Salmon 101

[JB]

I've never fished for Salmon before, I've never really had the opportunity.

But now I'm in the Westcountry, and September seems to be lauded as the best month for it, I thought I'd start.

I've got a suitable rod (in a pinch) and the rest of it, but what I haven't got is any idea what I'm doing. I've read Salmon Fishing on Small Rivers by Charles Bingham, but I'm definitely in the market for advice.

So, does anybody have any top tips for Salmon fishing that they're willing to share publicly with a stranger?

[rubble]

In my (limited) experience, when looking for salmon, go trout fishing instead! They always appear when I trout fish the Duchy!

Conversely, when I did one salmon trip this year on the Taw, no sign of any salmon but trout rising everywhere!

Needless to say, I got the trout gear out instead.

[rubble]

There is a decent short article on westcountry salmon fishing online in the game section of gethooked

[rubble]

Also remembered this blog which appears to offer what you were looking for.

www.mcxfisher.blogspot.co.uk/search?updated-max=2012-11-25T08:27:00Z&max-results=12&start=24&by-date=false&m=1

[JB]

That's all great stuff, thanks Rubble!

[Deleted]

I do not own a trumpet so cannot blow it - and in truth this may not be worth a toot........but you might find a snippet or two of useful information on my website www.fishingthewest.co.uk. If nothing else it has some links to other sites you might find useful, all in one place.

Any questions or help you need otherwise I would always do my best to answer. E-mail me at [e-mail].

[bobw]

Hello JB

I would think September would maximise your chance of catching salmon. They are easier to fish for than sea trout (less spooked and will more readily take than follow) but the main issue is that there are less of them and therefore harder to find. By September there are more fish in the river, usually spread out, and therefore hopefully easier to find. Conversely at the beginning of the season, although there are less fish, the chances of connecting with a good sized one (the springers) increases.

So my own tip would be to concentrate on finding out where the salmon might be. The sea trout will run up the rivers in low water but the salmon won't (at least not here in our small Westcountry rivers) and so in this "lower water" year the salmon are more likely to be low down the rivers or even still out in the estuaries. But if you phone any of the fishery owners they will advise what is being caught and where!

Tight lines and hope you catch one this year!

Bob

[jezney]

Ive been out a few times this season with no luck as the water is so low.
The fish will probably be in the deep pools but I haven't heard of many fish caught at all recently.
If we get some rain before the seasons end then I would get out the day after if the rain affects the water level of the rivers.
I might pop out again at the weekend and try Totnes weir pool.

[JB]

Thanks chaps, all useful stuff there.

Mark - you mention the Sink Tip as a favourite line, I had been mostly using a floater because of a large quantity of underwater shenanigans, would I be better off using a sink tip even if I get snagged a fair amount? I understand that a floater and it's shadow are more likely to spook fish than something under the surface but had hoped a long leader would mitigate that.

Bob - I found a pool with a good few salmon showing in it on Saturday, unfortunately it was already occupied by another angler (he did catch) so I was on second choice water where I'm less confident. I know there must be salmon elsewhere, but I didn't see them either in the pool tails or what I would have thought were typical lies in front of large boulders and the like. Is it better to fish one pool steadily through the day or to cover as much water as possible if you're faced with having to prospect some what?

Jezney - I fished TWP in April, which was a bit early really and didn't see anything, though I did enjoy a night at the Sea Trout Inn, Staverton. I will have to make an effort to give it another go next season. Though I quite fancy the Church Commissioner's Water for something a bit less urban.

I also have some more specific questions after my trip out on Saturday...

From what I've read, I gather it's easier to catch a running fish than a resting one. For arguments sake, let's say I've found a pool which holds a good few salmon. Should I be targeting the head and tail of the pool to try and pick up fish as they enter/leave or, when I can spot fish holding in the middle of the pool should I go for them instead because I can see them?

I also have a tackle question. For now I'm using a 9' #8 saltw*ter rod which has plenty of backbone to throw a line and muscle a fish but falls down on the line management side of things. It's okay for now, so close to the end of things, but I'd like to upgrade to something more suitable for next season. Would I be better off with something like an 11' switch rod or a 12' dedicated double hander? I can see the appeal of the flexibility in a switch (as I can easily change spools without and go from a switch line to a sh line) but it seems to me that conditions on the river aren't likely to change that quickly! When I leave home I ought to know what kind of rod I need. Anything longer than 12' would be a bit impractical given the size of the river. Charles Bingham recommends having a 9' and 10' 6" and a 12" but I think he was fishing different water and the 10' 6" seems a bit redundant to me, I'm not sure when I'd use it instead of either of the other two. But, I'm quite likely to be completely wrong about all of that!