The Sea Trout Diaries by R W Mountjoy

By R W Mountjoy, The Crapstone Press; c. 2007

There are few good books around on the subject of Sea Trout angling in the UK. This one, however,  is a cracker!

Hitherto, perhaps the two best books on sea trout angling have been "Successful Sea Trout Angling" (SSTA) by Graeme Harris and Moc Morgan, and, of course, "Sea Trout Fishing" (STF) by Hugh Falkus, both classics. However whereas SSTA and STF are hefty "all you need to know" books about the subject, The Sea Trout Diaries is more of a collection of notes and photographs of Mountjoy's voyage of discovery in which he shares with us his hard gotten secrets of sea trout angling on the rivers of Devon.

Three things that make this book good:

• The explanation of tactics and how this is linked to his theory of sea trout behaviour - As an experienced brown trout angler, I had always thought that I would have little trouble in picking up sea trout angling. However, apart from the the useful skills of casting, the knowledge acquired of brown trout angling actually reduces your chances of success and have to be put aside. Mountjoy does a very good job of explaining this.
• Mountjoy's ability to "keep it simple" - Mountjoy's simplicity is refreshing. There are no flights of fancy or grand theories such as you find in today's angling press. He is happiest with simple words and simple gear. "I tend to buy second hand or "sale" rods. I have no concern for make or label".  - "There are clearly many for whom owning exclusive tackle is important and if it makes them happy I should be happy, but in fact, I am a little sad. My tackle is for fishing - not for status.."
• The honesty of his accounts, as he stumbles through  the darkness that is sea trout angling. It's the modesty of the account that is the most engaging feature of the book. On having read the book you feel like you have been let into a few secrets by a favourite uncle.

"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".