Catching Trout on a single Hook spinner lure

It was a perfect spring afternoon, with the day’s heat fading into a pleasant coolness. Seizing the moment, I grabbed my ultralight gear and headed to the River Dearne. With a couple of hours of daylight left, I was eager to see what the evening would bring with the plan of catching trout on a single hook spinner lure.

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Channel link – T+T Fishing – YouTube

On Arrival…

Arriving at my spot, I assembled my 7ft Savage Gear SG4 Ultra Light Game rod, equipped with a SG4 3000FD reel. My line was spooled with 20lb Power Bro Braid and an 18lb Daiwa Hyper Sensor Monofil leader. Given that the Course Fishing Season was closed, my target today was Wild Brown Trout. My lure of choice was the reliable Gold Blue Fox Vibrax Spinner, known to work wonders in the slightly brown, clear waters of this river.

Catching trout on a single hook spinner lure — Gold Blue Fox Vibrax Spinner

Setting out with my backpack, net, and rod, I immediately felt the adventure in the air. The vegetation had sprung up almost overnight, and the bugs were out in force. My first spot was a shallow area at the bottom of a rapid, where a deeper pool formed along one side. Casting upstream meant a faster retrieve to keep the lure in the flow and avoid snags.

The First Cast

On the very first cast, as soon as the bail arm went down, the rod tip dipped and the head shakes began. I reeled in, keeping tension on the line, and soon had my first catch of the day: a lovely little Brown Trout, more silver than brown, with its characteristic black and red spots. After unhooking, it darted back into the river.

Next, I encountered an area where the bank was inaccessible, so I waded into the six-inch-deep water. Fishing downstream, I cast into the rapids and reeled through the flow, hoping for that enticing flash to attract a trout. Despite the perfect conditions, there were no bites. Undeterred, I continued my journey along the riverbank, navigating through dense vegetation and balancing on logs to reach prime fishing spots.

One cast upstream in a slower flow section yielded a surprise—a juvenile Chub, quickly unhooked and returned as they were out of season. Multiple spots later, battling clouds of mosquitos and midges, I reminded myself that being out in nature, despite the bugs, is part of the fishing experience.

Things are paying off…

My adventure led me to a pebbled beach with a narrow rapid section flowing into a deep pool. Here, casting upstream and working my way down produced no results. But as I cast into the pool and began a varied retrieve, I finally felt a strong pull. The rod tip bent, the drag clicked, and I knew I had hooked a good fish. It fought fiercely, pulling my rod from side to side. With steady tension, I reeled it in, finally landing a beautiful Brown Trout, around 41cm and just under 1.5lbs. After a brief rest in the net, I took the necessary pictures and gently released it back into the water.

The early evening continued with multiple bites, though many fish slipped the hook due to erratic head shakes, especially in the rapids. However, I managed to land another stunning Brownie, around 20cm. As the sun set and the bug bites accumulated, I wrapped up the session, satisfied with multiple catches on the bank. Patience and perseverance had paid off. Next time, I might try a larger spinner to attract even bigger fish.