A superb sea trout , 27 inches long and as fat as a pig, for David Pilkington today. The Tamar had risen and coloured after a half-inch of rain yesterday, tempting David to try for an early peal, and this fish took his Black Tadpole at the very tail of Quarry Pool. As a highly experienced sea trout angler, David had cunningly contrived to have a loop of loose fly line wrapped around the handle of his landing net behind his back at the very moment the fish took - somehow he managed to disentangle the line before the fish tried to leave the pool.
The fishy Gods were being kind, the single barbless hook stayed firmly in the big peal's jaw and the fish eventually slipped into the net at the second attempt. Until the fish rolled at close range, David was convinced the fish was small salmon, as it did not fight with the usual terrifying speed and wildness of most sea trout. Weights are subjective, but a chunky early-season peal of 27 inches has to weigh around 7 1/2 pounds. The barbless hook slipped out very easily, and this cracking sea trout should live to spawn many more if its kind.
