5 Tips for Grayling Fishing in the Bräurup Waters

To ensure this remains the case, we launched the “Pinzgau Grayling Project” over 20 years ago, and furthermore, no grayling has been allowed to be taken from our waters since 2020.

Fly fishing for grayling is considered the supreme discipline by many of our anglers. On the one hand, the fish can be quite finicky; on the other hand, the natural grayling population in many areas is already severely endangered due to water regulations, transverse structures, and the spread of piscivorous predators. For this reason, the grayling was also named ‘Fish of the Year 2021’ by the Austrian Fishing Association.

So that you can catch your dream fish on your next vacation, we give you five tips for successful fly fishing for grayling in the rivers and lakes of our waters.

1. Lure Choice

Grayling like bright colors. Try tying your flies with so-called “hot spots”. For example, an additional colorful winding in (fluorescent) red between the head bead and thorax, colored tungsten beads, bright CDC hackles, and colorful tails often make the difference between success and failure. They also ensure that your fly stands out from all other insects in the water, making it easier for the fish to perceive. However, the motto “less is more” also applies to grayling lures, so don’t overdo it. A certain naturalness should always remain recognizable in the fly pattern.

Popular patterns for dry fly fishing include Red Tag or small ant imitations. For nymphs, Red Tag, Hare’s Ear, or Pheasant Tail are often used. So-called “Perdigón nymphs” have also proven very effective recently. These nymph patterns are coated with another layer of UV varnish, giving them a very smooth surface and preventing them from soaking up water before quickly sinking near the fish.

2. Water Depth

Of course, most fly fishers prefer to catch everything on dry flies on the surface. However, fish spend most of their time deeper on the riverbed and also take most of their food there. Especially in our fast mountain rivers, it is therefore important to get the fly or nymph to depth quickly. The easiest way to do this is, of course, with weighted lures, for example, with tungsten beads or a lead underbody (or both). However, it is also very helpful to tie the nymphs as thin as possible. In addition to faster sinking speed, this also has the advantage that the nymph is closer to its natural model, as most flies are tied far too bulky. When dubbing, there’s a saying: “Consciously take little dubbing – and then half of that!”

3. Leader Length

The leader should be chosen as long as you can still cast it effectively. For dry fly fishing on a lake, the rule of thumb is at least rod length (about three meters), but especially if the fish are very shy, an even longer leader (up to five meters, if it can be cast) often makes the difference for success in grayling fishing. A longer leader also brings a significant advantage when nymph fishing in the river. It is important to fish with the greatest possible distance between the fly line and the lure and to create a natural drift of the nymph on the riverbed. Accurate lure presentation and reading the water are probably among the most important qualities for success.

4. Line Weight

Line weights, as everywhere, must be adapted to the water, fishing technique, and so on. In our waters, line weights between 4 and 8 are recommended, so you’re always well-equipped with a 5 or 6 weight. Especially for grayling fishing, if in doubt, always choose the lower line weight, as sensitive bites are otherwise often noticed too late.

5. Rig

In our waters, there is a suitable body of water for almost every type of fly fishing for grayling. A classic approach would be dry fly fishing for grayling on Lake Finkau. However, in the “connecting stream” between Lake Finkau and the Gerlos Reservoir, it becomes more challenging with a dry fly. There, we recommend the so-called “New Zealand Style”, which is a large dry fly that acts as a carrier for a smaller nymph – e.g., Perdigón.

On the Krimmler Ache and the Stubach, dry fly is also an effective method, but depending on water level and flow speed, the nymph must always be kept in mind. After all, most of the feeding takes place underwater.

In the Salzach, the chances of success with a dry fly are very low. There, the nymph is almost always the key to successful grayling fishing. Here, we fish two nymphs, one heavy and one light, on one rig. Grayling often bite very cautiously, so it is particularly important to recognize bites when nymph fishing, and strike indicators of any kind are recommended. The very modern Euro Nymphing style is also permitted and very effective in our waters. Further information, as well as pictures and videos about our waters, can be found in our app and on our homepage, or you can learn more on-site from our guides at our fishing shop. Combine a visit to one of the best grayling fishing areas in Austria with a stay at our Hotel Bräurup and request a non-binding offer today!