Sea Trout

blackstairsboy

Well lads I was looking for a thread that was dedicated to sea trout and their pursuit. I couldn't find one so I decided to start one.
I am an experienced and keen young angler and I have caught salmon, browns and seatrout on a flyrod. I would without a doubt consider seatrout on a flyrod at night the ultimate fishing experience. I am engrossed in studying the works of Falkus and others about this topic. I mostly fish on the Slaney above and below Bunclody in Co Wexford. I want to hear your stories, experiences and lessons learned in their pursuit so I can build up my knowledge of them. Preferabley fly fishing but spinning and worming stories are most welcome. I look forward to your comments.

TimMac

There is a Salmon and Seatrout thread already on this forum, have a look.

blackstairsboy

Yes I saw that thanks for the heads up on that but I mean one dedicated entirely to sea trout and their pursuit. I think sea trout tend to get overlooked a bit in this country in favour of salmon. The sea trout is a facinating fish in its own right and deserves the utmost respect from anglers.

TimMac

Good idea

I am afraid I have very little experience of Sea Trout & I only took up fly fishing last season.

I am sure some of the "Elder Lemons" will provide you with plenty of info, there is a wealth of knowledge on this forum.

Tight Lines

blackstairsboy

You should really try your hand at it this summer if you can. There is no better feeling than fishing along a dark river at 2 am with only the otters to keep you company. Even if you do not catch there is a certain sense of freedom that I do not think you can get with othe types of angling.
You will thank me some time in the future for showing you the light:D:D:D

TimMac

Hmmm nighttime fishings kinda hard to do on shift work.
Think ill stick to salmon for now but ill keep an eye on this thread
Good Luck

SeaFields

Welcome to the forum Blackstairsboy.

Yes my favorite pursuit of them all is seatrout by night.

Had a brief flick thru Falkus' books - prefer less theory, more practice.

Good luck with your thread, will try and contribute

rushnaldo

I fish them in an estuary where a river enters the sea on a beach. They love mackerel strips on a bait hook on a flattie rig. I also spin for them using a blue coloured Tasmanian devil works well

ironbluedun

Very good idea to have a seatrout thread.

fisherking

yeah i agree i fish for seatrout too at night and caught a 5 pounder on a muddler 2 years ago and watching it swim off with the torch was memorable....

iTom

I have done a good bit of fishing on the Slaney in the last few years and this year even with some very high water there was a good run of sea trout.

I caught about 28 this year and all were released to fight another day.
I see on this tread that people think it is only night time that you catch sea trout,I have caught more during the day than night time.

coolwings

blackstairsboy wrote: »

..... There is no better feeling than fishing along a dark river at 2 am with only the otters to keep you company ....

You didn't mention the MIDGES ! They keep us company too.

TimMac

What have you caught them on during the daytime?

iTom wrote: »

I have done a good bit of fishing on the Slaney in the last few years and this year even with some very high water there was a good run of sea trout.

I caught about 28 this year and all were released to fight another day.
I see on this tread that people think it is only night time that you catch sea trout,I have caught more during the day than night time.

Compton

mepps 2 silver with blue spots

blackstairsboy

iTom its good to hear that you relesased all your trout. I try to do the same but I do occaisionly keep one for breakfast . Where abouts on the Slaney do you fish?

As for daytime sea trout fishing I have also caught quite a few trout in the early morning or on an overcast day. I always fish two flies a killdevil spider on the dropper and a black pennal or connemara black on the point. I find that this works well for me. I am open to new suggestions so share your favourite sea trout flies with us

fisherking

the sweeny todd for me....

gavgalway

going to try live sand eel in esterys round galway for sea trout next summer off kayak any one know any nice out of the way rivers with sea trout waiting around wonder would salmon take sand eel before they move into river.

ironbluedun

gavgalway wrote: »

wonder would salmon take sand eel before they move into river.

No.

steyrman2

blackstairsboy wrote: »

Well lads I was looking for a thread that was dedicated to sea trout and their pursuit. I couldn't find one so I decided to start one.
I am an experienced and keen young angler and I have caught salmon, browns and seatrout on a flyrod. I would without a doubt consider seatrout on a flyrod at night the ultimate fishing experience. I am engrossed in studying the works of Falkus and others about this topic. I mostly fish on the Slaney above and below Bunclody in Co Wexford. I want to hear your stories, experiences and lessons learned in their pursuit so I can build up my knowledge of them. Preferabley fly fishing but spinning and worming stories are most welcome. I look forward to your comments.

