Bait fishing for me just dosen't have the excitement, the expectation of the take.
I have fished the Wye and Avon for sea trout and when fishing for them there is one main criteria to consider. NO moon and inky blackness. A water clear and not too high but enough for easy egress to the next level. I found black flies the best. My best fish was only a four and a quarter pounder but catching it by casting into total darkness was a complete buzz. I had surveyed the water and practised casting over the choicest pools before, so as darkness fell....complete darkness... I managed to fish quite effectively.
Caught nothing on the Avon BTW but got a few browns too as well as sea trout on the Wye.
If you really want to fish with other than fly, try a spinner with lobworm.
I don't know if it's the scent that attracts the fish or that when they take, they taste meat; but it seems to work very well....again, at night!
