Fraser on Fishing: The 'Lady of the Stream' is elusive but worth pursuing

Only now are things thawing so, with the lack of activity on still waters, I found myself looking out my river gear in search of some action.

This time of year, freezing or not, is ideal for grayling or the "Lady of the Stream" as she is known.

I know and fish a little river which is a tributary of the River Tweed and have spent many a day enjoying the scenery and the sport.

Packing my little five-weight rod and digging out some rust-free bugs, I set out for the Borders.

The weather was absolutely Baltic and I was thankful for the neoprene waders I invested in some years back. The water I was fishing is noted for sizeable catches and I was looking forward to a good day out.

River fishing is very different to stillwater angling and does not include articulate casting of a long line.

With a weighted bug on an 8ft cast, or should I say lob, it took several minutes before the technique came back to me.

I found a nice stretch which had a good flow of water turning under the overhanging trees before opening out into a long slow running pool.

Starting at the head of the fast water I lobbed in a pink bug, which grayling love and, keeping my rod tip up, I felt the bug trundling along the bottom.

It was a good hour and my second time through the fast water before I finally tempted a fish.

That was encouraging, despite the rod rings freezing over, so I persevered a while longer.

My patience was rewarded with a nice fish of about 1lb and, after admiring its markings, I released it to fight another day.

It was an enjoyable session and, as they say: "A bad day's fishing is better than a good day's working."