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Back To Trout

Vytautas — Sat, 25 Sep 2021 16:18:46 +0000

Back to trout

Second to last weekend before the trout fishing season is over. With a friend we agree to try our luck in a river I have fished, but did not have any results. Day of the trip the weather was dull and rainy. Still we decide to go. About an hours drive and another 15-20min on foot threw a forest road. We arrive.

First impression are good. The water is clear, levels were decent. We do not waste time and start casting. First couple of casts nothing. Short wade later each of us land a trout. Both small, but a good sign. The fish are biting.

My friend was on spoons and spinners. While I had a Jackson Kanade minnow on. Tried to twitch for the whole session. As we went further the water became deeper. Thus easier to twitch. Trout after trout reached the landing net. All similar in size. We did notice a trend. The small trout went for spoons and spinners while the bigger ones for the minnow.

A slight drizzle lingered. Not the most pleasant weather, but the trout kept biting so it did not matter too much. Furthermore the nature was stunning. Tree roots showing on the bank as the river erodes it. High cliffs on top of them pines wave as the wind blows. It was a sight to behold.

Seemed like the further we went the bigger the trout got. Soon enough I land a 30cm one. It was lanky and thin. Still pleased with the catch. The bites kept coming threw the day. We even had a double bite having to scoop two trout with the landing net. Midday I was also surprised by a chub. We kept going info late afternoon. And finished the session with another trout in the 30cm range.

Satisfied we decide to end the day. On the way back to the car we foraged for some wild mushrooms. A pretty full day in nature.

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Summer.

Vytautas — Sun, 08 Aug 2021 19:21:25 +0000

First part of the summer was spent hunting down new trout rivers. I checked around 10 new streams. A couple showed some promise. Managed to land a couple decent trout and plenty of smaller ones. What was more magical is the places visited. All of them untouched to human footsteps, wild and raw. Wild pigs, beavers and deer reminded me that I am a guest in their realm.

Mid summer as the heat wave went across Europe the water levels fell. Rivers overgrew with water plants, banks were unreachable due to the thick brush. Warm water made the trout inactive. The heat, flies, mosquitos did the same for me. Also catching trout now was not the good for the health of the fish. Seemed like a good time to turn my attention to chub. A feisty fish met in most Lithuanian rivers. Spent a trip scouting potential sections of river for a upcoming 3 day kayak trip. Small chub up to 30cm and perch were active even in the blistering heat. Good sign. More details on that trip in an upcoming article August started with cooler weather and a bit of rain, hope this trend continues. With some luck this will bring water levels to normal. September is the month that I will be getting back to trout fishing in more known rivers for bigger fish. Hopefully will end the trout fishing season with some big fish.

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Fishing small rivers.

Vytautas — Sun, 23 May 2021 19:50:57 +0000

Fishing small rivers.

Small rivers are my favorite. Scout one, pack my gear and head off. This time decide on the Tenryu Lunakia LKT79M as my rod. After a 30min drive I am at the spot. If there are trout it will be a great place to head after work. If empty spent the afternoon in nature. A win win situation.

The location although not far from the city is wild. Start at a pine forest and cross a flowering field to find the river. 2-3meters wide with an average depth of about 50cm. Water is crystal clear, deeper areas have a shade of light blue. Casts are delicate, light, no longer than 5-7meters. Every tree stump, river turn seems great for trout . Was not wrong and bites came straight away. Smaller trout are first to the scene. They keep jabbing the lure. Aggressive, but do not commit to take the lure outright. About an hour in the first trout reaches my net. Not the biggest, but great feeling to find another potential river to relax after a long day at work.

The next 3 hours bites keep coming, seems larger trout are also interested. I soak in the fresh, spring air, sunshine and nature. I put the smallest spoon I have. With the thought that hook ups would increase. And soon enough a decent trout strikes. He goes right, then left, the real break clicks. I guide him into my landing net. About a 35cm trout.

I cast for another 2 hours. Plenty more bites, but nothing in the landing net. I end the day happy as can be.

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Pandemic fishing.

