Deveron sea trout

[Chris]

What a cracking looking fish !!

[fishingd0]

That one went nicely with the one or two others you got for the week Graham!!!

[tweedcast]

That is a topper !!
Incidentally I used to read "The Topper" at my grandmothers whilst watching my cousin tie flies - the only "broadsheet" comic in those days.

M

[elwyman]

A belting sea trout Graham.
Was the river up or at normal level? Looks to have a slight peaty tinge in the photo.

[elwyman]

graham said:

The river was at normal level and was running clear, that is just the colour of the gravel that you can see below the water.

If you caught a sea trout like that during day time in Wales, on fly in normal water levels, it would be a miracle! I've heard of it being done on small flies, but very very rarely.

I can't understand why Scottish sea trout, on some rivers anyway, can be caught in daylight, but not in Wales.

Any theories Graham? Did you take it in streamy water?

[salmonfly]

Nice fish graham, how is the arm doing?

[davewallbridge]

elwyman said:

If you caught a sea trout like that during day time in Wales, on fly in normal water levels, it would be a miracle! I've heard of it being done on small flies, but very very rarely.

Dyfi Seatrout, a shade over 11 Lbs., taken on a size 14 Silver Stoat early summer 2004 at around mid-day.
The river was up a foot or so but running clear, little wind and bright conditions.

Not all that of an unusual catch, I get about 40% of my Seatrout in the day even in relatively low water conditions. I fish only the runs and give particular attention to those areas of really thin, fast water just before the run in to the next pool.

Dave.

[salmonfly]

graham said:

It is gradually improving. Started fishing again last week and managed a couple of fresh fish. The casting is still a little impaired but I am managing to get out enough line to cover most pools adequately, even if it does land with a bit of a splash at times. Have you managed to get out fishing yourself since you were at Little Blackhall?

Graham, I am very busy at this time of the year and it is very hard for me to get time to fish, but I had a very good time fishing the Dee.

[elwyman]

davewallbridge said:

elwyman said:

If you caught a sea trout like that during day time in Wales, on fly in normal water levels, it would be a miracle! I've heard of it being done on small flies, but very very rarely.

Dyfi Seatrout, a shade over 11 Lbs., taken on a size 14 Silver Stoat early summer 2004 at around mid-day.
The river was up a foot or so but running clear, little wind and bright conditions.

Not all that of an unusual catch, I get about 40% of my Seatrout in the day even in relatively low water conditions. I fish only the runs and give particular attention to those areas of really thin, fast water just before the run in to the next pool.

Dave.

There's always an exception to every rule Dave! Superb fish.

I'm tempted to try more day time fishing for sea trout, but guess I would find it difficult to fit around work and the night fishing. ;D

[fenton]

A cracker, fish of a lifetime material (certainly for me)

F

[davewallbridge]

fenton said:

A cracker, fish of a lifetime material (certainly for me)

F

The Dyfi is a big fish river and Seatrout of that size are not uncommon.
The fish I regard as my actual 'fish of a lifetime' is this one :



Hooked just before dusk, June 1997 on a 1 1/4" tube (size 12 treble) and landed 45 minutes later in the near dark.

It measured - Length 38", Girth 19" and had a tail span of 9 1/2" and weighed (an hour after capture) just over 19 Lbs.

It was a hen fish with fresh sea lice marks and although I tried to revive it, it had burned too much energy so had to be 'put down'.
I subsequently weighed and sample counted the eggs and, like so many very large fish, it proved to be of low fertility. The eggs were also of very poor condition and even if the fish had made it to the redds it is unlikely that it would have contributed much to the rivers future stock.
From what I can remember, the scale count showed that it had spawned 5 times so had passed on any 'large fish' genes to the river.

Dave.

[macsalmo]

Hi Dave,

They are both cracking Sea Trout.
Well done they certainly are both fish of a life time.

Macsalmo

[fenton]

Thanks for the reply Dave and a fascinating story,

cheers
F