Grayling Fishing

Fishing Breaks has great fly fishing for grayling on nine rivers in six counties

Simon Ellis with his British Record grayling caught on the River Frome at Ilsington on February 19th 2019

As the trout season draws to a close the grayling come into their own. As the leaves fall from the trees and autumn turns to winter, amidst the spawning trout grayling are fascinating creatures with their different quirks and habits.

For decades grayling were considered something of a pest and river keepers were instructed to remove them. However, we happily live in more enlightened times where the grayling is rightly regarded as the fourth game fish, for many an equal to the salmon, brown trout and sea trout.

WATCH THE VIDEO Watch this beautiful short film on grayling fishing shot by CHALK directors Leo Cincolo and Chris Cooper at Bullington Manor. Click here

GRAYLING COURSE Our very own Guide/Instructor Bob Preston is passionate about grayling; you’ll rarely meet anyone with a better understanding of their habits and foibles. His One Day Grayling Course is a must for anyone interested in mastering the specialised techniques for successful grayling fishing in all conditions.

Despite the winter rains the chalkstreams will generally run clear, perfect for sight fishing with Red Tags, the Grayling Witch, Shrimp patterns and Killer Bugs for the "lady of the river". Our grayling beats open from October to the end of February.

Our Rivers

	River Itchen Avington The clearest sight fishing you will ever experience

	Middle Dove with Andy Buckley Clonking grayling guided by the expert eye

	River Avon Avon Springs Just downstream of Frank Sawyer’s Netheravon

	River Test Bullington Manor Sight fishing in gin-clear water across all four beats

	River Coln Coln St Aldwyns Reopening in 2021

	River Avon Coombe Mill Highly productive grayling beat

	River Dove Cotton's Fishing Temple History and fishing combined.

	River Allen Deans Court Good value and very pretty

	River Lambourn Donnington Grove One of the best grayling chalkstreams you will find

	River Frome Ilsington Home to the current British grayling record

	River Itchen Kanara An all wading grayling beat

	River Itchen Qing Ya Xi Lodge Good clarity and excellent facilities

	River Avon Upavon Farm The all wading beat in Sawyer country

	River Anton Upper Clatford Gin clear and well sheltered

	River Frome Wrackleford Roam over combined trout beats

	Driffield Beck Mulberry Whin The world’s most northerly chalkstream catchment