Vytautas — Mon, 22 Mar 2021 20:39:11 +0000

So it has been 4 months since my last fishing trip and have I missed it. A harsh winter and COVID restrictions locked me in my home to reminisce about the river threw old photos and youtube clips. Couple weeks prior a scouting trip to a nearby river did not produce any results. This trip, accompanied by a friend, we made plans to visit a more potential river. Have been eyeing it for the last year, but never got around to fishing it.

We head out with a light chill still lingering. The trip there was slow. Black ice formed on the roads. It was dangerous. The fact was amplified by two cars in ditches and one with a mangled roof on the roadside. We take it slow and steady. The last stretch of the journey was a forest road. The icy tracks, snow and melt water made us appreciate my friends Volvo 4x4. We were confident it would get us to the river. And it did. First impressions were optimistic. The water was clear not high. Still plenty of snow in the surrounding pine forest. So my guess it will rise later into spring. Plenty of fallen trees and bends for trout to lurk in.

I start with a small 2 gr. spoon. SV Fishing lures Air black and blue to be precise. Friend tries a small minnow plug. First hour I admire the beauty of the river surrounded by pristine nature. Walking the banks I realized how much I missed these kind of trips and how important they are to me. A hour in I get my first bite. A small trout reaches my net. We head on. Another hour passes, the flow straightens right after a deeper bend. Try casting along both banks with no result. Cast the spoon straight down my middle of the flow. A hit and another small trout. Made us wonder were the hell he was hiding.

The next two hours pass with not results. My friend did not have a bite either. We stop, have a bite to eat and a hot cup of tea. I change my lure to a Forest Rondo spinner. Start checking potential areas. A tree fallen parallel the flow, creating a deeper area under it. I cast so I could reel along the tree. A lazy trout slowly rises and follows my lure its big around 30-40cm. But does not bite. I try a second time exact same result. It follows my lure for 2m.,turns around and hides under the tree. I try again and again with no luck. Guess it figured me out. We trek on.

Another hour passes. Come to a slight bend with a tree fallen across the river. I step near the bank and cast just below the tree. Not much depth, but as I reel I see small trout chasing the lure. Cast another time in the same place this time the trout scatter to my side of the bank. So I try my luck casting along it. The lure lands, one turn of the reel and a hit. The rod bends a bigger trout is at the other end. He goes for the branches and weeds near the bank and fights till the very end. Still manage to get it into the net. A fat one around +30cm. Happy with the result I finish fishing in hopes my friend can land something. He tries for another 30min with not result. We head home.

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Last wild trout of the season

Vytautas — Mon, 28 Sep 2020 18:25:24 +0000

Good start

Will try keep this short and sweet. Same river as last trip. Gear prepped. Start heading to the river. My landing net hangs no my left side. First steps threw the tall grass I instinctively hold on to it, since its held by a magnet. Do not want it to get lost (has happened before). It is not there. Must of forgot it in the car. Go back, trunk is empty. Ok, left it at home, no big deal, might have trouble with bigger fish, but it is what it is. I land my first brownie on a custom 5cm minnow. Slowly wading in the next 25metres of river get two jabs. No hook ups. Then by the bank in the tall grass, lies my landing net. Holy crap. Must of lost it last time heading to my car. did not notice and after two weeks I find it, thinking I left it at home. What luck. Chuckled at myself and the sheer luck. In a good mood and with a landing net, time to land I bigger trout.

Same spots - different results

Although fished the same spots the result differed. Trout were more careful with there bites. Jabbing the lure once and heading to the safety of plants. Had to change up the lures a couple of times. Caught trout on 4 different lures. Forest Pal, Nories Masukurouto, Meps Aglia spinner size 0 and a custom 5cm minnow. Did wade further than last time and the trout kept on biting. There is plenty of the river to explore. All in all caught around 10 trout, a couple decent 30-35cm brownies and the rest in the 15-25cm range.

The season

Ended the day after 6 hours. The 2 hours ride home gave me the opportunity to reflect on this years trout season. Although it started rough. If I recount correctly my first dozen outings were miserable with 0 trout seen. Summer was more rewarding in quantity, but not size. In autumn had the two best trout fishing trips of my life. So all it took is around 5 years, countless miles, more than 30 rivers waded to find a river that has decent trout in it.

