Scottish Coarse Fish Species - Grayling
Latin Name - Thymallus thymallus
The 'Lady of the Stream' is rightly regarded by aficionados as 'the 4th game fish'. The adipose fin and other aspects of it's biology define it as a game fish. It is included here for a few reasons -
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Coarse fishing methods are commonly used to catch Grayling. In Scotland the Grayling has become very popular with coarse anglers who treat it with affection and have taken it to their hearts.
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The Grayling has unfortunately been treated as a so-called 'lesser' species throughout history in the same way as coarse fish, so much that many assume it to be a coarse fish.
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The Grayling was absent in the past from any Scottish Record list and was taken on to the S.F.C.A. record list where it has remained.
The S.F.C.A. has great respect for the Grayling and for the position of the Grayling Society as the leading body responsible for the awareness and conservation of the species.
Scottish Record -
| 3 lb 1oz 8dr | 1.404 kg | River Tweed | J. O'Hara | 1994 |
Picture & Story Of Record Fish Here
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Weight
|
Rarely 1.4kg (3lb), very few over 1.8kg (4lb). |
|
Length
|
Rarely exceed 40cm. |
|
Age
|
Maximum 15 years. |
|
Location
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Rivers, streams. |
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Behaviour
|
Shoaling, often in large numbers. |
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Preferred
habitat
|
Fast flow over gravel, oxygen-rich clear water. |
|
Feeding
|
All year, remain active at low temperatures. |
|
Natural
food
|
Insect larvae, aerial insects. |
|
Maturity
|
3-4 years. |
|
Fecundity
|
10,000 eggs in large females. |
|
Spawning
times
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March-May. |
|
Spawning
|
On gravel. |
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Migratory
habits
|
Large home range. |
|
Predators
|
Pike |