Grayling Day

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In the United Kingdom, in the early autumn, fishermen often use the name of the grayling (Thymallus thymallus) as a by-word for their seasonal jolly: a Grayling Day is fisherman-talk for a party. Many clubs as well as fisherman friends will organise their annual Grayling Day in the autumn when it is traditional for there to be large quantities of both food and drink - prefaced by a token amount of fishing.

At the feast there will often be speeches and toasts and much ritual - all fashioned by the members concerned and evolved over many years.

This celebration is named after the grayling due to its popularity with fishermen: apart from having one of the most beautiful dorsal fins of any fish, the grayling rises freely to the surface and reaches its peak when the temperature starts to fall, thus proving an easy catch for fisherman in the middle of the trout closed season and giving them abundant sport.