Species

Grayling

An elegant salmonid with a large, colourful dorsal fin (the flag) that needs clear, cool rivers and is a classic for fly fishing.

Thymallus thymallus

Photo: High Plains Grifter, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0, adjusted to 3:2

Spawning: March to April, depending on the water into early summer, on shallow gravel beds (general guide, varies by region)
German Red List: highly threatened
Typical method: Fly fishing
Top bait: Dry fly

Plan a day fishing for Grayling

How to recognise it

Large, flag-like dorsal fin with rows of spots
Pear-shaped pupil that comes to a point at the front
Large scales, small mouth and small adipose fin

Easily confused with: Looks like whitefish (Renken, Felchen), which also have an adipose fin but only a small dorsal fin; the large flag gives the grayling away.

How to catch it

Methods: Fly fishing, Float fishing

Baits: Dry fly, Nymph, Maggots, Caddis larva

During the day, when insects are hatching; many fly anglers especially value the autumn.

Habitat and food

Clear, cool and oxygen-rich rivers with a gravel or stony bed, the grayling zone named after it; also in mountain lakes. Lives sociably in groups behind stones and under overhanging banks.

Mainly insects and their larvae, plus small worms and crustaceans; happily takes insects that land on the surface.

Size and age

Adults usually 30 to 50 cm and 500 to 1500 g, large specimens up to 60 cm and 3 kg (Wikipedia). FishBase: max. 60 cm, heaviest published weight 6.7 kg, maximum age 14 years. The sources differ considerably on the maximum weight.

Protection and rules

Conservation status: German Red List (freshwater fish 2023): highly threatened. IUCN: not threatened (Least Concern, 2023).

Check the rules

Closed seasons and minimum sizes are set by each German state (and by each country abroad) and can be stricter on individual waters. We are building an overview with sources and check dates. Until then, check the local fishing regulations and the rules of the club or permit for your water.

In the kitchen

An excellent food fish with delicate flesh; the slight thyme-like smell disappears when it is cooked. Because it is so threatened, only keep grayling mindfully and where it is allowed.

Sources (3)

Last checked 2026-10-10. Found a mistake? Write to [email protected].

Know more?

Additions, photos of your catches or a mistake in the text: write to us and we will gladly credit you as a helper.

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