Trout fishing with rod and reel

[danielsutherland]

Went fishing for the first time today on a small NW highland mountain loch that the local angling shop said had trout in.

My set up was rod and reel with a water weight(bright orange which you half fill with water) and then another two foot of line with a worm on the end.

I didn't catch anything but enjoyed myself, I was hoping a someone may give me a few pointers in the right direction to maybe improve my chances.

The fish were feeding on the surface but didn't nibble the worms. the weather was a light breeze and overcast.

Could i use flys on the rod and reel setup?

Look forward to your replies

Daniel

[northern eye]

I suppose you could try attaching a dry fly to your bubble float set-up with a long line between float and fly but I am not sure how much success you will have - give it a try but probably best to get yourself a cheap fly fishing set-up so you can get the right presentation.
If the fish are feeding on the surface and you use worms, try using a very short line from the float to the bait, maybe 6 - 12 inches at most or use a floating bait with a longer line. Trout will eat bread crust, floating pellets, casters - just about anything at times.
Finally - try using a lure/spinner instead of the float set-up. Lures come in all shapes and sizes and can be floating or sinking. A small one, slowly reeled in across the surface of the loch will definately attract those hungry trout. Good Luck.

[LittleFish]

I would try I team of floating flies on a six foot leader if I were you.Cast as far as you can then retrieve as slow as you can,preferably giving the odd small jerk,to make the flies look more natural.

If you want to use bait I would suggest the smallest worms you can find or better still maggots.

[Baz T]

As a kid I used to use a bubble float, with a dry fly dropper attached about 3 ft up the mainline from the float. I would cast out, and hold the rod up as high as I could so that the dry fly would be dancing on the surface, and slowly reel in. It was great fun watching the trout jump for the fly - caught one or two that way.
OR..to get more weight for casting, I would partially melt a candle and mould the melting candle around a kirby grip (hair grip). I would bend out the long bits at the bottom of the grip to stop it sliding out the candle. I would leave a little bit of the grip sticking out of the candle so I could tie my line to it. The partially melted candle could be moulded into an arlesey bomb shape - and hey presto an aerodynamic, heavier float, that can cast a fair distance.
Only reason I did it as a lad was I didnt have the money for bubble floats, so used to nick the candles from under the stairs, and the kirby grips from my mother. It worked though.

[danielsutherland]

Thanks for the tips guys, i'm sure i'll get a cheap fly setup eventually however will try what you have susgested so far. I still have plenty of worms so will get out again soon enough.

Daniel

[BoldBear]

When I was in the RN based at a naval air station in Cornwall I used to fish a small trout stream at the bottom of our hill using 3lb mono line with a couple of no.6 shot pinched on the line about a foot from a size 16 hook which was baited with half a small lobworm or a small lively redworm.

I used to let the current take my line downstream and then very slowly wind it back upstream; this used to catch me plenty of wild brown trout for the table.

I didn’t know how to fly fish for them at the time and didn’t have any fly tackle but this always kept me with plenty of trout for the table.

tight lines

Keith (BoldBear)