The Sea Trout is a common name given to anadromous or sea-run forms of Brown Trout; they are widely found in Europe along the Atlantic and Baltic coasts, the United Kingdom and the coast of Iceland. Through the years, they’ve also been introduced into a wide range of freshwater habitats in Chile, New Zealand and Argentina, to name a few.
Unlike most Salmon, Sea Trout do not usually die after spawning, and around 75 percent of fish will return to the sea to feed and then come back again to the river to spawn. Going to the sea gives the Trout access to a much richer food source, with a range of small fish, crabs, shrimps and prawns all on the menu. Sea Trout will often be substantially bigger than the resident Brown Trout of the same river. Native fish living in streams and rivers average between 1lb to 5lb in weight, whereas stocked and sea-run fish can grow much larger when presented with favourable habitat conditions; specimens to over 35lb aren’t uncommon.
Sea Trout are highly prized as a game fish and are traditionally targeted when they return to freshwater; after spending time at sea, they’re well-fed and in peak condition, providing the freshwater fly fishing angler with some great sport. They hit flies hard, run aggressively, and the fight is often punctuated with aerial summersaults.
Below are the top destinations in the world for Sea Trout Fishing.
Worlds’ End Lodge and the Irigoyen River offer the most unique and otherworldly fishery in Patagonia. No other Tierra del Fuego fishing lodge or river offers 10-20 lb Sea Run Brown Trout in small water that is laden with logs, surrounded by dense forests and protected from the heavy Austral winds.
Exclusive to Sportquest Holidays, Howenh Lodge, based on the incredible Rio Grande, offers travelling rods the opportunity to wet a fly across over 30 kilometres of water. With just four to six rods per week, it provides some of the best Sea Trout fishing in the world, both in terms of the number of fish and excellent average size.
Bella Sofia Lodge is new for 2023, offering anglers single rooms and world-class Sea Trout fishing on the Rio Gallegos and the Rio Gallegos Chico Rivers. Based on only six rods per week, it offers guests more than 10 kilometres of water each to wet a fly, making it the most exclusive fishery in all of South America.
Hosted by our CEO Peter Collingsworth, this exclusive trip to Worlds End Lodge in Argentina offers travelling rods the chance to enjoy some of the finest Sea Trout sport on the planet. The fishing, based on the famous Irigoyen and Malenguena rivers, regularly produces specimens of over 20lb.
If you're a solo traveller or pair of friends and have always wanted to fish for the specimen Sea Trout of Argentina, our exclusive hosted trip to Howenh Lodge is the perfect choice for you. Located on the famous Rio Grande, it will give you the opportunity to fish for some of the biggest and best Sea Trout in the world.
Our hosted Sea Trout trips to Bella Sofia offer travelling rods the chance to experience some of the finest fishing in all of Patagonia, Argentina. The fishing is split across two rivers, the mighty Rio Gallegos, one of the most famous Sea Trout rivers in the world and the Rio Gallegos Chico, a smaller tributary. Catering to just six rods per week, the lodge is booked exclusively for Sportquest customers.
If you are a single angler or just looking to travel in a group with like-minded people who all enjoy the art of fly fishing for big wild Sea Trout well this trip is designed just for you. Teaming up with our partners at Solid Adventures we have some exclusive weeks on offer for our very own Sea Trout fishing weeks.
Kau Tapen is located in the heart of the Rio Grande. This is the original fishing lodge and the standard of elegance by which other lodges are measured. Kau Tapen holds 5 world records for Sea Trout up to 35LB and, for the last 25 years, has provided the best mix of experienced international guides and knowledgeable local river guides.
Since 1994 Villa Maria has offered small groups of just six anglers exciting fishing on some of the most productive pools in the lower river. Big fly fishing rods, heavy sink tips and big pools are the norm. Villa Maria is a double-handed fly fisherman’s dream; enjoying the first crack of the whip at newly arrived Sea Trout as they pass through.
Namsentunet Lodge, one of Norway’s most exclusive Atlantic Salmon and Sea Trout fishing retreats, is nestled on the banks of the famous river Namsen, affectionately known as the ‘Queen of Rivers’. The Namsen is famed for its huge Salmon, and each year, good numbers of 40-45lb fish get landed by travelling rods.
Why fish one river when you can three? That's what Glencross is offering you the perfect opportunity for huge Brown Trout and Sea Trout fishing. Mainly single-handed fly fishing allowing you to get up and personal with all the fish. Combined with a real authentic estancia makes this Glencross Lodge Adventure the perfect fly anglers dream.
