That's amazing, another great vid Paul, quick question, why is it that the bigger fish can't be seen in the day? Do they only move up river in the dark? And What's the best time of year to fish for sea trout or dose it depend on the river?
Most of the big fish run early in the year when we have high water conditions, they have learned that from past experience hence they are able to spawn and return safely to the sea that is how you get big fish, some rivers have a very late run of big sea trout that practically run in December, spawn in January and return to sea straight away avoiding all the predators thus becoming very big. Any big sea trout will know where to hide in daylight hours normally under tree roots or low hanging bushes so your're never going to see them but if you listen at night time you can ear mark their locations by the large splashes as they move out into the better night lies.
Great video ! Nice fish and handling ! Reassuring to see such wonderful fish - in which river system .. or does it have to be kept secret. Greetings and TL from Austria to the emerald isle.
Hi Ulrich, thanks for the comments, normally i would give out information on river locations etc., but when it comes to sea trout, pike or bass I'm afraid that there is too much poaching going on these days regarding these species to give out that information and as you have said yourself it has to remain a secret.
+MrKingfisher3 I find it fascinating how all the big predator fish seem to come out at night. I know a lot are taken in the day but I'm sure the biggies often roam mostly at night having better senses
Any advice on how to strike after a take when fishing directly upstream from the fish from a high bank quite a distance away. I keep hooking trout but they keep falling off. I feel like because there mouths are facing me that they are able to spit the hook easy. Ive tied up double hooks aswell and still i lost 2 big ones a couple of nights ago
Join the club.. Unfortunately when facing a fish there's going to be issues when the fish feels pressure its going to open its mouth and release the fly same as we would do if something was too hot or foul in our mouths we'd spit it out. Only thing to do is wait and let fish head downstream or across and gradually lift into it and once it heads away just dink it again or in otherwards second strike not hard but enough to set the hook. As I'm not doing much fishing lately I'm doing a short blog/video on Facebook under MrKingfisher3 it might have some tips there for you, and another one I've done is increase hook gape size going from B175 to B160 wide gape it has increased the hook ups but not totally. On my big point fly I've changed to off set heavy worm hooks in size 10 or 8 and find they hook better and don't bend like fly hooks.
MrKingfisher3 i live up north on the shores of strangford lough i do well enough in the tide but as you rightly say it takes time and effort to find them ive clocked 20years hopen for a few more yet lol have you tried any of the westin range of lures i do spin alot (bombarda and lures) iv been nailin whitetrout on the 12g westin salty also my too old firm favs are the 7g hansen pilgrim and a size o mozzi stukki wave spoon not forgetting mepps aglia long when there in the fresh
Paul, the bigger sea trout that spawn are very hard to get when they have gone into fresh water i find. Do you have any help on this one ? they sure jump around alot at night but what seems like just for exercise !
The big sea trout that come into fresh water to spawn can be very hard to catch due to the fact that they have seen it all before but if you are going to target these fish it will take time and patience. Obviously you know where they are as you can hear them jumping so all you have to do is find the right fly and time of night. Try a two fly cast of one large fly on point and a small size 12 or 14 on dropper, normally the bigger ( educated ) trout will come to a darker fly pattern rather than the bright silver patterns that everybody else is using so vary the colour and size and also fish later into the night. Normally i catch the bigger sea trout into the second or third hour of darkness and when the river has a bit of colour to it.
Great video again Paul! When we are Dollaghan fishing at night we get massive sudden pulls I mean they would near pull the rod out of your hand & then nothing! Do you have the same problem when fishing at night for sea Trout ??? Cheers Emmet
+WeeManSham Hi Emmet, I think it depends on the light and also the amount of fishing pressure, if the fish are calm and not pressured they take confidentially but if there has been a lot of activity they are very weary and only pull and drop the fly as if testing it. When i fish competitions we get a lot of this due to angling pressure as anglers do practice days leading up to the competitions and the trout are nervous, imagine if i gave you an apple and just as you bit into it i punched you in the jaw... you'd be very careful about eating apples in the future... the same applies to the fish.
🇮🇪☘️ Great video
Thanks 👍
Makes a lot of sense, thanks for that 👍🏻
That's amazing, another great vid Paul, quick question, why is it that the bigger fish can't be seen in the day? Do they only move up river in the dark? And What's the best time of year to fish for sea trout or dose it depend on the river?
