Piscatorial Quagswagging

...the diary of a specialist angler in around the Warwickshire Avon and its tributaries.

Sunday 16 January 2022

Operation Brazzers Breach - Grubs Up !!!! (Warwickshire Grayling Content)

After the initial Operation Brazzers Breach - The Reccy  the subsequent session Operation Brazzers Breach - Deep Dive to be honest was a little disappointing. 

To try to track down a Warwickshire Avon Grayling is a challenge in itself however maggot peddler Martyn from my local tackle shop (see sidebar) who initially shared the information where there could be some, has only encouraged this rare as rocking horse poop quest as he knows that I like a challenge. 

There is literally nothing on the internet to point to specific location of the 'lady of the stream' in Warwickshire apart from the odd forum snippet which basically leads to a dead-end. Photographic evidence ? you'd be lucky !!! this isn't a rave in Westminster, this is a grayling in Warwickshire.


To be fair the limited information narrowed it down to a certain area, but that area is largely out of bounds for a maggot dangler like me and I'd be trespassing in pursuit of hearsay.

But it was Martyn the maggot peddler that put more meat on the bones as it turned out some fish surveys in the area over the years always throws up some grayling in a very small area indeed. Whether they have spread themselves wider I don't know but looking at the map where X marked the spot there is no reason why they couldn't.



The stretch was perfect without being worried about getting my collar felt so I was back for another session. I didn't have long before I had to get back but certainly enough time to give the stretch a go again.

You see I've been watching the levels and also the weather prior to this trip and it looked good conditions to try and confirm if there was smoke in the slow burning fire. I hadn't really thought much about them because the last session here I was biteless was but then out of nowhere I got the urge to try for them again.



Grayling are sight feeders in the main so this time it was out with the trotting tactics in and almost perfect looking swim. There was a tinge of colour in the 2 foot deep water and after enjoying a dawn cup of tea I fed maggots little and often and if there was any fish there I would get their confidence up first, before casting the float out.

After a few trots through without a bite what I didn't expect was a confident bite and the wire stem stick float disappeared from view. I thought the fish I hooked was a dace at first so I was amazed that it wasn't a dace but yes, a Grayling !!!



I really was shocked, ok a small fish in statue but significant in so many ways there are Grayling in Warwickshire after all and I've only gone and caught one.

After hooking something big that came off after a plodding fight (trout or chub most likely) I bumped a couple of fish off but to be honest the fishing was hard going. An hour in with no other fish I moved upstream to another trotting swim and after losing a fish and then losing my float in one of the trees eventually I had a small chub.


To be fair a decent fight on light gear but again after bumping off a couple of fish the bites really were hard to come by.

As soon as the sun came out around 9.30am it was illuminating the water and basically put a kibosh on proceedings. Still I'm amazed at what I caught and I'm glad I made the effort but next time I will be better prepared and this time hopefully a better hook for the intended quarry.

Answers on a postcard please as I'm sure there are better fish to be caught ? !!!

15 comments:

  1. That is fantastic!! I didn’t think they would still be here . I won’t put the location up obviously but I looked in to it myself years ago . I know they were stocked by an enthusiast years ago in a part of the upper Avon that screamed grayling . I used to fish it a lot but fishing was ended on there and try as I might I couldn’t get permission from the gamekeeper or ground’s people . The club on the water finished as well. There are some big barbel in that area as well that I used to go and feed .. 👍

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    1. Sounds like you know more than me Baz, I'd love to know when they were stocked !! but as you can well imagine I've been sworn to secrecy, for the time being anyway.

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  2. Drop me an e mither if we are on the same song sheet .

    Kattflap25@me.com

    🌞🕊

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  3. Super job. There maybe some grayling left in Norfolk but I'm never going to put money on catching one

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    1. Only one way to find out do some detective work !!! I had some secret papers fall on my map luckily as I'd be stumped where to start.

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  4. Brilliant! I am lucky to have an embarrassment of riches when it comes to grayling fishing in my neck of the woods. They really are fantastic fish.

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    1. They really I, forgot how much I like trotting too, I don't do enough of it

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  5. You caught a grayling in Warwickshire - that is absolutely fantastic Mick! Excellent fishing and many congratulations.

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    1. Yeah bit mad Keith, very localised it seems, but yes despite hearing rumours they were around and not seeing any pics myself, here is the proof in the pudding so to speak.

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  6. The first photo I've ever seen of a Warks Avon grayling. May it be the first of many for you.

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  7. I bumped a few fish off so I'm going back for more when I get a chance, hopefully a little better prepared next time.

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  8. A bit of an anti-climax Mick. After canal zander double went to episode 217, I'd have expected Warks grayling to be more than a 3 part mini series! Well done on pursuing the tip off. Lovely to see the myth become reality. Be interesting to see how big they go. A Warwickshire 2 pounder?!

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    1. I did think about that Sean yes, over a little too soon :) I did bump a few off so I'm hoping there are a few around so yes I'll be back again sometime soon.

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  9. Brilliant - great post - hope to see some more grayling in your net soon.

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    1. Lets hope so Brian !!! need to do make the odd short sessions count before I'm found out.

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