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Magical trout river

Vytautas — Sat, 19 Sep 2020 17:55:17 +0000

Magical trout river

On the way

A long way to the river threw never before explored regions. Driving threw winding roads I pass small towns, villages, fields with many cows. Every so often overtake heavy duty farming equipment. A stark contrast from the busy city streets I am used to. Sunny, but chilly the air had a freshness to it. On my way to the location I cross a bridge. Flowing below is the river I am heading to. Narrow, overgrown with plants and slow flowing water. The last turn leads me down a narrow road. I drive up and down a couple of times before I find somewhere to nestle my car. Will be fishing with my Ito Craft Expert Custom paired with the Shimano Vanquish 2000 reel. I change into my waders and get going.

First trout

Start with a Bux spoon. White with a dash of red at the end. Impossible to check the river hiking by the bank. Wading upstream is the only choice. The river has natural springs thus the water is freezing. First casts give 0 bites. Unhurried I wade to the next area. The first bite came casting near a beaver damn. I cast to the exact same spot another bite. Fish are aggressive, but no hook ups. I have one more bite in the area and head further. Next spot and on the first cast fish is on. I smaller trout.

Trout after trout

The river is only 2-3metres wide. On some stretches the depth reaches up to waist high. 3-4m is the average cast, anything further is impossible due to vegetation or river curves. Beaver damns divide the river in natural steps every 25m. And in those damns almost every cast brings a fish to the landing net.

For the next 800m I get a fish with almost every cast. Trout sizes vary. I have to take detour since the river becomes too overgrown to pass. Plus cannot get over yet another damn. I can make out a natural pool on the over side. I fight threw the brush and end up there. The damn has almost stopped the flow creating a deep area. Also I can cast near 10 meters. And with each cast a fish, some I manage to land some shake of. A big trout 3m from my feet grabs the lure, it starts going crazy. I reel in the line and reach with my landing net. It is in. A fast fight. I unhook the trout. Around 40-42cm., try to take pic but it came out blurred. I take a close up instead and release the fish.

Bites do not stop

Never ever have I experienced such a river where with every cast there is a good chance to land a decent trout. I wade on and the trend continues. A new patch. I Cast, I land a trout. Trout are ferocious and fight till the very end. Some jump, some try to go deep others try hiding to the water plants. I land some, others get away. I lost count of the bites and how many fish I caught. I step out of the water about 3 hours in to get warmed up. Can not feel my knees from the chilling water temperature. With bites so ample I want to keep hammering. Feel lucky to find such a river.

Ending

Upstream the river morphs from beaver damns to a narrow patch of 40cm between water plants. If i manage to cast accurately I land a fish. I change the lure from a spoon to a hard lure. A 7cm custom minnow. Want to sift out the smaller trout. For another 800m I get bite after bite. Some areas a hard to pass as I wade I drag trials of plants. Then the river shallows down and the bites get less often.

After 6hours of amazing fishing I decide to end the day. Heading back to my car pass some curious cows.

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Small trout, beautiful river

Vytautas — Sun, 28 Jun 2020 17:55:30 +0000

Small trout, beautiful river

The river

Heading to my favorite river. It runs in a narrow valley with high, eroding cliffs. Its water is cold from abundant sources. A strong current creates plenty of loops and bends. Lots of fallen trees, make hideouts for trout, rocky steps for grayling. After a 70min drive I look to my right and left nothing, but forest. Stepped out of the car a heat wave hits me. Next the fly brigade attacks. As I change and prep my gear I wave a T-Shirt back and forth like a cow its tale trying to scare the fleet of bugs. With everything prepared, downhill I go into a lush field of nettle, brush and thick vegetation. I drag my feet, ripping plants. Eager to wade the cold river I pick the pace up.

The trout

Comfortable and cooled off in the water I start casting. Around my tenth cast I plant the Smith Pure spoon between two tree stumps sticking out of the water. I start reeling and get my first trout of the day which will be the biggest. A good start. I cast closer to the second post and get another hit this time the trout is much smaller around 15-17cm.

