Spinners are Winners

Some tips for the inexperienced

Adrian Webb

Ibegan spinning for trout in 1965 in the Finnis River, Yundi, South Australia at the age of 19, I am now 76 and I still enjoy it just as much today, if not more than the first time I fished a river. I now live here in Sheffield and spin the rivers in the north, and they are some of the best rivers in the state to fish. Rivers like the Mersey, Leven, Meander, Iris, Vale, Emu and Flowerdale Rivers are just a few of the many across the North West to fish for trout. These like many others are all good for spinning and wading.

Gear to get you started

I found the best set-up for most rivers is a nice well-balanced lightweight one, such as a 1-3 kg Ultra Light 6’6’’ or 7’ spin rod coupled up with a 1000/2000 spinning reel spooled with a thin good quality 2kg or 3kg clear mono line. When spinning with blade spinners I also use an anti-kink set about 40 cm above the spinner, the anti-kink will stop any line twist that can occur when using fine mono-lines. If and when you use hard body lures then the anti-kink is not required. There are quite a lot of good brands of rods and reels available for you to choose from that will suit your budget. If you missed my last article issue 150, my river gear is as follows, there are two rods I use in the large rivers that I rotate from one trip to another. Trout Rod: TT Red Belly 7’ ULS 1-3 kg and an Okuma Celilo Finesse 6’6’’ ULS 1-3kg, the reels are all Okuma spinning reels in 1000 and 2000 sizes, the line

I use is the Australian-made Platypus mono-filament Super 100 UHT and Pulse mono in 2kg and 3kg, these mono lines are super tough, they’re also one of the strongest too. A good pair of waders are essential too if you intend to take river fishing seriously, preferably a pair of breathable waders matched with a good pair of wading boots.

The most expensive equipment doesn’t mean that you will catch more fish, so shop around and you will find a set-up that suits your pocket. One bit of advice though, if you do intend to go fishing regularly then it would pay you to spend that little bit more. I use breathable waders and non-slip wading boots, and importantly, a good belt. Once on, put the belt around your waist and tighten, this will stop them from taking in water if and when you happen to take the plunge, and one day you will.

I do know that many river fishermen like myself have taken a dive in a river, I have gone in several times during my many years of river fishing. The most important thing to remember when wading any river is not to take any silly risks. SAFETY must be your priority as no fish is worth drowning over, water depth can be deceiving. It is often deeper than it looks, so DO NOT go out of your depth, it is not worth it.

Now with that out of the way your next item you need is a fishing vest which can be purchased from most tackle stores, but make sure you pick one with plenty of pockets for your lure boxes. Now it’s time for the range of lures.

There are several different brands to choose from like Mepps, Vibrax, Celtas and Maruto to name a few. Since day one (57 years ago) when I first started trout fishing, I have always used the Mepps inline spinners, they have the best variety and sizes available for trout fishing and have been around since the 1950s.

The models I use are Black Fury, C omet, Bug and Aglia in sizes #00 (1.5 g), #0 (2.5 g) and #1 (3.5 g) as these are quite suitable for every trout river in Australia, there are larger sizes available if you need them. Choosing the colour of the spinner’s blade will play a big part in triggering the trout’s attack, so what’s the best colour to use? The following may help you. Silver for early morning use or when the light is not strong (evening, overcast or shadowy places) and when the water is cold the metabolism of the trout is so low that they need to be stimulated into attacking the spinner. Gold is a very good all-round colour that works well on trout in most conditions. Black works well in strong sunlight and also shows up well in turbid or flooded water conditions. Copper, gold and white blades for teacoloured water. My first choice of spinner to use is the Black Fury copper or gold colour, these have been my most productive spinners followed by the Aglia (plain and fluoro) range. Another great inline spinner I would like to mention is the Bug Spinner (Stonefly, March brown and White Miller) these inline spinners work well on the trout too. The White Miller Bug works extremely well in dark tannin waters, it has saved the day for me many times when fishing dark tannin rivers and streams.

Practice makes perfect

When you have yourself set up, it’s time to practice your casting! Go to a reserve and place a few objects around, stay in one spot approx 20 metres away and practice casting at them. Keep this up until you get within 100 mm of the objects then move to another spot and start again. Do this until you feel comfortable with your casting and accuracy because when you fish the rivers you will need it.

Heading to the river

Once on the river, you will find it quite different from the reserve, keeping your footing and balance for starters. Pick a section of river that has a gentle flow and is not over deep, then go out a few metres from the river bank and have a few casts to different areas around you. Face yourself upstream and cast that direction and bring the spinner back downstream as this appears more natural to the trout, as they always face upstream waiting for food to drift downstream. Once you get the hang of it the confidence will follow, and then you can start to venture out to the centre of the river.

Most rivers and streams in Tasmania have rocky bottoms and can be quite hard to wade and pretty rough on the body as well. Don’t rush into it, take one step at a time and make sure you have good footing before taking the next step. A lot of the rivers I fish are like this, so care must be taken. Given time, you will gain the knowledge and confidence of wading a river. When you fish the same river over a period of time you get to know the sections of the river that are easy and those that are not. Don’t forget once you are out in the middle cast towards the river bank and continue the casting until you have worked a full 180 degrees, to the opposite bank. By doing this then you have covered every section of water around you.

When the water depth is between the knees and the belt around your waist then that is the deepest you should go, any deeper can become a risk. Trout are very often caught in fast water stretches of rivers too, the majority of trout I catch during a trout season is in these areas. Care must be taken because this is one place you can come unstuck easily, if possible DO NOT go above knee depth if and when you fish these sections of river.

Some wading tips

Always keep these two rules in mind when wading in any body of water: wade with caution, and wade with care. There are obvious and not-so-obvious dangers inherent with wading. Following these tips will help you experience a safe and enjoyable trip.

• If you are new to wading a river I advise you to use a wading staff to feel the bottom before stepping ahead. It will give you support and also help to keep your balance.

• Never wade alone until you are fully experienced.

• Always wear waders that fit properly and preferably stocking foot waders and a pair of felt-soled wading boots.

• Wear a wading belt to create a seal between your body and the wader.

• In rivers and streams, identify potential dangers like how deep the water is and how fast it is flowing before entering the water.

• Wade slowly, smoothly, and carefully, there’s no need to be in a hurry when trout fishing a river.

• If possible, wear a personal flotation device, fishing vests are now available with a fitted flotation advice.

• Always be aware of currents, and water level changes especially if the river has a regulated flow from a lake.

• If you take a fall, stay face up and don’t panic, don’t fight the current, work with it. Try to face your feet downstream, and allow the current to drift you downstream as you work yourself towards the closest bank.

The top and bottom ends of pools are always good spots to cast a spinner into as well, the trout will sit there waiting to pounce on anything that comes towards them. Trout fishing can take as long as you want it to, even more so when fishing rivers as there are so many stretches of a river to fish. I am in the river for an average of four hours most times I go spin fishing, I’m always wondering if there may be a trout in the next section of the river ahead of me.