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Sea Trout: In the beginning

Our December 2000 contribution from Tony King

Sea trout are brown trout that go to sea to feed. In a recent magazine article, Peter Lapsley argued a different hypothesis: that brown trout are sea trout that did not go to sea. Either or both are true. The sea trout is fundamentally a brown trout, often a bigger brown trout and in many instances definitely a wilder brown trout.

Sea trout are found, predominantly, in the more remote river systems of the west and north of the British Isles. This can be attributed on the one hand, to the lack of population and thus pollution in these areas, and, on the other hand, to the paucity of food found in these streams. A sea trout is generally born in a rough - what the Americans would call a free-stone - river. There will undoubtedly be plenty of invertebrate life but it will spend its time under stones and boulders where it is largely unavailable to these small trout. Therefore, as they grow they will move further and further down the stream looking for food. Eventually they come to the sea and there more food is available and phenomenal rates of growth are achieved. Last season I caught an 11.5lb sea trout from the Tweed and scale readings established that this fish was four years old. It had spent two years in fresh water as a parr, and then one sea winter had seen it return to its native river to spawn at about half the weight/size achieved for its second spawning run. This example is mentioned to illustrate the potential for growth. Not all sea trout will be in a position to take such advantage of the bounty that they find in their sea feeding period.

On most rivers that I fish the average size of the sea trout is between 1.5 and 2.5lbs. Therefore, it is not necessary to rush out and purchase heavy outfits to fish for sea trout unless you intend to visit big fish rivers like the Tweed or the Towy. Even then, most of the fish that you are likely to encounter will be in that 1.5 to 2.5lb range and will provide more fun on sensible but lighter tackle.

I personally use a rod of about 11 feet in length that works with an AFTM 6 weight line: Bruce and Walker and Sharpes of Aberdeen produce good examples of this type of rod. More moderately priced examples are available: those made by Reddington and Daiwa are very good. I think that 6/7 weights are the best for most anglers but if you feel that an 8/9-weight outfit is more the tool for the job then you will find those too. The 6 weight outfits will definitely cope with bigger fish but are a joy for the normal run of things. I just think it is better to get the fun from the majority of fish that you catch.

When it comes to reels I like a robust knockabout reel that will shrug of the knocks and the odd soaking that it will undoubtedly be subjected to during a night's fishing. My personal favourites are the JW Youngs Multifly and the Teton, the former because of the multiplying action which allows me to gather loose line quickly onto the reel and out of the way of net, feet etc when a fish is hooked. The Teton because of its sealed drag system that never varies wet or dry. This reel in the larger diameters has an excellent retrieve rate. The Young's reel has a reliable ratchet and pawl system. I would prefer a disk drag but the only disk drag multipliers available rely on a cork disc that ceases to function properly when wet. During day time and when able to leave the water to make minor adjustments to tackle, cork/rulon disk systems are fine but at night with a sea trout to be landed, and leaders unravelled, the reel is often in the water as much as it is out. Wet cork is liable to become friction-free at just the wrong time.

Lines should suit the chosen rod and the type of fishing that you will do most. If you are fishing a medium to small river, it is worth considering using a line rated one size higher than usual. Often you will be casting only a matter of 10 to 15 yards in the dark. A slightly heavier line will make short line work easy and will usually make the rod more forgiving. It may seem a contradiction but if you move on to larger waters, and greater distances, decrease the line weight to the rod's actual rating. I could explain the science of all this in detail, but it makes sense, trust me.

As for line densities, again think of where you are likely to fish. If the river is medium paced with slower pools a floating line will probably be all you require. An intermediate is useful but not essential. If the river is faster and/or the pools deeper a sinking line might be required. Personally I use a Rio Versitip which is one of the new multi-tip lines. This means one line and tips with a variety of sink rates from floating to fast sinking, are available without the hassle of spare spools that are invariably miles away when you need them. If this option is a bit pricey then a floater with a selection of poly leaders is almost as good.

Fishing deeply sunk lures is a method best employed on large pools with clean gravel bottoms. Most of the pools I fish regularly are not of this type and a deeply sunk line just snags every rock. Heavy sinking lines are a bitch to cast in the dark and are something for the specialist (or should I say masochist). I find I can fish as deeply as I wish with the fast-sinking tip attached and I am sure that a poly or braided sinking leader fished in anything but the strongest of flows would achieve the depths required on most nights.

Leaders are a matter of personal choice. For years I used 8lb Maxima and still do. I also use Orvis Super Strong and Rio Powerflex 'Salmon, Bass & Steelhead' tippet mterial. I personally use these materials according to diameter rather than breaking strain. I see no problem in using 13lb line, for example, that is the same thickness as the old 8lb. It means that I can play fish quickly and release them fresher and that I can fish in snaggy spots with relative impunity. In future articles we will discuss flies, tactics etc.

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A few words from Tony King...

"Since childhood fishing has been the constant in my life. Other hobbies and activities have come and gone but I cannot remember a time when I was not prepared to drop everything to go fishing. Now I do it for a living, the pension scheme is not brilliant, but the pleasure of passing on experience that I have gathered over the last 40 odd years is rewarding in itself.

My passion is for wild fish, fish that are governed by the rules that have applied for ever. Not those conditioned by captivity no matter how it is dressed up. Sea trout, Trout and Salmon, are wild fish, they have never been fed in a stew, or genetically modified to grow larger or to look more palatable. Having said that I enjoy fishing for any fish, my preferance is to fish with the fly as I enjoy the freedom that fly tackle allows. Most fish will take a fly and the fun is to work out how to get them to do it."

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