Dave from Preston
Hello Martin
This year I've been fortunate enough to have joined the PAAS and have been fishing mainly the PAAS stretch of the Hodder, just between where it meets the Ribble and the old packhorse bridge.
I've had plenty of very small brown trout of about 5/6 inches and a few equally small chub, mainly from the end of shallow runs, so at least I'm catching!
I've tended to use very small gold headed nymphs or a bloody butcher, on floating line. How can I target some slightly larger fish?
Many thanks,
Dave
Martin's advice...
Dear David
The stretch of water you are fishing isn't one of the best for quality brown trout, having said that I reckon all those you are catching are wild fish and there should be a few better fish. You could try fishing larger nymphs Walker May fly: Gold Ribbed hare's ear Damsel fly nymph and a selection of Czech or Polish nymphs fished very close or on the bottom using an intermediate or slow sink line depending on the depth and flow rate.
If I might suggest you pick a warm night and fish into the dark with Muddler minnow, size 8 Klinkhammer or a sedge pattern. I have found Sedge patterns will often lure a bigger fish. Expect savage takes when using sedges and muddlers. I hope this is of some help. Please feel free to write again.
Kind regards
Martin
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Alan from Glasgow asks...
I'm looking for the perfect roll/spey casting trout rod. I currently use a 9'6'' sage xp #7 which unloads in a nano second, often before you want it to!
Cheers, al.
Martin's advice...
Dear Alan
You don't say what line weight you're using. I fish with two Spey rods one at 10 feet for a 6 weight and one at 12 feet for a 6 weight.
Both rods are made by Thomas and Thomas I find them perfect. In fact I used a T&T
7 weight today for sea trout fishing and landed a 12 lb salmon. E-mail info@thomasandthomas.com - it wouldn't be fair for me to comment on the Sage rod as I do not use them.
Kind regards
Martin
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Chris from Burnley asks...
Martin
Do you remember catching a double figure thornback 200 yards from the beach at Rossall or falling off the slipway at Fleetwood? Do you also remember making the programme about skate fishing?
Well I fish for trout now...where are the best places and when is the best time?
I now live near Burnley and the sea is too far away. I would love to hear from you again.
Chris
Martin's advice...
Dear Chris
Nice to hear from you after several years. I certainly enjoyed our boat fishing trips off the Fylde coast especially for the winter cod.
I feel the best time for trout fishing on stillwaters is probably from late April through to October.
I say late April, but this could be early May if we get a cold spring with easterly winds. Barnsfold water is a good local venue but I prefer to fish Rutland or Grafham both are excellent big water trout fisheries.
You don't say if you fish rivers or stillwaters, perhaps a mixture of both. River trouting with a dry fly is in my book one of the most delightful ways of catching trout.
In the north of England we have some of the finest river trouting available.
Cheers
Martin James
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Sharon from Florida asks...
Hi Martin,
Can you tell me the difference between a steelhead trout and a rainbow trout?
Thank you.
Sharon
Martin's advice...
Dear Sharon
The difference between a steelhead Salmo gairdneri irideus and a rainbow trout Salmo gairdneri is as follows:
Steelhead Trout:
The steelhead is a sea going rainbow trout. It spawns in freshwater then goes to sea where it feeds and grows big.
The natural range of the steelhead is Southern California to Alaska Peninsula. I feel several rivers have there own distinct run of fish.
Some are summer run steelhead, others are winter run fish. There are of course steelhead in the great lakes - I can't say if these fish are the same gene pool of the Pacific coast steelhead of the USA and Canada.
Rainbow Trout:
There are several species of rainbow trout, its a fish that is easily reared in large number for stocking purpose and the table.
Most species of rainbows look the same to most people. The mountain Kamloops trout look like the redside rainbows of the Deschutes.
The coastal rainbow trout are in fact steelhead, silver on the lower half of the body. There are other species of rainbow - Eagle Lake rainbows Salmo gairdneri aquilarum Kern River Rainbows.Salmo gairdneri.
Rainbow trout's native range runs down the west coast of North America from Alaska to California.
Rainbows were first exported beyond their natural boundaries in 1874 and are now established in 39 of 42 states in the USA to which they are not native. I hope this answers your query.
Kindest regards
Martin James
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Joe from Ontario, Canada asks...
Hi Martin,
I'm going to go steel head trout fishing when the ice melts on Lake Erie in the spring.
Do you have any advice for me as I have never tried to catch steel heads before?
Joe
Martin's advice...
Dear Joe
Many thanks for your e-mail.
The steelhead in my book is one of the glamour fish in the aquatic world. I have fished for steelhead all over the Pacific Northwest States of Oregon and Washington.
Some of the rivers being Deschutes, Umpqua, Rogue, Sandy, Columbia, Snake, the Sol Duc, The Hoh and the Queets they are just a few rivers I have fished.
Sadly as yet I have not fished the Great Lakes, but I am told by many of my New York area friends that the Great Lakes offer some wonderful steelhead fishing.
My first choice is fly fishing either with a single handed, or double handed Spey rod. Though I use both light and heavy spinning rods, when needed.
A method that is used by many Canadian anglers is the use of bait with a long rod, centre pin reel and fine lines.
I am told that many of your countrymen and ladies are very proficient at this style of angling.
I suggest you try and get hold of the book Ultra-lite Steelhead Fishing By Ralph F Quinn ISBN number 0-934802-26-2.
Kind regards,
Martin
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- Catch Martin James' At the Waters Edge on BBC Radio Lancashire on Thursdays at 7.30pm and Saturdays at 6.00am - or via 'Listen Again' online. Each show is available for seven days.
