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Summer Trout Tips with Mepps
Now with the warmer weather upon us it's time to change a few tactics when fishing the rivers during the summer months ahead. Lower water levels and warmer water temperatures are something that the trout don't like all that much. I have found the best water temperature for trout is between 11 degrees celsius and 18 degrees Celsius. When the water temperature is above and below these temperatures the fishing can become quite tough, even more so in summer when the water temp reaches above 21 degrees. This is when the trout tend to shut down.
I like to fish as light as possible. The rods, reels and line that I use for river fishing for trout are as follows: Rods 6' and 6'6'' Okuma ULS (Ultra Light Spin) 1-3kg, coupled up with small 1000-2000 size reels, spooled with thin gauge 4lb clear mono line attached to a swivel and small anti-kink. From there it's a 400mm trace of 6lb mono, with a snap swivel attached followed by a blade spinner on the snap swivel. The reason I use swivels is to save time when changing lures on a regular basis.
An anti-kink to me is a must when using a blade spinner as it will stop line twist, which can occur when spin fishing with blade spinners and fine mono line. I always fish as light as possible and the weight of my blade spinners are 1.5 to 3.5 grams. These are a variety of Mepps, including Black Fury, Comet, Aglia and Bug spinners. I have used the Mepps spinners for quite a long time (54+ years) and those are the main models that I use with plenty of success. The range of Mepps lures available today is certainly much bigger and better than from the days when I first used a Mepps spinner. Each and every lure made is still assembled by hand and of the highest quality too. Being the Angling Club Champion for catching the most trout in rivers and streams for the past twelve years in a row, I know how good it gets when using light tackle that works for you. Like they say, when you're on a good thing 'stick to it'.
The long, slow flowing stretches of a river won't give up many fish, unless you are on them at first light or very late in the afternoon, when the sun is off the water. As the sun rises and the air becomes warmer there's usually an abundance of insects hovering about or on the water surface, which the trout feed on. One can struggle to catch a trout with lures once the trout start feeding on insects and this is when the fast water runs come into play. Fast water always fishes well during the warmer weather, due to it being more oxygenated by the water as it rushes over the rocks. Trout sit in the small pockets of flat water, next to the river banks and behind boulders in the river, pouncing on anything that passes by.
It is here that you will find summer fishing for trout at its best and the Mepps blade spinners work a treat in the fast waters of any river. It's just a matter of casting the spinner up and across the river, then keeping the rod tip 40-50cm or so above the water and retrieving the lure at the same speed as the flow of the river. If you find the lure is bottom bouncing then raise the rod tip as keeping the rod tip higher stops the spinner from bouncing on the rocky river bottom and also away from possible snags.
Another way and the one that's my favourite when fishing fast water, is the cast and drift method. All you do is cast up and across the river, while keeping the line tight and let the spinner drift downstream with the fast flow of the river. You can check out the diagram in the attached images. The fast flow will work the blade spinner for you and this method works really well on the trout.
Not all fast water runs hold trout and this is just something that you have to contend with when trout fishing in fast water. Do not bypass any water as you will be surprised where a trout may be holding out. I have caught trout in 60mm of water that most fishers would bypass. Always look for flat water behind rocks, along river banks or next to logs and debris in the rivers. These are all good trout holding areas or 'trout holding zones' as I call them.
On bright sunny days with clear skies and clear water it's best to use spinners with a black blade because the trout's eyes are very sensitive to light. Don't use the shiny silver/chrome lures in these conditions. A great all round lure that can be used in most conditions is the Mepps Aglia Furia, with its black/yellow/red coloured blade, it's only available in a limited selection of sizes.
To catch trout and be successful in doing so, you really have to be in the river wading for them. Being in the river you have more access to some of the best sections of a river that will be holding trout. Then it's just a matter of casting into pockets of water and working the lure across the river and back to you at the same speed as the water, as I stated early on. If you retrieve the lure too fast it will more than likely spook the fish, rather than attract it, so getting the speed of the lure right is quite important for a good catch rate. Where there are stretches of the river that the sun is shining on, fish the shaded areas along the river banks. Shaded areas regularly hold trout.
Always look for bubble lines on a river too, these are areas that will hold trout a lot of the time. A bubble line is where trout food such as insects, beetles and grasshoppers are washed down and they're a great place to catch trout. A bubble line can be in the middle of a river or close to a river bank, so keep an eye out for them as they are easy to spot on a river.
Wide open spaces and slow flowing shallow runs rarely hold trout on hot clear days and they are best fished on dull overcast days. Some of the best fishing in summer can be had on humid days with light drizzle and I have had many great spin sessions fishing the rivers in these conditions. It's well worth getting a little damp being in the river in these conditions, that's for sure. This is when you can use a variety of spinners in black, copper and gold colours, as they all produce some very good catches of both brown and rainbow trout in this type of weather.
The best time to fish for trout throughout the summer months is at first light up until around 9.00am and after that you could be wasting your time. If you're not an early riser then do as I do every now and then and go late in the afternoon. I will hit the river around 6.00 - 6.30pm, when there are shaded areas along the river banks. As the sun gets lower it doesn't take long before the whole river is covered in shade. I still feel the best time to be in a river during summer is just before the sun rises as the water temp is at its coolest and the fishing is at its best, but that's just my opinion.
So if you want to catch a few trout over the summer period then follow my lead and I'm sure you will pick up a fish or two. Remember to use light tackle and also if possible wade the river.
A Few Pointers from Adrian
1. When you go fishing, let someone know where you are going and an approximate time that you will be home. I always send my wife a text when I get back to the car to let her know all is okay.
2. Always remember 'SAFETY FIRST'. Do not take any risks when fishing fast water or any waters.
3. If you do not have the experience of fast water fishing, then 'DO NOT ATTEMPT IT ALONE', go with someone who is fully experienced in fast water fishing. Watch, listen and learn to gain the experience from who you go with, before you attempt it on your own. You won't learn it all in the one trip either, it does take time so please be patient.
4. The safest wading depth for fast water fishing is when the water is below the knees.
5. During the warm weather rivers will become lower and those rivers that do not have a regulated flow from a Hydro Electric power supply dam will become warm and the trout may shut down.
6. Always remember to wet your hands before handling the trout and release them ASAP.
7. With hot weather there's another thing to be on the lookout for... SNAKES! They love to be close to the water, so be very alert when walking a river bank and when exiting a river. The last thing you want is to be bitten. Do not try and hit the snake either, just leave it be. Remember they're just as frightened of you as you are of them and they will normally make a dash for cover.
All the best with the summer fishing...
Adrian (meppstas) Webb