Saturday, December 27, 2008
Friday, December 26, 2008
Trout fly fishing new zealand
About to hit the water for 8 days guiding and this will give me some new content on fly fishing new zealand. I will be reporting back soon.
Friday, December 12, 2008
Some tips on how to fight NZ trout
Here are some tips for fighting trout that I always find useful and spend time constantly telling people - they should up your catch rate (unless you count long line releases):
1. Use the strongest leader and tippet you think you can get away with.
2. Make sure you check your leader and tippet for any weaknesses before you cast to that hog.
3. Keep the rod tip up - show the fish the butt (not your's - the rod's). If you have a low flat rod you will shock load the tippet and risk losing the fish.
4. Keep your check (tension) low - enough to stop over spooling only - use your index and forefinger with the line running through it to increase or decrease tension when you need to. If you really need too up the check when you have the chance.
5. If the trout makes a long run away from you that will take care of all the lose line spooling around in the water.
6. Get on the reel.
7. Clear the hand from the reel (completely when the trout runs).
8. If the trout runs at you - strip line in (from behind the hand that the fingers are controlling the line tension with and if possible move away from the fish.
9. If you are in the water - move out of it when you get the chance - it's always fun when the trout swims between your legs.
10. Get your hands up above your head (until you too get tired). the extra 2-3 feet elevation on the rod will lift the trouts' head up (great on brownies) and allow you to maneuver the trout where you want it to go more easily.
12. Soft wrists when the trout goes airborne - if you lower the rod tip and end up with too much slack as you lift you may shock the tippet.
13. Use rod angle to direct the fish where you want it to go as much as possible.
14. Always keep one eye on the fish while you move over tricky terrain during the battle.
14. Be aware of the terrain - as much as a river runs through it, a lost fish is better than drowning.
15. The battle is not over until the fish is in the net or up the bank.
16. The net is unlike a tennis racket.
17. Try not to water net unless there is no other option - keep one foot on the bank.
18. If you are fishing with a friend communicate throughout the battle - generally the guy on the rod is the Chief and the net guy the Indian.
19. Fight Hard
20. Unless it's really necessary don't use a net - beach the fish.
21. Beg, steal or buy a set of knee high stockings - cut the toe end off - wear one on a wrist while fishing - when you go to handle the trout (with wet hands) roll it down and you will find you can get a much less slippery hold on the fish until you release it.
22. You can hold the trout quite firmly just in front of the tail fin (with the stocking hand) while the other rests very gently under the belly.
23. Photograph and take dimensions quickly. While you are doing this give the trout a drink between photos.
24. Hold the fish upstream in light flowing water (maybe behind a rock).
25. Release hands and watch the fish swim away to battle for another day.
1. Use the strongest leader and tippet you think you can get away with.
2. Make sure you check your leader and tippet for any weaknesses before you cast to that hog.
3. Keep the rod tip up - show the fish the butt (not your's - the rod's). If you have a low flat rod you will shock load the tippet and risk losing the fish.
4. Keep your check (tension) low - enough to stop over spooling only - use your index and forefinger with the line running through it to increase or decrease tension when you need to. If you really need too up the check when you have the chance.
5. If the trout makes a long run away from you that will take care of all the lose line spooling around in the water.
6. Get on the reel.
7. Clear the hand from the reel (completely when the trout runs).
8. If the trout runs at you - strip line in (from behind the hand that the fingers are controlling the line tension with and if possible move away from the fish.
9. If you are in the water - move out of it when you get the chance - it's always fun when the trout swims between your legs.
10. Get your hands up above your head (until you too get tired). the extra 2-3 feet elevation on the rod will lift the trouts' head up (great on brownies) and allow you to maneuver the trout where you want it to go more easily.
12. Soft wrists when the trout goes airborne - if you lower the rod tip and end up with too much slack as you lift you may shock the tippet.
13. Use rod angle to direct the fish where you want it to go as much as possible.
14. Always keep one eye on the fish while you move over tricky terrain during the battle.
14. Be aware of the terrain - as much as a river runs through it, a lost fish is better than drowning.
15. The battle is not over until the fish is in the net or up the bank.
16. The net is unlike a tennis racket.
17. Try not to water net unless there is no other option - keep one foot on the bank.
18. If you are fishing with a friend communicate throughout the battle - generally the guy on the rod is the Chief and the net guy the Indian.
