Don't Get Skunked - The Grayling Edition

by Richard Fieldhouse

Morning,

You know that sinking feeling ...

You’ve driven an hour to the river, the air’s so cold your breath looks like steam off a kettle, and you’re standing in the water like a man trying to summon fish by telepathy.

You’ve tried every nymph in the box, changed to thinner tippet twice, even whispered a few choice words to the fish gods — and still, nothing.

You’ve officially been skunked.

Now, over the summer, we fixed that problem for trout with our original "Don’t Get Skunked" Dry Fly selection — those failsafe patterns that even the pickiest of fish couldn’t resist. And after watching so many of you swear by them (and reading the reviews), we thought: Why not do exactly the same for those anglers who love the Grayling?

So.

Introducing the "Don’t Get Skunked" – Grayling Edition ...

Designed for the Lady of the Stream

When the clocks go back and the evenings start to creep in, you know what it means — it’s grayling season. The rivers quieten down, the air feels heavier, and the first frosts sparkle on the car bonnet. Most anglers hang up their rods until spring, but for those in the know, this is when the real magic begins.

Grayling are wonderful, infuriating, beautiful creatures — but they don’t play fair. They sit deep, they feed light, and they’ll ignore anything that doesn’t look like it was born in that river.

So, we’ve done the hard work for you. This selection is packed with the nymphs that grayling actually eat:

  • Perdigons that cut through cold, fast water like a bullet.
  • Weighted Bugs that imitate the scuds and shrimp they can’t resist.
  • Tungsten Nymphs with that subtle shimmer they love.
  • And a few secret Barbless specials we’re not naming here (a bit of mystery never hurt anyone).

They’re tied slim, heavy, and deadly effective — everything you need to turn a blank into a humble-brag.

Why They Work:

We didn’t curate this selection to impress your mates. We did it to catch Grayling — especially when it’s cold, clear, and quiet. These patterns are designed to get down fast, stay down, and drift as naturally as the real thing.

They’ve been tested on the Yorkshire Derwent, the Derbyshire Wye, and the Welsh Dee — and honestly, it’s hard not to catch on them!

Our "Don't Get Skunked" - Grayling Edition consists of 16 flies, 2 each of the following patterns and sizes:

  • Pearl Hot-Spot Perdigon - size 14
  • Orange Hot-Spot Perdigon - sizes 14
  • Micro Orange Hot-Spot Perdigon - size 20 (for the skinnier water)
  • Violet Bug - size 12
  • Czech Weapon - size 12
  • Green Bomb - size 12
  • MB Nymph - size 12
  • Grayling Bomb - size 10

These fly patterns are all proven Grayling catchers across the world, especially when used in cooler conditions and higher water. All of the above flies are tied on high-quality AHREX barbless hooks.

The FULL "Don't Get Skunked" Grayling Bundle

If you would like the 'Grayling Full Monty', then we have also created a bundle to get you started in the best possible way on your Grayling adventures. The FULL bundle includes:

In total, bought individually, this would be £61.27. Bought in our specialist Grayling bundle, it can be yours today for only £50.

Click on the button below for full details of the bundles contents.

Please Note: We only have a limited number of these selections available - 30 to be exact - they will sell pretty quickly, so if you would like a selection, you will need to be quick!

We have curated our "Don't Get Skunked" - Grayling Edition for those colder days with higher water, they are all tied on AHREX barbless hooks in sizes 20 to size 10 (see above for details, and below for images).

We are supplying 2 of each of the above patterns/sizes, that's 16 flies in total for only £28, delivered free of charge in our eco-friendly packaging.

If you want the 'full Grayling monty', then take a look at our Grayling Bundle, which includes all the flies, a specialist RIO Indicator leader, Tippet material and our Grayling book - all this for only £50 (a 20% saving on buying individually).

Just click on any image or button in this email to view more detailed photos and descriptions of the flies included, and buy your selection or bundle today.

If you would like one, you will need to be quick off the mark!

Go on, you know you want to!

The grayling might be called The Lady of the Stream, but she’s got a mischievous side. Just when you think you’ve figured her out, she changes her mind. She’ll rise to a dry one day, ignore everything the next, and feed two inches off the bottom just to keep you guessing.

So before you head out this autumn and winter, here are a few truths — earned the hard way — about catching grayling when the mercury starts to drop.

Keep these in mind, and your odds of staying un-skunked should rise considerably:

1. Fish Deep, or Don’t Bother - Grayling aren’t browsing the top layers like summer trout — they’re hugging the riverbed, picking off nymphs drifting low and slow. If you’re not occasionally ticking the stones, you’re not in the zone. Get the depth right and suddenly you’ll wonder where all these fish have been hiding.

2. Tiny Takes, Big Fish - A grayling bite isn’t a wallop — it’s a whisper. Sometimes it’s just a pause in the drift or a slight lift of your indicator. Treat every hesitation like it’s a take. The difference between “nearly” and “netted” is usually about half a second.

3. Think Silver - In winter’s flat light, subtle flash matters. Silver beads, pearl ribbing, or a shimmer of holographic tinsel mimic the glint of a real nymph. Don’t go full disco ball — but a hint of light can turn lookers into takers.

4. Two’s Company - Fish a pair of nymphs: a heavier anchor on point (think Perdigon or Grayling Bomb) and a smaller, lighter fly on a short dropper above. It covers two feeding levels and doubles your odds. Just don’t spend the whole day untangling it.

5. Move Your Feet, Not Your Flies - Grayling shoal up tight in colder weather. If you blank in one spot after a few runs, don’t waste an hour flogging the same water. Move a few yards — or even a few metres — and you might drop right into the shoal.

6. Don’t Fear Colour - Pinks, purples, oranges — they all have their days. Grayling have quirky winter vision and love a splash of colour that trout would scoff at. When natural shades stop working, go bold. An Orange Perdigon has saved me more blushes than I’d like to admit.

7. Fine and Far Off - Winter water can be clear and unforgiving. Lengthen your tippet. It’s stealth. Long leaders and lighter lines let your flies drift more naturally and keep your presence invisible.

7½. Confidence Catches - This one’s not about tackle or technique — it’s about trust. When you believe in your flies, you fish differently. You focus, you feel, and you spot the takes you’d otherwise miss. These Don’t Get Skunked – Grayling Edition flies are designed to give you that belief from the first cast.

Tight lines, keep warm & have fun out there.

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