We asked Kit Layman, who has been fishing here for years, to give us a few tips. Here is his contribution, but he wanted us to say that he is not an expert, just someone who has regulary fished the Warrah, Chartres (pronounced "charters") and Green Hill Stream.

When to Come
The fishing season is officially 1 September to 30 April. The best months are usually October, November, February, March, and the first half of April. During December and January the rivers tend to be low, and the fishing becomes somewhat spate-dependent, but spates of course do happen.

The Fish and the Fishing
The sea trout are superb, with big runs of heavy fish. Five pounders are fairly common, 10 pounders by no means unusual, and fish up to 16 pounds have been caught. The Warrah River and its tributary the Green Hill Stream [much more than a stream] have fish averaging perhaps 4 pounds. The Chartres fish are usually slightly smaller but often very numerous, sometimes spectacularly so.

There are few blank days, and a typical day's catch might be four fish of 2, 3, 5, and 6 pounds, with half a dozen finnock and a few brownies. But sometimes they go crazy and you will take 15, and just occasionally they go super crazy... and you can have the fishing day of a lifetime.

But Falklands sea trout are like sea trout everywhere -- they can be quite canny. You have to read the water, be prepared to change flies and depths, and watch your shadow. I believe concealment and moving stealthily are more important than some people imagine -- these are not salmon. There are no trees to help or hinder.

You fish by day. I believe very few people have tried night fishing, and indeed it would be quite difficult to arrange because of the remoteness of the water and the difficulty of driving over the tracks in the dark

There is also the local "mullet", Eleginops maclovinus, a form of Antarctic rock cod, which can be caught on the fly in the salt water. These are a great sporting fish in their own right, and deserve a better name than mullet, as they are quite unlike the UK grey mullet. They are also excellent eating, and often weigh in at about 5 pounds. At the mouth of the rivers you will sometimes catch sea trout and mullet on alternate casts.

Fly fishing is the norm. Spinning is not exactly discouraged, but who would want to spin on such superb fly water? Spinning in the estuary is sometimes helpful to find the shoal, and there are spinning rods available at the Lodge.

You will normally be taken to the river by Land Rover leaving about 9:00, with a fine picnic lunch, and return about sunset for a fantastic Hattie-feast. Don't expect formal ghillying, but someone will point out the pools and the general geography. Usually there will not be more than three or four rods on one river.

Climate and Clothing.
The Falklands climate is a good deal better than most people expect, but it can be fast changing and is often windy. No one will need any instruction on the fact that one's body temperature varies widely during a fishing day that may include a walk of a couple of miles from time to time. So clothing that can be flexibly zipped up and down seems sensible. A waterproof but breathable outer garment and a hat or cap are obvious.

Catch and Release Policy.
Catch and release for sea trout is encouraged, unless Hattie wants a good one for the table. Obviously you keep any damaged or bleeding fish, or a real trophy fish, say above 15 pounds. No restrictions on mullet.

Estuary Fishing.
There is some excellent estuary fishing for sea trout in the salt and brackish water near Port Howard. It took me a long time to realize what great sport this can be. Much the same skills are required as in the river, with the added complication of fish moving with the tide, and two completely different species [sea trout and mullet].

Rods.
I would advise the largest single handed you can conveniently manage. The reason for using a single handed rod is that one is often fishing big deep pools with slow moving water, and it is necessary to work the line on a fairly continuous retrieve as on a loch. My eleven foot grilse rod (AFTM 8) seems to go well, and it manages to cover most of the water, but 9 to 10 feet and AFTMs of 7-10, depending on your skill and preference, would probably do as well. There will be times when you will want to cast across a strong wind.

Lines.
I tend to use a normal sinker [i.e. not a fast sinker] but I always take a floater and/or intermediate in case the water is low. I don't recall using the latter very often. But others fish floaters all the time and seem to do as well as anyone. Eight pound nylon seems about right.

Flies.
6's and 8's ideal. My personal preference is for doubles. Generally anything orange or reddish orange does well as the fish feed on krill at sea -- thus G. P.'s, Whiskies, Willie Gunns, Allie's etc. Also for some reason Stoat's Tails and all the variants. Stoat's Tail with jungle cock eyes is often effective -- is it called a Thunder Stoat? I had great success once with a Green Woolly Bugger, and on another occasion an Orange Dog Nobbler seemed to be irresistible. At other times a touch of silver, a bit of flash, a glint of mylar - all these have had their day.

I suppose the fact is that when sea trout are in the mood they will lunge at most things you tweak across their noses. When not quite so keen, no one knows but everyone has theories.

I have never tried a dry fly, although I have fished with someone who did. He caught a few, but I think in circumstances where a wet fly would have caught more. But the dry fly could be great sport, and I have often thought of having a go. No idea what flies to use -- perhaps something black and spidery.

Weight Restrictions .
The weight allowance on the Islander aircraft is 30 pounds, which is quite a challenge to a fisherman. Usually there is no difficulty in taking more and paying excess. The excess charge is not much, I think about 30 pence per pound when I last paid it. I suppose if you had a great deal of excess baggage it would be wise to check with FIGAS.

Waders .
Most people wear thigh waders. There is a certain amount of walking to be done, so waders that can be rolled down on to gumboot tops are very convenient. Chest waders in addition for estuary fishing would be ideal, but weight restrictions will probably preclude taking both. You can get by without chest waders for the rivers, but there are one or two places where they would help. In the midst of these contradictions and compromises breathable chest waders that are comfortable for walking might therefore be the best compromise of all, keeping you warm and wind proof, and ready for anything. But don't forget that being able to walk, say, three miles will increase your fishing chances considerably.

Net.
I prefer to have one, but you can probably get by without it.

Don't Forget...
... sun cream and sun glasses. You will sometimes need both. But I try to use sun glasses as little as possible because of the glint.