19. Fight Hard
20. Unless it's really necessary don't use a net - beach the fish.
21. Beg, steal or buy a set of knee high stockings - cut the toe end off - wear one on a wrist while fishing - when you go to handle the trout (with wet hands) roll it down and you will find you can get a much less slippery hold on the fish until you release it.
22. You can hold the trout quite firmly just in front of the tail fin (with the stocking hand) while the other rests very gently under the belly.
23. Photograph and take dimensions quickly. While you are doing this give the trout a drink between photos.
24. Hold the fish upstream in light flowing water (maybe behind a rock).
25. Release hands and watch the fish swim away to battle for another day.
Thursday, December 11, 2008
Another Spring Week chasing trout in NZ
Local knowledge and good use of the 'net can be key - after the last rainstorm pretty much all the waters dirtied up and many fly fishers would have been disappointed. I did the research on the 'net and then the miles and dropped into a back country river which was at a higher flow but had remained clean while the catchment next door was dirty and all those around were blown out.
It ended up to be a great day with 9 trout to the bank and one long line release with quite a few other chances as well. Some on the dry and some on nymph with the same patterns from my last blog post being effective.
Check out my net vibes page:
http://www.netvibes.com/swguiding#SW_Guiding_Public_Fishing_Info
You will find access to some useful info you can get to for trout fishing purposes off the net all in one neat place.
It ended up to be a great day with 9 trout to the bank and one long line release with quite a few other chances as well. Some on the dry and some on nymph with the same patterns from my last blog post being effective.
Check out my net vibes page:
http://www.netvibes.com/swguiding#SW_Guiding_Public_Fishing_Info
You will find access to some useful info you can get to for trout fishing purposes off the net all in one neat place.
Sunday, December 7, 2008
Post Coital Rainbow trout and fat Browns in the far south of NZ
Into December now and still ducking and diving around the weather but we are getting better periods of more settled weather which is helping the timeless art of fly fishing for NZ trout.
Last week was spent chasing some post-coital rainbows and some still right in the act too in some small back country creeks with fish happily coming to the dry fly 90% of the time and a day on a lowland river that was also productive with fat browns wanting a lightly weighted nymph and one good crack at a veritable hog that would have gone 12 -14 lbs. Had a swim to get into position for it and after about 8 casts and one change the beast went for it and unfortunately my guy thought he had put it a bit to far to the right and went into relax mode and then was wondering what to do when his guide yelled STRIKE (the fish went at it hard and no time to warn my guy it was coming) - by the time the line was tight and rod lifted it was all over and this big trout quietly disappeared into the depths. Moral of the story - when your fly is in the water - FISH IT WITH PURPOSE! You won't get a second chance especially on big trophy trout!
It's been raining hard all day and there will be some bigger volumes in the river and also discoloration in some too for the next 24hrs before they drop back again.
Productive flies of recent: Green Humpies, Blow flies imitaions, Light half back nymphs and hare and coppers.
Last week was spent chasing some post-coital rainbows and some still right in the act too in some small back country creeks with fish happily coming to the dry fly 90% of the time and a day on a lowland river that was also productive with fat browns wanting a lightly weighted nymph and one good crack at a veritable hog that would have gone 12 -14 lbs. Had a swim to get into position for it and after about 8 casts and one change the beast went for it and unfortunately my guy thought he had put it a bit to far to the right and went into relax mode and then was wondering what to do when his guide yelled STRIKE (the fish went at it hard and no time to warn my guy it was coming) - by the time the line was tight and rod lifted it was all over and this big trout quietly disappeared into the depths. Moral of the story - when your fly is in the water - FISH IT WITH PURPOSE! You won't get a second chance especially on big trophy trout!
It's been raining hard all day and there will be some bigger volumes in the river and also discoloration in some too for the next 24hrs before they drop back again.
Productive flies of recent: Green Humpies, Blow flies imitaions, Light half back nymphs and hare and coppers.
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