Tackle Tactics » Tips-Techniques » Adrian-Webbs-Trout-Tips » Lean on the Lower Mersey
Lean on the Lower Mersey
By Adrian (meppstas) Webb
After checking out the river levels on the BOM site, I noticed that the Mersey River had dropped to a lower level, making it ideal for wading in the area that I like to cross over and fish. When I arrived at where I cross the river I noticed that the river bottom wasn't looking all that good. I'd have to make sure to take it slow and steady as I crossed over.
The water was nice and clear, however the rocky river bottom was covered in a brown slimy algae and heavily silted. There was some green, cotton like algae on the rocks, which is a common site early into the season that normally breaks up as the season goes on. It's the brown algae that's the main problem in the river nowadays and it never goes away.
Even the upper reaches are full of it, in and around Weegena and Liena, where it was rarely seen over the years that I've fished there. It's certainly not a pristine trout water any more, that's for sure and I have no idea what can be done to fix the problem either. The trout aren't there like they once were either and I'm sure the quality of the river bottom is the problem.
Anyway, back to the trout fishing. As I was halfway across the river I decided to flick the Aglia Furia straight up the river and retrieve it back down in the medium flowing water. It was on the second cast and retrieve that I had a hook up and my first trout of the season from the Mersey was soon in hand. It was a bright silver coloured brown trout (280 grams) that actually looked more like a sea run trout than a river brown trout. There was hardly a sign of any red spots or brown colouring on it. Still it was the first trout of the day and I was happy with the result.
Once across the river I headed off for a half kilometre walk down to an area where I could re-enter the river and fish my way back upstream. It was a beautiful afternoon to be in the river, with clear skies, 16 degrees and a
10-15 kph breeze, just ideal for trout fishing.
This trip I was using the new Okuma Inspira ISX-20B spinning reel, a small lightweight reel that's perfectly suited to the Okuma Celilo Finesse ULS 6'6'' 1-3kg trout rod that I use in the larger rivers.
The first fast water run didn't give up a fish, let alone even a follow and it was the second run that gave up my second trout of the session. It was after I had I crossed back over the river to fish another fast water run that a nice 415 gram brown took the Aglia Furia spinner on the first cast and retrieve. I had cast the spinner up and across the fast water to let it drift with the flow and no sooner had the lure hit the water it was taken by the trout.
With two trout caught and released in reasonable quick time I thought I was going to be in for a very good spin session. A little further up the river I had two follows from a couple of nice browns. Those trout just sat some 20cm behind the spinner for a short distance, before moving off.
From then on in every stretch of water that I fished there wasn't a sign of a trout, until I finally picked up a very small (240gram) brown in a fast water run, using the cast and drift method again. It was so small that it wasn't even worth taking a photo of... I just unhooked it as quick as possible and released it.
It had taken another forty five minutes to catch my third trout and the fast start was now down to snail's pace. I continued fishing my way upstream, trying a variety of lures, all to no avail. No signs of fish. So, after another forty five minutes, I decided it was time to toss in the towel and head back to the car.
On the way back I had to walk along the side of a small river that flowed into the Mersey, so I flicked a lure into it and picked up a very small rainbow trout. My first rainbow for the trout season.
Adrian (meppstas)
Gear Used:
Okuma Inspira Blue Spinning Reels - ISX-20B
Okuma Celilo Finesse Spinning Rods - CE-S-662UL-1 6'6" 2pce 2-6lb
Mepps Inline Spinners
Platypus Super 100 Monofilament Line - 4lb Clear