Night Fishing
It was the perfect night for fishing. No wind, slightly overcast and warm. Yes, I would go night fishing.
Fly fishers had reported some OK to fair fishing during the day, but rumors were the night fishing was superior. About 9:30pm I was ready with waders on. Varoom…down to the river. First thing noted was the numerous mygg…mosquitos. Second thing noted…the man in front of me had the good sense to wear full body armour against said mygg. He had a mygg hat with netting, protective gloves, and he smelled of tar. He was calm. I, on the other hand, was itchy and defenseless. No netting, no mosquito repellant….which meant, slap…slap…slap, no time to chit-chat…gotta move and get into the river where the mygg were not as thick. How could something so small make you feel like you could easily go insane?
In the gloaming I could see other fishers on the river patiently casting and casting and casting. I happily joined them. The low light meant NOT having the clarity to see EXACTLY where the fly was or when the take would occur. Hence, I would have to keep things in close and watch for splashes. Splashes were happening all around me. To the right and to the left. Because I am greedy, I waited and watched for a splash that meant…”I am a big grayling. I will make it worth your trouble to catch me.” It appeared downstream in exactly the place a decent fish would be feeding. The rise form meant…”I am feeding on caddis pupae.” So, I’m fiddling around with fly box and leader, and this and that, when the deer hair pupae I was going to tie on flipped out of my hand and out of reach into the river. Jeez!!! Ok, I returned to the fly box and picked out a fly called a bi-visable. Thick peacock hurl middle, hackels at both ends. Once, twice, CHOMP. I hooked a nice fat strong grayling, that basically wanted nothing more than to return to the feeding he had been enjoying before I came along with my fake food. I asked nicely, “Just come over here to the bank and I’ll let you go”. NO. “Ok, I’ll lead you to calm soft water and let you go.” NO. “How about I’ll just let you run yourself out and then net you?” NO. “How about I’ll get rough and reel you in really fast and try and net you before you know what has happened?” NO. “Then why don’t you just break off and let me get back to fishing.” NOOOO. “Please just quit being such a pig and let me net you?” NO! NO! NO! Or in Swedish “NAY!” Either way, we were stuck with each other until I could get us separated, which meant I had to get us netted. Seriously, twenty minutes later I did net the handsome grayling in the net. He was big. I don’t know how big, but big. We were tired of each other by this point and glad to get out of each other’s sight. The next few hours were not as fruitful. Around Midnight I moved upstream to a place where I heard and saw the obvious splashings of pupae-hungry grayling. I found a more pupae looking thing in my fly box and fished it. Blam…another strong stubborn grayling that basically cared less who was yanking on its face. He wouldn’t move. Just a strong steady pull and I becoming more ridicules as I tried to guide and redirect it to quiet water. I would pull him over, and like a rubber band he would just snap back to where we started. All the while swatting mygg that had landed on my neck and face. Another twenty minutes later…the grayling and I were finally able to say our hellos and goodbyes.
What is it with the grayling at night? They are much more difficult to land. Yes, the fish I caught were heavy, but during the day I could say the same fish would run more, and jump more, and might even break off. The night fish are slow, steady, and strong as if the lower light gives them more courage.
So, how about another night of night fishing? YES…but remind me to get mygg repellant. It’s just so tiring with grayling that have an attitude, and biting insects that attach themselves to neck, hands, and face then sink their teeth in. The night seems to bring out the worst nature has to offer…and the best.
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