Grayling
Thymallus thymallus
The lady of the stream: a big-finned grayling loves cold, clear rivers.
Also known as: Estonian harjus, Finnish harjus, Norwegian harr, Swedish harr.
- Typical size
- 25 to 40 cm
- A big one
- Over 45 cm is a specimen
- Where it lives
- Clean, cold rivers and clear northern lakes
- Best time
- Autumn and winter, when it feeds best
- Common methods
- Dry fly, nymphs, and small jigs
About the grayling
Grayling are a graceful, sail-finned relative of the trout that thrive in cold, clean, fast water. They keep feeding well into the cold months when trout have shut down, which makes them a favourite target for autumn and winter fly anglers. That huge dorsal fin makes a good one unmistakable.
Catching grayling
Grayling hold in shoals in steady runs of moderate depth, so once you find one, work the water around it carefully. They feed hard on the bottom, so a well-presented nymph is deadly, but they will rise to a small dry too. Their soft mouths mean a gentle hand on the strike.
Before you fish: closed seasons, minimum sizes and catch limits differ by country and by water, and they change. Always check the current local rules and buy any licence you need before you go.
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