Planning to put some more time into sea trout fishing this year. I've had some success in the past, but i just wondered what basic fly setup people would recommend? In the past i've used my 9'6" 7/8 weight with a #7 floating line. Just wondered what other tweaks people would reccomend, polyleaders maybe? And also what basic fly choices people would make and what tippet breaking strains would be a good start? I'll mostly be fishing in the day/evening rather than night.

Thanks in advance for any tips

Eric

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"With my silken line and delicate hook, I wander in a myriad of ripples, And find freedom."
My Blog : yorkshireflynovice.blogspot.com

I intend to do a lot more evening work with my 5 weight.

I would suggest keeping breaking strain to about 5lb no heavier for evining work.

Fly size, think about size 10's and work down.

Use the standard sea trout patterns,Teal Blue, Butchers etc consider wee doubles, silver stoat is my favourite, closely followed by a Silver March Brown, size 12.

Dry fly including Klinks can be quite effective too.

The best thing is not to worry too much and get out and get catching.

I'm no expert on the day/early evening side if things, but I've been night time sea trout fishing for a good while.

Your rod size and line weight is around the norm for sea trout fishing. While the 5lb strength leader may be ok for day time and early evening fishing, I would certainly recommend heavier for night time fish. They have a knack of hitting the fly really hard sometimes, and remember the fish could be into double figures. I would recommend min 8lb, I use 10lb. The fish aren't leader shy at night, so you're better safe than sorry. I would also include a sink-tip in your line selection. Don't want the flies skating unless you're purposely fishing a surface lure. No need for a whole host of poly leaders if you ask me, keep it simple, a couple of lines and a choice of a few flies.

For flies, again speaking from personal experience I tend to only use 4 or 5 patterns. I see little point chopping and changing flies through the night, use the one which instills confidence, don't let the "am I on the right fly" scenario creep into your head. Bloody butchers are excellent sea trout flies, especially tied on some Salar hooks with a couple of JC cheeks. That is my fly of choice for the dropper. For the point I generally use a tube, water speed and depth will dictate it's construction i.e. Alu, Plastic etc. Again keep the pattern simple, a black hair wing, red throat, silver or gold body and some JC cheeks and you're good to go. Get the fly in front of the fish, at the right depth and generally it'll either take the first thing it sees, or won't look at whatever you put in front of it. So, to make things easy, stick to the 'usual suspects'.


*edit* Just read "you won't be fishing at night" Doh.

Proper night fishing is a totally different thing.

Use 10ft #7 and #8 weight rods.

Leader material normally 10lb up to 15lb breaking strain depending on flies being used.

Never on a floating line unless I am using a floating lure.

Thats why I have four different intermediate lines, three different sink tips and two differnt full sinking lines.

Good advice from StuartPengs on nightfishing. I use just a couple of patterns in different sizes. Make sure you have a wake lure and also something which is luminous that you can shine a torch on if things get tough. Lines depend on your river.I'd have at least a medium sinker in addition to if I were fishing a medium or big river in the small hours.

As Cammy says it's worth having a go using trout tactics. Sea trout sometimes behave like the brownies they are at heart.

Thanks very much for the advice everyone, much appreciated

__________________
"With my silken line and delicate hook, I wander in a myriad of ripples, And find freedom."
My Blog : yorkshireflynovice.blogspot.com

i second that i never fish with a leader less than ten pounds at night usually 12 /15 lb ,black and siver /blue and silver in singles will do you to start with. a floater and a couple of 5 ft sink tips will complete your set up [ALLWAYS ] do your recce to find the fish in the daytime it pays good dividends and cast within your self forget about droppers and keep it simple