Where to target Grayling in Scotland
Scotland has an abundance of clean, well-oxygenated rivers, that are ideal habitat for fly fishing and nymphing techniques for Grayling. The Grayling (Latin name Thymallus Thymallus) is a Salmonidae and sometimes referred to in Scotland as the “Lady of the Stream“.
These beautiful fish are dogged fighters, using their large sail like dorsal fin to fight hard. Grayling are generally caught on the bottom. In the warmer months Grayling are free rising to hatches of ephemerals.
The River Tweed is closest to Edinburgh and holds prolific shoals of Grayling, including some specimen fish. The Teviot and Whiteadder are both worthy tributaries for Grayling.
Last year a client from the USA lost a fish at the net which I estimated to be close to 4lb. The British Record stands at 4lb 3oz. This year we had a fish of 54cm, which weighed in at 3.5 Pounds.
The River Annan is another prolific Grayling river, located about 1.5 hours south of Edinburgh. The river holds a good population of Grayling, as well as some specimen brown trout.
River Tweed Tributaries
There are also notable tributaries in the Tweed system, like the River Teviot Leader, Ettrick, Gala and Jed water, these also hold good grayling stocks and are worth targeting, especially when the Tweed is too high to fish.
Finally, the River Tay should not be overlooked for Grayling. However, you really need to know the beats to fish and how and when to avoid the salmon anglers. We can help you plan the right trip. There’s always the bonus of having lunch in one of the fine salmon fishing huts on the River Tay too and sharing banter and stories with the salmon anglers.
All of these rivers are accessible from Edinburgh. We have a variety of nymphing rods, The Sage ESN 10ft 2weight, The Orvis Clearwater and Recon 10ft 2weight, and the Redington 11ft 3 weight to try as well as Tenkara rods. Quality breathable Orvis waders and boots, and grayling nymphs tied by Scotland’s best fly tyers, like Cuillin Rae and Davie McPhail.
