The Sea Trout Diaries

by R W Mountjoy

Good books on sea trout fishing are few, with the exceptions of the classics of course. Good books on sea trout fishing in the West Country are even fewer, so the publication of The Sea trout Diaries by R. W. Mountjoy is to be applauded. Any confirmed UK sea trout angler will have read Falkus and probably Moc Morgan and Graeme Harris but not so many will be aware of the South West's own classics by Kenneth Dawson and Geoffrey Bluett, which give that special glimpse into sea trout fishing and it's particular techniques on Devon and Cornish rivers.

I warmed to this book immediately, Mr Mountjoy's writing, his ethos and approach to his fishing and the river, will find instant empathy with many sea trout anglers in the South West (and also those that live away but know and fish our beautiful rivers).

Mr Mountjoy's choice of basic tackle and methods indicate a good angler with years of sound experience who is happy to catch just a couple of fish, sit for half hour by the river and then go home content.

I also particularly like Mr Mountjoy's preferred choice of fly; The Moc Cert. It has always been a favourite of mine, ever since I watched Moc Morgan tying one at the Gamefair many years ago. I knew instantly it would work well on the Dart and I asked Moc if I could buy it. He replied that I definitely could not but that he would give it to me. It's success on the Dart for me was immediate and it remains a tried and trusted favourite.

While there may be nothing technically groundbreaking in the book (I am sure Mr Mountjoy was not aiming for anything like this when he wrote it). The book is ideal for sea trout anglers to pick up on a wild December night when the wind is whistling in the chimney and then to drift off back to a warm summer night when the sudden pull of a good sea trout nearly takes the rod out of your hand.

The back cover of the book carries the words; 'Brown trout give themselves up to those with skill and salmon to those with money but the sea trout is a very different fish. To catch sea trout you need soul.'

I hope that this will be the first of further works from Mr Mountjoy.

The Sea Trout Diaries by R W Mountjoy is published by The Crapstone Press.

Alextube August 14th 2009.