hi just to comment on the sea trout fishing on the slaney first of all there is no spinning or worming above enniscorthy bridge just fly fishing also most of the river is private or club run because of the salmon fishing ban most of the private fisherys are closed i do understand about young anglers hard to find fishing on it but if you join a club you have a better chance of learning more than books or on forums a lot of older fishermen dont go on line a simple chat to them will yeild results far more than here

blackstairsboy

I know a lot about the situation on the Slaney but thanks for the info. I have quite a bit of fishing along the Slaney about 3 miles in all. Most along Ballycarney but some above Bunclody also. I know what you mean about talking to old fishermen and that is how I have learned to fly fish. A fisherman who has fished the Slaney for over 50 years thought me how to flyfish and there is no doubt that you learn more in 5 minutes than you will learn in reading 5 books. I only ever fly fish for sea trout but I also welcome experiences of those who worm or spin for sea trout in smaller rivers or estuaries. The reason I started this thread was to share experiences and tips and general sea trout fishing talk. I am sure this thread will also be helpful for those who are new to the sport or fly fishing in general.;)

dody

Heres a fly called the Nebo Spider. A flydresser called Trevor Jones from wales says its one of the top flies on the slaney for seatrout and salmon. It looks simple to tie, a varnished holographic red tinsel body with a black swept back hen hackle on a size 10 - 12 hook. Hope to fish the slaney this coming season to catch my first seatrout .

blackstairsboy

That's an interesting fly. I must try it out. I always use a killdevil spider on the dropper and it would not be too dissimilar to that. I tie the killdevil spider with dark furnace cock hackle and the body 2/3 peacock hearl and 1/3 flat silver tinsel. It is a very popular and productive fly on the Slaney. I will try and post a picture of one of my tying's tomorrow.

con___manx1

i agree no other fish like d sea trout.. last year i got my biggest sea trout on a fly called the silver doctor.. the fish jumped straight out of the water when he relised he was hooked. i nearly had a heart attack...i was so happy.. cant wait till d sea trout start runnin this summer..

BoarHunter

have booked a week end on Lough Currane early June going for the specimen !

Slasher

BoarHunter wrote: »

have booked a week end on Lough Currane early June going for the specimen !

Good for you!!

Two anglers have landed 15lb salmon on Currane this month. Someone else got an 8.5 lb specimen trout.

Be sure to let us know how you get on.

BoarHunter

Slasher wrote: »

Good for you!!

Two anglers have landed 15lb salmon on Currane this month. Someone else got an 8.5 lb specimen trout.

Be sure to let us know how you get on.

i know a 15 lbs salmon has been caught yesterday on the lake

Zzippy

BoarHunter wrote: »

have booked a week end on Lough Currane early June going for the specimen !

My advice, book a guide, for the first day at least. We fished there last year and the guide, Tom O'Shea was brilliant, put us over fish all day long, even if we made a hash of catching them. Still ended up with a salmon and 9 sea trout, and my boat partner had 4 sea trout. Silver Invicta did the trick for me that day, worth having one in your fly box...

SeaFields

I'd agree with Zzippy. For the first day at least its worth the few bob to get to know the lake. I went out with a guide for my first two days there and have being going out on my own since. You'd get to know the lake fairly quickly.

BoarHunter

I go every year with Neil O'Shea, his brother and can't recommend them enough. Very good ghillies and friendly. Lough Currane conservation is an exemple of what can be done on a local scale to encourage tourism and improve fish stocks.

He told me that a few years back they were looking for a fishery manager and did a request to the council for a grant to pay for the wage.... this was denied as not enough funds from the gouvernement. Only to know a while after that whatever minister from Kerry was sending a private jet back from Dublin to pick up his son to go to cheltenham ... the price of that would have been paying someone for at least a couple of years ....

they are very passionnate and helpful. I caught a nice 8lbs Salmon on the fly last year and a friend of mine caught a 8lbs sea trout the same day... magic day !

SeaFields

The Lough Currane fishery is a excellent example of what can be done when a few heads are knocked together. If you get a chance to go up and see their hatchery while your there, head up for a look. Its fantastic to see what they have done. Neil O'Shea might be able to bring you but John Murphy, the former fisheries manager, brought me and a buddy up for a look a few years back. All those potential specimens swimming around as finerlings in a pool.

SeaFields

Caught my first seatrout of the year yesterday. Two small lads of about 12 inches. Saw a couple of other fish turn at the flies. All in the day time so guessing there was probably bigger fish there too lying tight to the bottom. Might be able to get out next week for a night session.

yank_in_eire

fisherking wrote: »

yeah i agree i fish for seatrout too at night and caught a 5 pounder on a muddler 2 years ago and watching it swim off with the torch was memorable....

