I have just arrived at the reef. It is the month of July and the sun is setting in the horizon. I am completely alone, with myself, my thoughts, and my fishing rod. The only sounds disturbing my ear canal are the waves and the rustling of the leaves in the trees behind me. It´s a beautiful and familiar feeling. I can feel the current from the dark water pressing against the left side of my legs, and the increasing night tide tells me that the conditions will only improve throughout the night.

My hopes are very high and my senses are completely heightened and I notice every little sound and movement around me. It is especially the sense of hearing that is turned up in the night. This sense is one of my most important tools when fishing for sea trout in the summer night. Any splash breaking the surface of the water can quickly turn out to be a sea trout that has moved in over the reef to search for food in the darkness of the night. Here, I feel like I am at home.

If you have ever fished for sea trout on a fly along the beautiful coasts of Funen and felt the bite of a sea trout transmitting through the rod and directly into your body, you also know the feeling of happiness that is instantly placed deep inside you when you feel the fish's pulse through the line, rod, and into you. Now, imagine this same feeling, but without your sense of sight and with your hearing and sense of touch completely sharpened and responsive. It is an amazing feeling. In fact, this night fishing for sea trout has become one of my favorite forms of fishing, as your senses are so heightened and the bite feels much more intense.

The hunt is on.

I take a deep breath before casting my first line over the reef. The cast is made with great concentration and I immediately feel the current pulling the fly to the right over the reef, while my black streamer fly, which I call The Black Ninja (Black Silver Fox), lies just below the surface, fluttering and pulsating with its hairs, ready to strike at any moment! The spot I have chosen is a classic reef here on Funen with deep water on both sides of the reef, and naturally, strong currents occur in these areas. I know the spot inside out as if it were my own back pocket and I know exactly when a big rock that one can stumble upon is coming. I have chosen this spot because the deep water in the summer is slightly cooler than in the shallow water. Furthermore, a current run over the reef, ensuring high water exchange and further cooling down the water. This cooler water triggers the fish to feed as they have more energy. Deep water is an essential part of night fishing and even though there is deep water, I always use a floating line at night because when the sea trout hunts in the summer night, it hunts from below and looks upward for an easy prey. It looks for a silhouette against the bright night sky and is not afraid to strike when the right silhouette swims over the reef.

The right technique

Since I am fishing over a strong current reef tonight, I have chosen to put a black streamer fly on the tippet, which goes just below the surface of the water. It is important that the fly stands high in the water as it creates a larger silhouette and is easier for the sea trout to see. When I fish with a streamer fly at night, I strip the fly in with a slow, continuous pull using both hands and with the rod under my arm. A so-called "roly poly" retrieval technique, which has proven to be extremely effective in night fishing.

If, on the other hand, I were fishing on a day when there were calm conditions and no current, I would use a foam fly that floats on the surface of the water. This can be incredibly effectful in calm water, as the fly creates a wave that triggers the fish to strike. Furthermore, the fly has a large silhouette as it now lies on the surface of the water and not under it.

When I fish in the night hours, I always use flies in black and dark shades. I do this because the black color creates greater contrast against the night sky and is therefore more visible from below than a white or light fly would be. It is therefore easier for the fish to spot in the water, which is the first criterion for the fish to strike the fly! As a general rule, I use a large streamer fly that goes just below the surface on days when there is movement in the water, such as currents and waves. If, on the other hand, there are calm conditions and no currents or waves, I use a floating foam fly that makes a lot of noise and disturbance on the surface of the water.

The fly line was lifted from the water, and I started making my cast, with enormous concentration, I laid the fly line out on the left side of the reef, after which I started with a quiet and calm "roly-poly" intake, so The Black Ninja just floated enticingly across the reef. But nothing happened... No fish showed interest in the fly... I made another cast to the left of the reef, but this time a shorter cast. With a shorter cast, I can fish the water that is close to the shore, as fish can also be standing there.

In the glow of the full moon, I can see that the fly line stretches out perfectly and immediately, the line is led to the right by the strong forces of the current. But the line doesn't get far before I suddenly hear a splash a few meters in front of me. My senses are heightened, and I immediately feel a pull in the opposite direction of what I would normally feel from the current. It is a sea trout that has eaten the fly. The fish is certainly not happy with the situation and immediately starts using the current to its advantage. With a screaming fly reel trying to stop and hold the fish, it is clear that the sea trout has other plans. The fish runs with the current, takes a huge run, and I am here in no doubt that this is a really nice sea trout. Here I can feel that I am alive.

After a hectic battle with the fish, I manage to reel it in and for the first time, I catch a glimpse of the silvery sea trout shining in the darkness of the night, with little sparks from the light of the full moon. Adrenaline is pumping through my body and my hands are shaking - I don't think the body ever gets used to such experiences. With the fish in the net, I can calmly move back to the coast where I can take a little break and enjoy the sight of almost 70 cm of silver, glittering in the night sky. The coffee has gone completely cold, but I have warmed up my entire body. This is what I love. The bite from the sea trout with sharpened senses that intensify the bite. The conditions at this spot will be the same tomorrow, and I have already marked the calendar for what I will be doing tomorrow night.