Big Sea Trout - Attempt No 2 (River Teifi)

Down in south west Wales again for what hopefully will become an annual trip with a mate and to be guided by the excellent Steffan Jones.  The only problem is that the drive down has been through fairly constant showers of biblical proportions.  Can't be the best for river conditions...

Steff has already been on saying that the river is too coloured to even think about fly fishing at night - mostly because the fish just won't be able to see the fly but I'm sure the thought of keeping us two safe at night in a raging torrent does not appeal either.  The new plan is to fish in the day and lures with small Rapalas and Mepps.  Worms to be ready for action if the metal and wood fails to generate a fish.

Levels are good but there's a heavy colour to the water.  Under detailed instruction, we chase down the river to find clearer spots and work the lures upstream and back across the current.  The less chance the fish have to inspect the lure before it moving through the strike zone the better.  The lure choices are governed by the colour in the water, with clearer sections meaning a switch to more realistic colours and brighter orange colour patterns for dirtier sections.  We fish 5 beats day one but only a few suicidal micro brown trout have succumbed so far.

Day two and the river is higher but thankfully a bit clearer.  Today it just feels that there is a chance of a fish and my mate is first out of the blocks with a sea trout of 2lbs 14oz on a black flying C.

The atmospheric pressure seemed to lift between fronts and suddenly I'm getting nips on the 7cm Brown Trout Rapala and a couple of better quality brownies are landed in succession before there are fish rising everywhere in the river after not one thing moving for 1.5 days.  I just knew something good was about to happen when a super aggressive take bends the 1.5lb tc rod in two as the plug moves across the nearside slack.  It's a great fight before a new PB sea trout is scooped up by super guide and ghillie Steff.  2lbs 10oz on the scales, a new PB by about 2lb and a respectable weight given it's only my second attempt at sea trout fishing.  It's quickly followed by another of about 1lb - two sea trout in the day from a chocolate coloured river - not too shabby...

Interesting that not one salmon or sea trout showed itself over the two days.  Good trip, plenty of new skills acquired and another ringing endorsement that it pays to have a top quality guide if making a long distance trip to a venue where you cannot hope to acquire the knowledge in advance to make the most of your time on the water.

A mate has invited me to try his private beat on the Hodder for sea trout in a couple of weeks so let's see if I can successfully use the tips and skills I've learnt with Steff on my own.

Cheers

Mr Fish