The Stangnes Lodge on the Lakselv River was, built in the summer of 2019, is a self-catering Lodge designed for single fishermen or small groups looking for an independent fishing schedule. It offers travelling freshwater fly fishing anglers five private, single bank beats of varying lengths and some world-class Atlantic Salmon fishing.
Battle Hill Lodge is nestled on the banks of the Fossárlar River and is famed for the incredible Sea Trout fishing it offers, renowned as being some of the best found anywhere in the world. A historic, picturesque location of striking beauty, it gives travelling rods an incomparable fly fishing experience of a lifetime.
Olderø Lodge on the Lakselv is an authentic piece of fly fishing paradise in the land of the midnight sun. With a vast array of different beats, easy wading, two-handed fly fishing, world-class guides and first-class accommodation, it's no surprise that the destination is now at the very top of many freshwater fly fishing anglers wishlists.
Las Buitreras Lodge on the Rio Gallegos in Argentina offers an unparalleled Sea Trout fishing program. Catch statistics for size and numbers on the Rio Gallegos and the Rio Grande are similar, however, many anglers remain loyal to the Rio Gallegos River for it’s a dream to fish with its low gradient, technical characteristics, exclusivity, outstanding guides and the vast number of pools you get to fish each day always providing well-rested water.
The thing that sets El Rincon Lodge apart from the rest is the versatility of water that it possesses. This versatility is one of the main reasons that the lodge can produce such consistent catches throughout its seasons. The lodge its self is very comfortable with six single rooms giving anglers the privacy they need for a good night’s sleep.
Reisastua Lodge on the Reisa River has a reputation for big Salmon that are caught annually here weighing around 20 kg. So if you are looking to set a record, the Reisa River may be the right place for you, just ask Scott Mackenzie who has caught his last 3 personal best Atlantic Salmon with us.
The Belousiha River is one of the most famous Salmon rivers in Russia and one which is well known and regarded amongst adventurous travelling freshwater fly fishing anglers. Located in the extreme northwest of Russia on the Kola Peninsula, one of the largest Peninsula's in Europe, it's a relatively small but exquisite looking river set amidst spectacular and changing scenery.
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Name: Sea Trout
Also Known as: White Trout, Peal, Finnock, Herling, and Whitling
Scientific Name: Salmo Trutta
Sea Trout, a term often used for anadromous (migratory) forms of Brown Trout, exhibits various physical characteristics that adapt them to life in freshwater and marine environments. Typically, they have a streamlined, torpedo-shaped body that aids efficient swimming through swift river currents and open sea. Their colouration is variable but generally includes a silvery sheen with a darker back, often blue-grey to greenish, and a lighter, usually white, underbelly. This countershading helps camouflage them from predators above and below in the water column. The sides of a Sea Trout can display spotting patterns that vary widely among individuals, with spots often surrounded by a paler halo. Like all Trout species, they have an adipose fin.
As an anadromous, migratory fish, they closely resemble the Atlantic Salmon in form and lifestyle. They will journey to freshwater from the sea, swimming upstream into small rivers, where they spawn. Spawning occurs during winter, and the fish lay their eggs on gravelly troughs. After spawning, the fish return to the sea, regain their lost weight, and lose their brown spawning colouration. Unlike some species of Salmon, mass mortality after spawning is not common.
Young fish born in freshwater remain there for the first one and five years of their lives before their ‘inner clock’ signals when it’s time to journey to the sea. During their migration, it’s common for fish to cover between five and forty kilometres per day. Once they reach freshwater, the whole cycle will start again.
Fact: It is known that the adult Brown Trout, which may have spent some years entirely in a river, can, for whatever reason, decide to migrate to sea and return next year as a much larger (Sea) Trout with silver colouration.
Sea Trout are distributed worldwide and found in Europe along the Atlantic and Baltic coasts, the United Kingdom, and the shores of Iceland. Fish introduced into freshwater habitats in New Zealand, the Falkland Islands, Chile, and Argentina have established populations when there is suitable access to saltwater. For anglers wishing to fly fish for Sea Trout, the latter is one of the best locations in the world and home to some of the most famous rivers and lodges on the planet.
The expansive and wild landscapes of Argentina provide anglers with an abundance of water to fish, and rivers like the Rio Grande, Rio Gallegos and the Irigoyen River in Tierra del Fuego, to mention just a few, are well-known among the Sea Trout fly fishing communities.
The Rio Grande sea run Brown Trout are some of the largest found anywhere in the world, and one of the best and most popular lodges on this impressive waterway is Howenh Lodge. It offers travelling fly rods the opportunity to enjoy some of the best Sea Trout fishing found anywhere in the region. With more than twenty-one kilometres of water and over 40 different pools at its disposal, it’s one of the most personal fisheries in South America.
