Salmon or Sea Trout?

[elwyman]

sloggi said:

Elwyman,

Why did you think at the time it was a sea-trout? The way it fought or the way it took - perhaps, you'd need hindsight with this as you say it was your first migratory fish caught. What do the sea-trout and grilse from this river look like?

For me, I'd have to say it has the tail of a grilse but the head of a sea-trout. Taking into account the curved shape (been in a bag?) which may have altered the tail's shape, I go with it being a sea trout. Regardless of this question, with it being your first migratory fish it must have been unforgetable

Good points Sloggi.

Still remember the fight well!

I hooked it in some fast water at the head of a pool and it took off downstream like an express train, jumping a couple of times - so more like a sea trout fight, I'd say.

The tail shape is probably misleading in the photo - I probably stuck it in the fridge at home and took the photo after work in the evening.

Even though I was a novice river fisherman at the time, I'd read Falkus and was aware of the scale count method of checking, which I used to use in those days.

So on balance, I'd written sea trout on the back of the photo and was probably right! That remains my biggest sea trout from the Clwyd, but I've had bigger from its tributary the Elwy.

[elwyman]

Nice way to get off the mark on the fly Gary.

The photo shows up the classic difference in tails and maxilliary.

Looks like some cormorant damage on the sea trout, or did you foul hook it? ;D

[DAZ]

Although it is hard to tell from the photo.

I'll go with a seatrout

DAZ.

[scottyboy9nro]

jeez o that wis afore a wis born man

[hornet]

On looking at macsalmo's pic it looks like a sea trout to me.

All three fish look crackers ;D

Hornet

[severnfisher]

Sea Trout

[salmoseeker]

Beautiful bright fish - must give you happy memories - I don't know, but if it was 'final answer'.............I'd say Salmo trutta

[macsalmo]

elwyman said:

Nice way to get off the mark on the fly Gary.

The photo shows up the classic difference in tails and maxilliary.

Looks like some cormorant damage on the sea trout, or did you foul hook it? ;D

;D ;D

John, I'm deeply hurt with that remark ;D How could you.
It was my first Annan fish on the fly

I'd not had many elswhere before that though ;D

Gary

[elwyman]

Well Gary, they both beat my first Annan fish - a 3 1/2lb rainbow escapee from Applegarth, boy was I disappointed when I realised what it was.