This story is adapted from my October 2024 podcast recording, where I shared a day on the river chasing autumn grayling.
After weeks of swollen, coloured rivers, the floodwater finally eased. The banks were still soft, the air cool, and the trees along the valley were almost bare. It felt good to be walking down to the water again, rod in hand, ready for a day of fly fishing for grayling.
Wading Into Autumn
The river still had a bit of pace and a tiny bit of colour, which rarely bothers grayling. Leaves drifted downstream and the rooks called above the valley. I eased into the flow, watching how the seams formed around boulders and where the softer water gathered. Those edges and glides were going to be the day’s story.
Rigging Up: Vision Hero, Mono Rig, And RIO Fluoroflex 6X
For this session I used a simple, confidence setup designed for close control and sensitivity:
- Rod: 10ft Vision Hero Nymphing rod
- Reel: Vision Hero reel
- Main setup: straight mono rig (no fly line) – (Learn more about mono rigs vs. nymphing fly lines)
- Tippet: RIO Fluoroflex Strong 6X to the flies
- Flies: a weighted shrimp on the point and a smaller jig nymph on the dropper – browse our full range of grayling flies here.
This mono approach keeps me directly connected to the flies. With Euro nymphing, the most important habit is staying tight to the flies. I track the sighter, feel the drift through the leader, and react the instant it stalls or hesitates. Grayling takes can be feather-light; contact is everything.
Early Success
The first steady glide produced a sharp stop on the sighter. A lift and the line came alive with that unmistakable twisting fight. Not a big fish, but the first one always settles the nerves and confirms the read. A few more followed, some confident, some barely a quiver. That’s fly fishing for grayling in a nutshell: reading subtle water and even subtler takes.
The Highlight Of The Day
Upstream a deeper run asked for patience. First pass, nothing. Second pass, the tiniest hesitation. I struck and the rod thumped back hard. The fish held deep, rolling in the current before turning just enough to flare its sail-like dorsal. Silver in the diluted sun. A beautiful grayling, broad across the shoulders, just under two pounds. One of those fish that quietly makes your autumn.
I held it briefly in the net. The fin lit up, then the fish faded back into the glide. That single moment — relief, pride, gratitude — was worth the whole trip.
Tips For Fly Fishing For Grayling In Autumn Euro Nymph Style
- Stay in contact: track the sighter and keep a straight connection to your flies. Strike on pauses, lifts, or anything odd.
- Target seams and soft edges: grayling often sit just off the main push where food funnels predictably.
- Weight matters: use a point fly heavy enough to reach the lane fast, with a lighter dropper to cover mid-water.
- Expect delicate takes: many bites feel like nothing. If in doubt, lift.
- Leaves about? Fish sub-surface. A mono rig cuts through surface clutter and reduces fouling.
Finishing Thoughts
By late afternoon I’d landed a good handful, lost a couple, and missed more takes than I’ll admit. That rhythm is part of the charm. Fly fishing for grayling in autumn is more than simply extending the season — it’s a quiet, absorbing way to be present with the river, alert to every drift, thankful when everything briefly aligns.
Want To Try It Yourself?
If you’d like to experience Euro nymphing for grayling, or need proven patterns, browse our full grayling flies collection or visit Peaks Fly Fishing. Fancy learning more? How about booking a fly fishing lesson with us?