Alongside the Rio Grande, the Rio Gallegos Sea Trout fishing is equally popular and is again home to some fantastic fishing and famous lodges. Las Buitreras is a name many will have heard of, and so is Bella Sofia. The latter controls over 65 kilometres of the Rio Gallegos and 18 kilometres of its little brother, the Rio Gallegos Chico. Based on only six rods per week, anglers have more than 10 kilometres of water each, making it the most exclusive sea run Brown Trout fishery in all of Argentina.
Alongside Argentina, another country that deserves a mention for its Sea Trout fishing is Iceland. Despite being typically famed for its Atlantic Salmon fishing, it’s possible to enjoy some fantastic sport during the early and late portions of the season. Battle Hill Lodge, nestled on the banks of the Fossárlar River, around a three-hour drive from Reykjavik, is one of the best.
Fact: As the name suggests, Patagonia Sea Trout fishing is based in the region of Patagonia, which encompasses the southern end of South America. The region comprises the southern section of the Andes Mountains with lakes, fjords, temperate rainforests, glaciers in the west and deserts, tablelands, and steppes to the east. The Pacific Ocean bounds it to the west and the Atlantic Ocean to the east.
Our top Three Sea Trout fishing holidays:
Howenh Lodge, Argentina
Bella Sofia Lodge, Argentina
Worlds End Lodge, Argentina
Are you travelling as a single angler? We also offer an array of hosted solo traveller Sea Trout fishing trips designed for single anglers and pairs of friends. These trips allow you to fish with like-minded individuals with the added luxury of having a host.
Our top Three hosted Sea Trout fishing holidays:
Hosted Howenh Lodge, Argentina
Hosted Bella Sofia Lodge, Argentina
Hosted Worlds End Lodge, Argentina
Catching Sea Trout requires the right gear, technique, and understanding of the fish’s behaviour. Sea trout fishing in Argentina, for example, can vary significantly from river to river, and the technical nature of the fishery often causes visiting anglers to experience a whole host of emotions. However, one thing is sure: those who manage to crack the code can be rewarded with a fly fishing experience of a lifetime and one that lives long in memory.
Generally, Sea Trout in all rivers enjoy spending their time along the edges of the cut banks, especially in the middle of the day. During low water, they will be found in the faster necks of the pools, often moving into these areas during the early morning, evening and nighttime hours. A good rule is, “Tails in the morning and heads at night.”
When fishing on larger rivers like the Rio Grande, an array of freshwater fly fishing techniques will work. One moment, the fish may want a fly on the bottom; the next, they might like it skated across the surface. Water levels within the river can change weekly, and generally, the river provides travelling rods with an exciting yet rewarding challenge. Two-handed rods between 12 to 15ft in length are the norm, not only to allow longer casts but also to allow you to control your fly lines, which will either be floating, intermediate or slow sinking. Single-handed and switch rods can be used with dry flies or skaters when the wind drops in the evening.
If you’re travelling to fish some of the larger rivers in Argentina, like the Rio Grande and Rio Gallegos, you may find this blog useful: Where To Catch Sea Trout, Tackling The Rio Gallegos.
On some of the smaller rivers, like the Irigoyen River in Tierra del Fuego at Worlds End Lodge, the river is easily wadeable, and single-handed 7-weight or 8-weight rods with matching reels and fly lines are sufficient for swinging small and medium-sized streamers and nymphs. Due to the river’s smaller size and wooden structure and cover, a 60-foot cast will cover nearly all the beats you’ll fish. However, due to its intimate nature, fishing can be somewhat technical at times, and small nymphs and long leaders can sometimes be required. Catching a Trout of over 20lb on a size 12 nymph is, without doubt, a fly fishing achievement of a lifetime.
If you’d like more information about some of the flies we’d recommend to catch Sea Trout, read our blog: 10 Top Sea Trout Flies You Must Have.
All our Argentinian Sea Trout Lodges offer fishing on foot, and the closest beats are within walking distance of the lodge. However, with many beats spread over tens of kilometres of fishable rivers, transportation between pools is by car. Sometimes, however, because of the fishing and water level, ARGO 6×6 ATVs are used.
Sea Trout exhibit remarkable variability in size, significantly influenced by their habitat and the richness of their feeding grounds. Typically, Sea Trout can range from small, 1lb to 2lb fish to impressively large specimens exceeding 20lb, with the latter being much rarer and considered trophies among anglers. The average size, however, usually falls between 2lb to 8lb.
Fact: Sea trout’s growth rate and ultimate size are also affected by the duration of their stay at sea; those that spend more time feeding in the oceanic environment tend to return to freshwater rivers as larger fish. This variability showcases the fish’s adaptability and survival strategy in their diverse habitats.