Jaysis that must have been some fish to swim off with your torch - was it one of those big 3 D-cell MagLites?:D:D:D

BoarHunter

Slasher wrote: »

Good for you!!

Two anglers have landed 15lb salmon on Currane this month. Someone else got an 8.5 lb specimen trout.

Be sure to let us know how you get on.

And you have to be frustrated with the weather in this country. While i'm always on for a sunny day especially after the crap May we had , the sun decided to have a go on Saturday :mad: just the day i was havin all hopes on a specimen sea trout. So glorious sun + north winds were too much for us and we blanked miserably ....

typical every time you pass the door usually the heavens open and the day you need dull and breezy you don't have it !:mad:

thehamo

hey could anyone reccomend a good river for a bit of sea trout fishing? would love to throw my hand at it but wouldnt even know where to start....

Hunter21

Getting abck into fly fishing again after many years away, many a night I spent fishing in the pitch dark for brownies with bats flying around. Was an amazing experience when a sea trout caught the fly with a bang simply becasue I wasnt expecting it due to me having light gear for brownies

Forgive my stupidity and loss of memory but does a person need a salmon licence to catch sea trout or is it the same as wild brown trout?

SeaFields

yes, you need a salmon licence to fish for them.

Snowc

Any spinner recommendations for sea trout?

con___manx1

mepps blue spots and gold mepps with red spots,black flying c

Tom7515

Seatrout wat a craic chasing em, especially at night, caught a lovely pound in a half on the fly rod monday, was fightin him for bout 10mins as i forgot my landing net. Caught a few 1/2 pounders spinning flies at night aswell, great sport.

blackstairsboy

Two nice sea trout taken on the Slaney last night. Bought were caught on a Black Pennell which was the tail fly. Dropper was as always a Killdevil Spider. About a pound each which is about average down this way.

experimenter

Fishing wet fly i take it...

blackstairsboy

experimenter wrote: »

Fishing wet fly i take it...

Yes they are both wet flies and I always use wet flies when sea trout fishing as is the norm around my way. I know floating lures such as the muddler can account for some very nice fish but I have only read about it and have not encountered anyone using this tactic. The trout are attracted to the wake the lure makes as it is retrieved and then strike at the lure.
Just in from fishing again tonight I released a 3/4 pound brown trout and a 3/4 pound sea trout again both taken with a Black Pennell.

SeaFields

I have taken some very very nice seatrout on the muddler (or large skating flies). Its best used in two instances in my experience. Firstly, when the rout get a bit stale in the pools and dont seem to want to take anything. Secondly, those night where sea trout are hopping in the pools but wont touch any other fly. Two or three casts across the pool will tell you if it'll work. it no interest is shown, head home to your leaba

bitemybanger

I've never fished specifically for sea trout but have caught a couple of small ones on the fly fishing for brownies.
I'm thinking of targeting them on the fly for the next couple of weeks starting this evening.
Will the bit of rain and colour in the water help?

bibio

Just saw some posts up on sea trout fishing on the slaney. Just to say all the water downstream of the N11 bridge is a private fishery (four miles) and the owner has go annoyed with people fishing there with no permission and people are being challenged and reported for prosecution. The first half mile of water above Scarawalsh on left bank (looking downstream) and also immediately below scarawlsh bridge on same bank is part of this private fishery.
Be warned.

slowburner

bitemybanger wrote: »

I've never fished specifically for sea trout but have caught a couple of small ones on the fly fishing for brownies.
I'm thinking of targeting them on the fly for the next couple of weeks starting this evening.
Will the bit of rain and colour in the water help?

Yes it will

con___manx1

hooked my first sea trout of the year last night but lost him on a snag. feckin sick.never got another touch after that. it was a nice fish well over a pound..

blackstairsboy

Two sea trout landed tonight. A peak of activity about half 11 and very quite from then on till 12 at which point I called it a night. Lots of activity and several fish lost so omens are looking good down my end for another while, as there was fears the run may be tailing of, as it started very early this year. Some quite big trout knocking about also:D

smash

Saleen is a great spot for sea trout. Great Bass and Mullet there too.

slaneylad

got my first sea trout during the week one of my mates got 3 the same night, great to see a few fish are making it up to tullow

blackstairsboy

Lots of fresh fish still coming in which bodes well for those of us fishing the Slaney. Landed two tonight and lost a few so its looking good for another while. I was fishing just above Enniscorthy so anglers further upstream can expect fresh fish over the coming days and weeks.