But it is the lure of the fish greater than 2lbs and as great as 7lbs or more that causes so many anglers to forsake their beds and ply rivers and streams on dark, moonless nights. Mercifully, the sea trout season is a summer phenomenon, and not all the fishing is practised in darkness. In Ireland the majority of sea trout fishing is done from a boat on our many sea trout loughs during the day. And the smaller fish do not disappoint. Indeed it is not unusual for an angler to gingerly play a fish which hit like a train, leapt like a gazelle and stripped line like a spinning wheel, only to find a sea trout of not much more than a pound surrender to the net.
Most anglers only see their backing when they wind it on to the reel.
But many of those who have seen it in action have been striped by sea trout. The season starts in April, but the real runs of fish do not happen until June. The season will persist until October depending on the location and conditions. The fish are most active during floods. Night fishing is best started after 10.30pm, on moonless nights.