New to Salmon, using trout ressie kit

[toby]

I know many of the guys on here fish both Trout and Salmon. They're too very different sports it seems and I'd like to know if you think its possible to use some of my trout kit for salmon?

I've got a nameless 9.6ft 7wt rod and a matching reel with an empty spool. It is single handed. Could this be used as a switch rod if i were to load a suitable line on the empty spool? If so, what would be the one line to use?

I don't want to shell out £000s on new kit for something I might only use occasionally hence the question.

Looking at south devon rivers, probably Avon.

Any help appreciated!

[Pete Tyjas]

Hi Toby,

I use a 9 1/2 ft 7wt rod for 99% of my fishing on the Fox waters. I mention this as I think you might know this size wise in comparison to the Avon.

I often will use a normal intermediate line or a sink tip and if you are looking at lines then go for one with a short front taper that will allow you to cast and turn over flies like tubes (copper or otherwise) and sink tips if it is a straight up floater. Having a short head will also load the rod easily too.

Hope that helps for starters.

[Deleted]

A 9ft 6" #7 is what I use when not using a double-hander. If you are going to be overhead casting then as Pete says a #7 line with a shortish front taper would be good - Fishtec have a deal on 40+ sink tips at the moment. These have a 35ft head and will turn over decent sized flies. If you are going to be speycasting as instead, then up the line weight to a #9. If you are going to be doing a bit of both then an 8 weight is ideal, and this is what I use.

Use flourocarbon with a sink tip and there is seldom any need for polyleaders, even with a full floater the fly can be upped in weight to achieve depth and if you are starting out then the simpler the set-up the better.

I have never fished the Avon, but very often these small rivers are the best place to learn the intricacies of fishing creases and runs, pool heads and tails, and controlling the fly.

Hope this helps.

[BarleBlanker]

I've only fished the Devon Avon a few times but I reckon you might be undergunned in high water late in the season which is when most Avon salmon run. It might only be a narrow river (simple roll casting is all you need to cover it) but it does run very hard in spate. If you have to hold a fish in fast water and roll out two inch brass tubes then a 8 or 9 weight might be better. I also like a slightly longer rod (still a single hander) to reach around snags and bushes and also to hang the fly over lies more easily.
In summer for the sea trout you will be fine with what you have.

Andy

[JB]

I can't add much to what has already been said, I would definitely support Mark's suggestion that you don't need polyleaders. In a small river I think you much better off with a sink-tip or intermediate line because a polyleader will sink butt first and you don't really have the room to get much from the 'washing line effect'.

A 9ft 6in 7wt is a great sea-trout rod too. I've always fancied fishing the Avon for sea-trout but I've no idea how to get on it.

[boisker]

Hey JB... West Country rivers trust have a beat on the Avon.... From the bridge at Loddiswell downstream.... Nice water for brown trout, to be honest when I fished it (only once) I wasn't really thinking about sea trout and can't say I remember any pools as such

[BarleBlanker]

Mar 14, 2016 19:56:03 GMT boisker said:

Hey JB... West Country rivers trust have a beat on the Avon.... From the bridge at Loddiswell downstream.... Nice water for brown trout, to be honest when I fished it (only once) I wasn't really thinking about sea trout and can't say I remember any pools as such

The Avon does seem to lack pools in general. On that beat there is a weir but even this doesn't have much depth. However the topmost pool below the bridge up by the garden centre is something a bit spcial. One day in August 1998 I looked over the bridge and there were several hundred sea trout in it and not all school peal either. At the head of the pool tight under the bridge there were half a dozen grilse/salmon. After I finnished fishing the pool they were all still there!


Andy

[kim]

I used to be a member on the Avon for a couple of years, I only gave it up as I had too much other fishing. There are some nice pools on the river and the backend salmon fishing can be very good especially below the a38 road bridge. Seatrout fishing is also good especially at silver bridge weir, sometimes you would see salmon enter the pool fresh off the tide.