Posted: Mon Jun 26, 06 11:06 am Post subject: Tips for trout?
Last week I saw loads of trout in a stream where I forage for mushrooms.
So I thought I should improve my armoury and take up fishing again - My great grandad was apparently great at tickling but then he was hung after a shoot out with a gamekeeper.
So off I trotted, bought a 7ft extendale spinning rod, match reel 8lb line (I normally bring things in through strength over guile). A rod licence. And some lures.
I had abosulty no success.
Any tip on spinners for trout - or am I best turning to fly?
Alex
sean Downsizer Moderator
Joined: 28 Oct 2004 Posts: 42219 Location: North Devon
Worms do work really well.
We have lots of small crystal clear streams around here that abound with small sometimes pan size brown trout.
The water is so clear that the fish can see you and its a waste of time fishing untill it starts to rain .
Then its a different kettle of fish ! As the streams rise and the water becomes muddy and cloudy its Bonanza time ! The fish can't see you and they are in a bit of a frenzy waiting to eat the grubs and worms that have been washed into the water .
You simply drop your baited hook into the stream and let the current carry it into the likely spots . If you want to you can squeeze a swan shot on the line about a foot to 18 " above your hook.You just need that bit of colour in the water.
Good luck and good eating !
Balls Alex ! Thats all you need ! Polystyrene ones !
I used to fish a lot with worm and maggot for trout in a silty bottomed lake . The bait used to burrow into the mud (crafty beggars ) so that the fish had a job to see them .
When fishing on the bottom with a ledger I would thread a small poly ball onto the hook before the bait so that it floated up off the bottom and is highly visible to the fish.
This is a good wrinkle that I've used to good effect
You can get the balls from your local tackle shop or raid your wifes cushions or your dogs bean bag bed !
As a kid I once went fishing for eels using bacon as bait. I didn't catch any fish but our dog managed to eat the bacon,hook and all. We were on a family holiday at the time and we made a frantic rush to the nearest vets. He told us that it would come out in the wash and we presume that it did because she lived to a ripe old age
alison Downsizer Moderator
Joined: 29 Oct 2004 Posts: 12918 Location: North Devon
Posted: Mon Aug 14, 06 8:51 pm Post subject:
bodger that same thing happened to our dog 2 weeks ago, except the hook was in her cheek / lip, and the barb was still in the skin part.
She stayed very still while we got it out, not making a move or sound and was very cuddly afterwards.
drifting worms over a lay is about as reliable as fishing gets .
if you can spot a fish and get the bait to it without distubing it (be really sneaky they hear and see more than one would expect ) most trout will bite within three passes ,if not move on and come back on the return journey
if you want to get in the river to get to better spots remember if you want a safe life stay out of trout streams .wading dry ,in chest waders is warmer than wet wading but restricts mobility and most waders give little ankle support .boots n shorts can be ok but a bit chilly after a few hours .a long handle net or staff is essential as a third leg and feeling pole .i tend to explore wet and if it is safe i fish dry later but im daft .beware of drops and falling over and sharp stuff (motorbikes are a favourite near me ).move slowly and deliberately so as to be safe and not to alarm the fish and try to find a good spot to stand ie fish can be got at and you wont fall over catching and dispatching a bigun (littleuns are pretty tricky to get with a broken ankle and a lung full of water )
fishing trout is ace ,a good education in fishing , river lore and dinner. however rivers are beautiful and dangerous but risks can be handled .
.i went out for the first time in ages this evening ,i stayed with light scrambling for access as im still a bit fragile ,it was ace with a good dinner in the freezer (marinading in dill / garlic vinegar ) and a few exciting will it / wont it moments , a heron jumping on a fish 20 ft away (i jumped as well )
im getting in and trying a almost unfished(since last time ) stretch very soon .
. let us know how the next try goes but most of all enjoy
d pack
I'm glad that you're on the mend
Take it nice and steady
We still havent had the rain that a lot of areas have had. When we do get a good down pour our little streams will come alive with some great fishing.
The brownies that we have here are fantastically coloured. The bigger they get the darker they are untill anything over half a pound is almost black. Beautiful to see and beautiful to eat