Where do grayling go in November?

[dunsmuir]

I had a trotting session on the Tees today and caught nothing. I do OK in September and October for grayling, but I've come a cropper before in November, and don't bother trotting at all in the latter part of the season.

My trotting technique won't be the best, I'm sure, but I don't think that alone accounts for my failure.

Is it just that the grayling have shoaled up here and there, and it's purely a matter of finding them? Or is there something else I'm missing?

[davo]

They do generally go to deeper areas of a river when it cools, but it hasnt cooled that much unless the water temp has. Try looking for holes and fish deeper.

[samvimes]

On the Tees, I'm finding that they seem to be doing quite different things in different parts of the river. In the higher reaches (above Darlington), I'm still finding decent numbers of fish in the faster water. If I fish the slower glides, I'm still catching, but the average size reduces dramatically.

Lower down the river (mostly Dinsdale), catching anything in the faster water is a bit of a struggle. Grayling seem happier in the slower water. There are lots of fingerlings and the difficulty is finding anything much bigger than 12oz. There are better fish there, but they tend not to show until late on.

I'm also finding that the better average size is to be found in the higher reaches. That may change when winter eventually kicks in.

[kevd]

I roam about until fish are found as they do shoal up.
Also don't be afraid to alter the depth of the float from tripping bottom to say maybe half depth as the fish will rise up for trickled maggots.
Holding back during the trot and at the end will sometimes induce a take.
Yeah it hasn't been too cold yet and I've been fishing flowing water approx 1m deep for the fish I've had, all above Darlo.
Come the beginning of March I find fishing hard as they have spawning on their mind

[dunsmuir]

Many thanks to the two of you for your help in this. Youve encouraged me to give it another go or two before admitting defeat.

One thing is, I think I need to be prepared to vary the depth more, both shallower and deeper. Never quite sure about the shotting pattern when fishing deep - I'll have to experiment.

Presumably water height and brightness of the day are a factor too, as with other fish. Years back I did used to trot with worms on the Wear and remember doing quite well in the dark days of December.

[kevd]

Deep and slow and I shot shirt button style to start with. The faster the flow the more I bulk shot towards the hook.
Nothing fancy or neat, smallest I can see is a no.6 😂

[dunsmuir]

Nov 11, 2021 15:48:43 GMT kevd said:

Deep and slow and I shot shirt button style to start with. The faster the flow the more I bulk shot towards the hook.
Nothing fancy or neat, smallest I can see is a no.6 😂

Thanks. That sounds a good approach. I'll definitely get out again, weather and river levels permitting.