Most of the big fish run early in the year when we have high water conditions, they have learned that from past experience hence they are able to spawn and return safely to the sea that is how you get big fish, some rivers have a very late run of big sea trout that practically run in December, spawn in January and return to sea straight away avoiding all the predators thus becoming very big. Any big sea trout will know where to hide in daylight hours normally under tree roots or low hanging bushes so your're never going to see them but if you listen at night time you can ear mark their locations by the large splashes as they move out into the better night lies.
Great video ! Nice fish and handling ! Reassuring to see such wonderful fish - in which river system .. or does it have to be kept secret. Greetings and TL from Austria to the emerald isle.
Hi Ulrich, thanks for the comments, normally i would give out information on river locations etc., but when it comes to sea trout, pike or bass I'm afraid that there is too much poaching going on these days regarding these species to give out that information and as you have said yourself it has to remain a secret.
I fully agree.
EXCELLENT
Thank you! Cheers!
Great night time vid matey
Thanks for the comment.
+MrKingfisher3 I find it fascinating how all the big predator fish seem to come out at night. I know a lot are taken in the day but I'm sure the biggies often roam mostly at night having better senses
Any advice on how to strike after a take when fishing directly upstream from the fish from a high bank quite a distance away. I keep hooking trout but they keep falling off. I feel like because there mouths are facing me that they are able to spit the hook easy. Ive tied up double hooks aswell and still i lost 2 big ones a couple of nights ago
Join the club.. Unfortunately when facing a fish there's going to be issues when the fish feels pressure its going to open its mouth and release the fly same as we would do if something was too hot or foul in our mouths we'd spit it out. Only thing to do is wait and let fish head downstream or across and gradually lift into it and once it heads away just dink it again or in otherwards second strike not hard but enough to set the hook. As I'm not doing much fishing lately I'm doing a short blog/video on Facebook under MrKingfisher3 it might have some tips there for you, and another one I've done is increase hook gape size going from B175 to B160 wide gape it has increased the hook ups but not totally. On my big point fly I've changed to off set heavy worm hooks in size 10 or 8 and find they hook better and don't bend like fly hooks.
do you ever try for them in the salt?
Yes and also in the estuary, it can be very productive but takes a lot of time to find the right spots and times.
MrKingfisher3 i live up north on the shores of strangford lough i do well enough in the tide but as you rightly say it takes time and effort to find them ive clocked 20years hopen for a few more yet lol have you tried any of the westin range of lures i do spin alot (bombarda and lures) iv been nailin whitetrout on the 12g westin salty also my too old firm favs are the 7g hansen pilgrim and a size o mozzi stukki wave spoon not forgetting mepps aglia long when there in the fresh
Most of my sea trout are on fly but I have caught some on Kilti lures, Toby Rockets and Mepps.
MrKingfisher3 toby rocket 12g is a very effective lure in the salt! i do well with a polar magnus fly on my bombarda its one of my fav patterns
Paul, the bigger sea trout that spawn are very hard to get when they have gone into fresh water i find. Do you have any help on this one ? they sure jump around alot at night but what seems like just for exercise !
The big sea trout that come into fresh water to spawn can be very hard to catch due to the fact that they have seen it all before but if you are going to target these fish it will take time and patience. Obviously you know where they are as you can hear them jumping so all you have to do is find the right fly and time of night. Try a two fly cast of one large fly on point and a small size 12 or 14 on dropper, normally the bigger ( educated ) trout will come to a darker fly pattern rather than the bright silver patterns that everybody else is using so vary the colour and size and also fish later into the night. Normally i catch the bigger sea trout into the second or third hour of darkness and when the river has a bit of colour to it.
Great video again Paul! When we are Dollaghan fishing at night we get massive sudden pulls I mean they would near pull the rod out of your hand & then nothing! Do you have the same problem when fishing at night for sea Trout ??? Cheers Emmet
+WeeManSham Hi Emmet, I think it depends on the light and also the amount of fishing pressure, if the fish are calm and not pressured they take confidentially but if there has been a lot of activity they are very weary and only pull and drop the fly as if testing it. When i fish competitions we get a lot of this due to angling pressure as anglers do practice days leading up to the competitions and the trout are nervous, imagine if i gave you an apple and just as you bit into it i punched you in the jaw... you'd be very careful about eating apples in the future... the same applies to the fish.
+MrKingfisher3 Brilliant explanation ;)) Great video Paul! ATB.
+surethingsfly Thanks for the comment, tight lines.
great stuff