Spinning for Seatrout

[daiben]

Back in the 1960's when the rivers were alive with fish, apart from the worm, daytime spate fishing for Sewin on a receding flood, for most of us,(in my case a schoolboy) meant spinning. During that time, the Mepps in all its various colours, was the 'go to' spinning bait. Then came the natural Quill Minnow with its 3 sets of treble hooks. In a choice of colours i.e. green, brown and blue, this for me proved to be the deadliest of all at the time. Cast up and across, it's action seemed irresistible and caught me my first Sewin. Since then we've had Irish Lane Minnows, Flying C's and the popular Rapalas. I've caught sewin on all these and the Rapala in all its various colours and sizes is definitely very attractive to both Sewin and Salmon. Quill Minnows and Irish Minnows have since been reproduced, but they never equalled the original versions in weight and action.
Is the Rapala the best lure so far?

[henben]

Quill minnows were the best for me. Yes - up and across. Great fun and memories of fishing them in the 1950s with my father on the Cothi at Island Farm and the Towy above Rhandirmwyn (Cawdor water back then and no dam!).

Across and down - Lane minnows were effective (they were heavy and fished at a good depth).

The ubiquitous Mepps was also very succesful and I still occasionally use them.

My grand father and father also fished with "spoons" and brass devon minnows - some of the latter having side hooks also.