Sea trout fishing in Wales on the beautiful River Dee

Last month I’d been sea trout fishing in Wales on the River Conwy and River Dee. This resulted in…

My 1st River Conwy sea trout of 2021while I blanked on the Welsh Dee.

Usually, the main run of fish on the Welsh Dee arrives at Llangollen in July. Therefore, I was hoping to reverse the blank on the Welsh Dee in July.

So, how did I get on during July…

Sea trout fishing in Wales – River Dee

In North Wales, the dry, sunny weather continued into July, with the…

Sun Cracking the Flags!

The Welsh Dee was at its summer level (0.4 m @ Manley Hall gauge) and running crystal clear. These were ideal conditions for nighttime sea trout fishing.

Sea trout fishing trip to Llangollen – 1st July

Thursday was my first opportunity to go fishing on the Welsh Dee in July, and the overnight weather conditions were ideal for fishing (13^oC and a light breeze).

Once it became dark, the plan was to spend most of the night fishing the glide above Horseshoe Falls. However, while it was still too light I wandered upriver to fish the fast water at the head of Duncan’s Pool.

Fishing Duncan’s Pool

I set up my 10ft 7wt Greys GR80 fly rod with a WF7F Rio Outbound Short line and a team of three wet flies spaced 3ft apart on a 6lb fluorocarbon leader (point: size 12 Black Pennell 3mm TB; middle dropper: size 12 Grouse & blue Spider; top dropper size 12 pheasant & grouse spide).

In the hope of tempting any sea trout lying in the slack pockets behind the boulders.

Starting in the riffle below the Hollybush Pool, I methodically fished my way downriver through Duncan’s Pool, searching all the pockets of slack water behind the boulders for sewin.

I felt a few plucks at the fly before a solid take and the rod bending into a fish as it darted downriver. Initially, I wasn’t sure what it was until it revealed its buttery-coloured belly as it surfaced…

a beautiful Welsh Dee brown trout.

The brown trout had fallen for the Black Pennell on the point.

Fishing to the tail of the pool produced two smaller brownies and a small grayling. These were taken on the pheasant & grouse and grouse and blue spiders.

I went back to the car for refreshments when the light began to fade and changed the set-up for nighttime sea trout fishing. I replaced the 6 lb leader with 9ft of 12 lb Maxima Ultragreen, and I tied on an 8″ dropper 5ft from the point.

Then I opted for the fly set-up that brought success on the Conwy: a black and blue stinger on the point and a Mr. Fish (#10S) on the dropper.

Fishing the glide above Horseshoe Fall

On my way down to Horseshoe Falls, I heard a couple of fish jump somewhere near the head of the glide.

At about 11 pm, I started fishing the glide by casting the flies squarely across the river and retrieving them with a slow figure of eight.

After about 10 minutes of fishing, I had a strong take, and a fish boiled on the surface. Unfortunately, it threw the hook, and the line went slack.

A few casts later, I had a savage take, and the rod bent into a fish as it shot off downriver. Slowly, I gained control during a few tense minutes and safely netted a beautiful sea trout, which had taken the stinger on the point.

I heard a couple more fish jump downriver while I was preparing to start fishing again. Carefully, I waded back into position and began fishing the pool.

After about 5 minutes, I connected with a second savage take, and I saw the flash of silver as it jumped. Then it darted around the pool until it was subdued and netted. This sea trout had fallen for “Mr. Fish” on the top dropper.

I continued fishing through the pool in search of more sea trout but didn’t get any more takes. I called it a night at 2 am and went home to bed with a smile on my face.

Fishing at Llangollen on 15^th July

After my last fishing trip, wet and windy weather caused the Welsh Dee to rise and colour.

My next opportunity to go sea trout fishing in Wales on the River Dee wasn’t until the middle of July because of unsuitable weather conditions. Eventually, the river returned to its summer level (0.42 m @ Manley Hall gauge), and a spell of warm weather rolled in. So, it was…

Game On with a return to the pool above Horseshoe Falls.

I set up my 10ft Greys GR80 7# rod to fish a floating line tipped with 9ft of 12lb Ultragreen Maxima and tied on a silver, stoats tail plastic tube fly.

As the light began to fail, at about 11 pm, I heard a couple of fish splash about a quarter of the way down the pool.

I started fishing my way downriver from the head of the pool. After a couple of plucks at the fly, I caught a couple of small brown trout. Then, about halfway down the pool, I had a violent take and heard the tell-tale splash of a sea trout.

It wasn’t a large fish, but it gave a good fight, and I was happy when it slid into the net.

Over the next hour, I had several more takes, all of which I failed to connect with. At 2 am takes dried up, and I called it a night and headed off home.

20^th July – fishing at Llangollen

The weather over North Wales had continued with its hot, dry, and sunny theme. So, with the Welsh Dee hovering at its summer level, it was time for more sea trout fishing in Wales.

A few large ST had been showing themselves in the pool above Horseshoe Falls. Therefore, I decided to have another go at trying to tempt one with a 3″ black stinger on the point and a size 8 Daioni on a dropper.

When the light had faded, I fished through the pool by casting across to the trees on the far bank and retrieving them slowly. After a few plucks at the fly, I caught a grayling and a small brown trout on the Daioni.

Then, about halfway down the pool, I hooked another fish that turned out to be a small sea trout, which had taken the Daioni.

Fishing the remainder of the pool didn’t produce anything else.

I change my set up to fish a black surface lure on 8ft of 12lb Maxima Ultra and fished the pool again. Unfortunately, this change didn’t yield any takes.

Tired, I called it a night and headed home at about 2 am.

Finally, I hope you have enjoyed July’s update on sea trout fishing in Wales on the River Dee.