Wading upstream I admire nature while fallen timber and rocks dictate the course of the river. I did not go 15min without a bite although the trout were all small, the constant action was wonderful. Was using only spoon lures. A drawback of the river it is popular with water tourists. First you hear the hollow plastic bangs and knocks. Then one kayak after another pass me. Always followed by the same questions. Hows it biting, hope we are not scaring the fish. Although frustrating cannot be mad at people trying to relax in nature

After another 6 hours I was 4km upstream. I decide to wade back down. Casting between logs, under low hanging branches, small trout, grayling kept on biting.

Last challenge

As the sun fell clouds started forming and rain was imminent. Making it to the car before rainfall was the goal. At the last leg of my journey, I step out of the river and all I have left is the nettle field and a uphill climb. It starts pouring wind gusts blow. I plow threw the tall grass feeling the burn in my thighs. The car is in sight, but I am already drenched. I quickly change into a dry pair of clothes. The forest roads are flowing with water. I feel wheel spin, but with some light maneuvering I make it to the main road. The day had everything and it was fantastic !

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Start of summer

Vytautas — Sat, 13 Jun 2020 10:33:02 +0000

The summer has arrived

The last couple of months were not good for trout fishing. Although I caught a couple here and there it was a mirror image of my winter fishing trips. Winter in my country was unuasual. Very little snow and temperatures never dropped below zero. No ice was forming on the lakes/river. Due to this the FIPsed ice fishing championship got moved to Norway. Trout acted different as well. Their lurking spots were empty. Also they were passive, no lure could make them bite. Of course this is one mans anecdotal evidence. Facebook groups did have postings with catches. But for me catches were rare. Getting ready for this trip I was not too optimistic. But in the current COVID19 lock down spending some time in nature by the river was relaxing. Great to clear the mind of the routine.

I set out after sleeping in. I reach the river at around 10:30am. Prep my gear and start casting. I decide to test a new spoon the ANTEM (Angler’z System) Olian and keep it on for the day. A small lure with an olive/yellow color and a unique bend, which creates active movement.

It was windy, but the skies clear. The heat was intense, flies buzzing everywhere. But no mayflies insight. Was fishing high upstream. The river was 3-4m width casting was not challenging. After an hour I get my first bite. For a split second I see a small trout on the surface doing a dance with the lure. As soon as he felt resistance he spits the lure out. Early action is a good sign. Now the sun was at a midday high. No sun lotion, no sun cap sunburn was a guarantee. Reconciled with my fate all I can do is plow forward. Bigger trout await. 2 hours pass and I get another hit this time the trout reaches my net. Pretty much a standard size for this season. Still feisty. I let him go, have a snack and keep moving forward.

After sometime the scenery changes. The river goes from fields to a forest. There I catch a small pike. A pleasant surprise for this river.

I admire the blossoming nature and rest up. After a couple hours of casting with one more trout bite I decide to head home. Looking like a lobster I take a short cut threw the fields. As I make my way to the car, a white dot stands out in the horizon. It is a panel-van. With no roads around, I ended a days of fishing wondering how did a it end up in the middle of a field under a dead tree...

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Winter fishing for trout

Vytautas — Thu, 19 Mar 2020 17:13:04 +0000

2020 started of slow. Five fishing trips all with the same result. No trout, few bites and a lot of guesses why the fish are not biting. Finally on the sixth trip (in March, so technically spring) I catch the first trout of the season. Compiled a small video of my searches.

Hope you enjoy.

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Trout gear for every budget

Vytautas — Fri, 28 Feb 2020 16:29:31 +0000

Trout gear for every budget

The point of this article is to provide anglers a list of trout gear for every budget. The list is compiled of gear that has earned positive recommendations amongst anglers. The products are compiled as sets to add structure, but can be switched around. That being said these are not reviews just general opinions and suggestions. The list will be updated every quarter or so with new options.

Trout gear on a budget - 150eur.

KUYING Teton 50 - 60eur.

A good rod to start. Trekking through thick brush to find an untouched streams will involve plenty of bangs, drops. It is durable and will handle what you throw at it. In the end the rod is tough, cheap and will get the job done.

Ryobi Applause 60 - 65eur.

Solid real. Praised by most anglers to be a great budget option.

Stroft GTM 5 – 6eur.

Stroft is well known amongst feeder and float anglers. Has earned a reputation of a durable, reliable line. As a result is used in competition fishing. In all quality line for a fair price.

