Sea Trout On A Dry Fly - A Daytime Encounter

I remember when I was about fourteen years old making my way down to the river with my fly rod when I heard a huge splash just behind the next corner. As I arrived at the spot I saw a large white trout leap from the river and take an insect from the air. I was amazed as I had never seen one so big, this looked like three pound plus and up to now I had only ever caught ones about a pound or so.

I made my way to the river upstream from the trout and started to wade out to begin my run down towards it. As I watched I noticed a swam of insects hatching from the trees and stopped to take a closer look. They were small grey midge flies so I looked into my fly box and choose a dry pattern I had tied myself which looked close to it.

I proceeded to make my way down the river and started to fish my fly. I made several casts out to the far bank letting the river flow swing the cast around watching my fly as it passed down the river. At each cast I stepped closer to the trout which was still feeding off the hatching flies. I could hardly contain my excitement already imagining getting taken by this huge trout. It was all I could do to take my time and not rush the stalk as I would get 2 maybe 3 chances to get the trout to take otherwise it would be over.

For those of you who don't know white otherwise known as sea trout are easily spooked especially during the day. Most anglers would attempt to fish for them in the dark of night to enhance their chances of catching because of their timid nature. Not so this trout it was boldly taking fly after fly gorging itself oblivious to my approach or so it would seem.

I was now within striking distance so I took a cast and watched my fly pass by where the trout was feeding. It came up in a swirl and took my fly. I lifted my rod to set the hook and felt nothing and watched as my fly passed by my shoulder. Blast it, I was too quick, I didn't let him turn with the fly. I reset myself to try again. The next cast my fly swam by a bit too far left and the trout ignored it. I would have one more chance I thought to myself don't blow it.

This time the cast was good and the fly passed by the spot. The trout took my fly and this time I gave it time to turn before lifting my rod. When I did the hook set and I had a startled trout splashing on my line which took off at amazing speed down the river. It was all I could do to try and slow it down before I ran out of backing line but luckily it slowed down and started to turn.

I desperately started to wind in the line as it came back towards me and keep the trout in tension. I fought with the trout for about fifteen minutes before I was able to land it. I was so excited I packed up my prize after quickly dispatching it and ran home to show my parents. We would eat well that night as there is nothing nicer than fresh sea trout in my opinion.

That memory has stayed with me all my fly fishing life as it was my first sea trout on a dry fly and my biggest. When weighed the scales showed three pound and six ounces which I have never beaten till this day.