Autumn is the season when grayling feed intensely, preparing for the winter ahead.
You’ll find them in the slower, deeper sections of the river, swimming in gentle currents and waiting for the last small mayflies to hatch.
During this time, if you’re fishing on a beautiful autumn day, look for the middle of the day — when the sun slightly warms the water and the wind is calm.
That’s the perfect moment to fish with dry flies.
Among them, I recommend an emerger pattern that works incredibly well when small olive duns are floating on the surface, freshly hatched and vulnerable.
This emerger should be tied so that the body is slightly spiky — just as if the insect were molting and about to transform into its adult stage.
You can tie it on short or standard-shank hooks, depending on your preference, but I’ve found that short hooks work better for this type of fly.
Leave a Reply