| The name trout refers to a number of types of | | | | small fish, insects, insect larvae and small aquatic |
| freshwater fish that are members of the | | | | invertebrates. They will take a variety of baits |
| Salmonidae family. The two most common | | | | including minnows, maggots, worms, sweet corn |
| species found in the UK are the native variety, | | | | and even pieces of marshmallow. However, in |
| Salmo trutta, which is found in much of Europe | | | | many UK fisheries, food baits are banned and |
| and Salmo Gairdnerii (also known as Oncorhynchus | | | | anglers are expected to use fly fishing techniques |
| mykiss), which originates from the Pacific | | | | to attract their quarry. |
| Northwest region of the USA, but has been | | | | Anglers and tackle specialists have created a huge |
| introduced extensively to waters throughout | | | | range of artificial fishing flies and continue to |
| Europe and beyond. | | | | develop new variants in their quest for fishing |
| SALMON TRUTTA | | | | success. Most fishing flies are designed to look like |
| Salmo trutta, the brown trout, is usually a | | | | potential food items for the fish, so the final form |
| speckled brownish colour with black and rust | | | | of the flies very much depends upon the |
| coloured spots. It lives in streams, rivers and | | | | materials from which they are assembled. |
| lakes. | | | | Surface flies: designed to look like insects, the |
| A migratory form of Salmo trutta, known as the | | | | mayfly being the prime example, which attract |
| sea trout or sewin, also occurs in the UK and | | | | fish to the surface of the water. |
| other parts of northwest Europe. It is more | | | | Underwater flies: designed to look like aquatic |
| silvery in colour than its freshwater relative. The | | | | larvae of fish or insects, or to appear like small |
| lifecycle of this variant is very similar to that of | | | | fish such as minnows. |
| the Atlantic salmon, to which it is related. The fish | | | | Attention attractors: flies, which are usually in vivid |
| usually remain in freshwater for the first 2 or 3 | | | | colours or cause water disturbance when moved |
| years of life, before migrating to the sea. When | | | | about, that don't look like any specific food item, |
| they have matured fully, the fish return to | | | | but will still attract the fish's attention. |
| freshwater, in order to breed. | | | | Some anglers use more than one fly at a time on |
| Some rivers support populations of both | | | | the same line; for example, an attention attractor |
| migratory and non-migratory fish, whereas in | | | | and a nymph mimic. |
| other rivers one or other type predominates. The | | | | TACKLE |
| reasons why different rivers support different | | | | RODS |
| proportions of the two varieties is not clear, but is | | | | Fly fishing attracts a lot of mystique regarding |
| likely to be influenced by variations in ecology | | | | rods and casting. Rod technology has been |
| between different river systems. | | | | transformed by the introduction of carbon fibre |
| SALMO GAIRDNERIL | | | | but some anglers still prefer to use traditional split |
| Salmo Gairdnerii, the rainbow trout, is silver in | | | | cane rods. |
| colour with a pinkish sheen which gives rise to the | | | | For river fishing, a rod between 9 and 10 feet |
| 'rainbow' effect. They can be found in rivers, | | | | (275 to 305 cm) long is recommended, whereas |
| lakes, reservoirs and large ponds and are popular | | | | for lake or reservoir fishing an 11 foot (335 cm) |
| with commercial hatcheries. | | | | rod is normally preferred. |
| SIZE | | | | RIGS |
| Salmo trutta normally grows to about 12 inches | | | | The angler's personal casting technique seriously |
| (30 cm) long. The fish can grow up to 21 inches | | | | influences the type of line, the weights used on |
| (53 cm) in length. The UK record for a wild Salmo | | | | the line as well as the type of fly to choose. |
| trutta specimen is 31lb 12oz (14.4 kg) for a fish | | | | Some lines are designed to float, others are |
| caught in 2005. | | | | designed to sink. The fisherman's decisions as to |
| Salmo Gairdnerii often grows to a length of up to | | | | whether he wants the fly to float on the surface, |
| 18 inches (45 cm) and weighs around 6½ lb (3 | | | | to sink slowly or to sink rapidly will be influenced |
| kg). The UK record for this type of fish is 36 lb | | | | mainly by the water conditions. The choice of fly, |
| 14 oz (16.75 kg) for an example caught in 1995. | | | | type of line and distribution of weights on the line |
| HOW AND WHERE TO CATCH TROUT | | | | can all have a substantial effect on the speed that |
| These fish are commonly found in cool, clear | | | | the fly moves through the water and whether |
| lakes and rivers. Young fish tend to prefer | | | | the fish will be encouraged on to the hook. |
| deeper, slow moving pools and backwaters. In | | | | CASTING STYLES |
| shallower waters, rainbows are more likely to be | | | | LAKESIDE FISHING |
| found than browns. | | | | How to catch trout for a right-hander, a wind |
| BREEDING HABITS | | | | blowing left-to-right is preferred, so that any |
| Both types of fish are bred extensively by | | | | gusts of wind will move the fly (and hook) away |
| commercial fish farms. In the wild, they usually | | | | from the angler. Alternatively, having the wind |
| spawn in channels containing gravel or small | | | | blowing towards you often brings more effective |
| pebbles. | | | | results, but makes successful casting that bit |
| Browns spawn in late autumn or early winter | | | | more difficult. |
| when the water temperature is between 6 | | | | BOAT FISHING |
| degrees and 9 degrees sC. The female | | | | When trout fishing from a boat on a lake, use |
| excavates a number of hollows, called redds and | | | | short, overhead casts from a sitting position. |
| deposits around 2,000 pale greenish eggs in each | | | | Roll-cast the line forward to bring the fly to the |
| of them. They hatch after 4 to 12 weeks, | | | | surface, then follow this manoeuvre with a back |
| depending on the water temperature. | | | | cast and finally, a single forward cast. The line is |
| Rainbows spawn between March and August. | | | | then pulled in gently and the next cast is made. |
| They prefer a water temperature of between 6 | | | | RIVER BANKFISHING |
| degrees and 10 degrees C. These fish, too, | | | | The standard technique is to cast downstream at |
| excavate a number of redds and the female | | | | a 45 degree angle to the bank and then to draw |
| deposits 800 to 1,000 yellowish orange eggs in | | | | the line in slowly. If you want the fly to go deeper |
| each of them. They hatch after 4 to 7 weeks. | | | | into the water, casting upstream can be |
| BAIT | | | | effective, as the flowing water will aid this |
| These fish have quite a varied diet that includes | | | | process. |