Tsuyoki Swing 7 - 8eur.

Tsuyoki are new manufacturers, producing cheap lures. The Swing is a crank lure that will not only attract trout, but also chub, asp, perch.

SV Lures Metal Twitch 6 - 7eur.

With SV Lures spoons you scan various depths for trout. Furthermore short length spoons will also attract grayling. What is more comes with a barbless hook. The Metal Twitch series is aimed at anglers you enjoy the twitch retrieve.

Trout gear on a budget - 200eur.

Favorite Blue Bird 60 - 85eur.

If you have an extra 20eur. skip the Teton and go for the blue bird. Solid ultralight rod to catch anything from pike to trout. Moreover plenty of them floating in the second hand market.

Ryobi Zauber 80 - 95eur.

Ryobi Zauber a classic budget real. Outperforms most Shimano, Daiwa reels at the same price point.

Pontoon21 Exteer 18 – 21eur.

Awesome braid for ~20eur. Comes in 100m spools. Choose a color from black, yellow or green.

Pontoon21 Greedy Guts 9 - 11eur.

Pontoon21 has a wide variety of great lures. They are designed in Japan and carry a lot of characteristics of more expensive brands. Although Greedy guts is not the only lure in the Pontoon21 line up imitating the minnow. It is the one I have had most success with.

Forest Miu 7 - 8eur.

In spite of Forest Miu coming with a higher price tag, the lure is acknowledge around the world as top class. As a consequence is used in many competitions by professional anglers.

Trout gear on a budget - 350eur.

Major Craft Troutino 135 – 150eur.

Well established manufacturer that offers Japanese quality without the cost. Troutino is a rod for an enthusiast, nonetheless brings joy to the seasoned veteran. In addition the black glossy finish and a cork handle add glam to the rod.

Shimano Ultegra 100 – 120eur.

A reel that has a lot of bells and whistles of the higher tier shimano reels. For example HAGANE gear, X-Ship system.

DUO Spearhead Ryuki/Toto 15 - 18eur.

You have to have a DUO Spearhead Ryuki or Toto at your disposal. Surface minnows with active play. Favorites of many lure anglers.

Supremo Baila 15 - 17eur.

Beautiful minnow with an innovative double lip system. Consequently will give you an edge when the trout are wary and inactive.

Trout gear on a budget - 450eur.

Palms PinWheel 220 – 260eur.

Although created for rockfishing most European anglers use it for ultralight predatory fishing. In short a balanced spinning rod.

Shimano STRADIC 140 – 175eur.

A real that has most of Shimano’s innovations without the price tag. An ideal ‘all-round’ spinning reel.

YGK G-soul X4 Upgrade PE 20 – 25eur.

A tightly braided 4-strand construction body. Has thin coating as on other YGK lines for more casting distance.

Zipbaits Rigge 18 - 20eur.

At this price point there are plenty of lures to choose from, but the Rigge is a must have in any anglers lure box. A classic minnow, works in any situation.

Trout gear on a budget - 800eur.

Tenryu Lunakia 300 – 350eur.

At the high end most gear is supreme. Therefore matching your preferences (action, length, handle size etc.) become more important. I have picked the Tenryu Lunakia. Have had two generations of the rod, both did not disappoint. On the whole excellent sensitivity, build quality and versatile.

Shimano Vanquish 400 – 450eur.

The Vanquish is just below the Shimano Stella. Designed for ultralight, finesse fishing. Smooth action, clean line laying, reliable break, lightweight. Nothing more to ask from a real.

YGK G-soul X8 Upgrade PE 29 – 32eur.

8 string braided line. Well worth the investment. Will last for a couple intense fishing seasons

Trout gear on a budget - What budget ?

Ito Craft

The top tier of trout rods. Comes from Japan, oozes quality. Built from premium materials. Has a finesse design and top class performance. Hard to come by in the west, but always possible to order from Japan through proxy services.

Shimano Stella / Daiwa Exist

Legendary reels, some say they are not worth the price some swear by them till death. My advice would be to find a generation or 2 old reel and do a maintenance on it. Anglers never wear out the gears in a season’s worth of fishing and get new gear when the new gen arrives. You will save a 20-40% of the price and have an excellent reel that will serve you for ages.

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