January is one of the key grayling months on UK rivers. Brown trout are protected by the close season on most waters, so river anglers usually turn their attention to grayling where local rules allow. Cold water makes fish less willing to move far, so the most reliable approach is to fish small nymphs and shrimp patterns close to the river bed in steady glides, deeper runs and slower current seams.
Nymphing dominates in January. Pheasant Tail Nymphs, Hare's Ear Nymphs, Sawyer's Killer Bugs, Pink Shrimp, Grey Shrimp and tungsten jig nymphs all deserve a place in the box. On rivers with plenty of freshwater shrimp, weighted shrimp patterns can be especially effective because grayling actively search the river bed for these high-protein food items throughout winter.
Surface activity is limited, but not impossible. Mild afternoons can produce brief activity from midges or the occasional Large Dark Olive, so a Griffiths Gnat, CDC Shuttlecock or small Klinkhammer is worth carrying if fish begin showing near the surface.
Recommended fly selection:
- Pheasant Tail Nymph
- Hare's Ear Nymph
- Sawyer's Killer Bug
- Pink Shrimp
- Grey Shrimp
- Tungsten Jig Nymph
- Griffiths Gnat
- CDC Shuttlecock
- Klinkhammer Special
On the river:
January rewards patience and depth control. Before changing flies, ask whether your flies are actually reaching the feeding zone. If you are not occasionally touching or ticking the river bed, you are probably fishing too shallow. Fish methodically, adjust weight first and let the drift do the work.