Hi there - I have been busy developing my new blog and website:
www.flyfishingexpeditions.co.nz
so please go check it out.
I have been working away on developing some new fly fishing expeditions for the serious fly fisher so keep your eyes out for the new expeditions when the info goes live on the site. I will post another blog to let you all know.
In the meantime ----- One of the more grunty weather systems has been smashing southern NZ over the last 72 hrs and the worst of it is arriving now and for the next 24 hrs. Snow has fallen to very low levels over the South Island and Mt Hutt in Canterbury has received well over a meter of snow and may end up with a excellent base going into the ski season.
NZ Fly Fishing Expeditions - Fresh snow
NZ Fly Fishing Expeditions - Fresh snow
It has been a while since I have fished in conditions that require de-icing of the fishing rod guides and at the moment I am not rushing out the door to experience it. The extremely cold blustery southerly that is blowing has certainly got my hopes up for a good duck shoot this afternoon.
There looks like there could be a few small gaps in the weather next week so there could be some good options to get out then - if I can find a stable couple of days together we are going to try to get into Fiordland for a late season hit on some of the big browns that are getting ready for spawning.
The reports of a long and cold winter ahead of us may well becoming true and it will interesting to see if it translates into big snow which will then make for some big run off come spring time through the rivers systems. If the winter is long and cold it will also have and effect on the health of the trout at the beginning of the season - it will take longer for them to put condition back on.
Showing posts with label rainbow trout. Show all posts
Showing posts with label rainbow trout. Show all posts
Monday, May 11, 2009
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Beautiful Hand Crafted Rods
Through a network of like minds i.e. serious trout heads, I have been in touch with a very highly regarded rod maker, Chris Carlin of Far North Rods Smiths and he will be out visiting later this year
If anybody is interested in getting a beautifully crafted bamboo rod this is definitely the guy to build one for you.
If anybody is interested in getting a beautifully crafted bamboo rod this is definitely the guy to build one for you.
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.
Friday, November 28, 2008
Time flies
Well some how it's been nearly 3 weeks since I wrote my last blog. I have been busy guiding and been all over the shop in both 4WD and Heli fishing mode with single day trips and multi day trips. The weather has continued to be spring like but there has been some absolute stunning fishing days. The fishing has been a mix of nymph and dry fly fishing with more of the latter starting to come into play. We have been enjoying the use of the usual suspects - Green humpies, Royal Wullfs and Blow flies and there has been some reasonable brown beetle activity around in the evenings too. Nymphs will continue to play a valuable role through out the season. I have had good success with emergers and soft hackles also over the last 2 weeks.
All the backcounrty fisheries I have evisited have been holdinng good numbers of rainbow trout higher up the system and the brown trout seem to more abundant lower down. The brown trout are all in seeming great condition early season and of the rainbow trout are post spawning with the exception of course as is the always the case when it comes to fishing.
I am seeing a great deal of masting in the beech trees and there might be a good mouse season coming up around the place!
The next week looks a little unsettled again but lets wait and see and take it as it comes.
Get in to Queenstown Sports world and get geared up.
Remember Check Clean and Dry.
Tight Lines
All the backcounrty fisheries I have evisited have been holdinng good numbers of rainbow trout higher up the system and the brown trout seem to more abundant lower down. The brown trout are all in seeming great condition early season and of the rainbow trout are post spawning with the exception of course as is the always the case when it comes to fishing.
I am seeing a great deal of masting in the beech trees and there might be a good mouse season coming up around the place!
The next week looks a little unsettled again but lets wait and see and take it as it comes.
Get in to Queenstown Sports world and get geared up.
Remember Check Clean and Dry.
Tight Lines
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
November Rivers Open and the Spring weather continues
The weather was quite rough for Lower South Island back country opening day with high winds being followed by a nasty but quick moving front. Anybody who walked into the backcountry rivers would have had a great time if the had the opportunity to fish the next 2 days which were about as perfect blue bird as you can get.
It just goes to show how far South we are situated here (45 deg S) this morning it is snowing hard out (still is as I write this) and has even been settling in some places Queenstown. A very cold blast has come charging up from the Antartic. I am sure it will pass quickly enough and 2moro will probably be bluebird at least out west, maybe not down south.
The rivers wont be too affected as the storm has come in exceedingly cold. There could be some rises in river levels over the next couple of days when it warms up due to snow melt but the mostly there will be clean water available to fish and the higher up the system you go the better it should be.
I have been out guiding a bit since my last report and there has been some excellent fishing if you can beat the roaring 40's winds - local knowledge is a good thing - you can't beat the wind but you can work with it.
Some of the small spawning streams that have just opened seem to have had early spawning runs and numbers are down as rainbow trout have already been dropping back (it's always possible that its the other way round tho) into the main system or lakes. However the bigger of the backcounrty rivers are fishing well and will contiue to do so over the next few months and some of the small streams are still well worth a walk.
Nymphing has been the way forward for the upstream fisherman but dry fly is starting up as the temps increase and it won't be long now until we see some beetle action.
Didymo - it's still there so don't be complacent, check clean dry. Most of the rivers that have been more affected by it over last summer down here seem to have had some good floods strip much of it out and there was been some great fishing in areas that were choked up with it last summer.
Some of the rivers that have bad didymo build ups when I have been there over the last season or 2, the fish we have caught have been in excellent nick and have been very accepting of taking a dry. I have a theory - the fish are looking towards the surface more often for food sources to eat and therefore will come to the dry more easily than when they were feeding pre-dominatly on nymphs prior to didymo. I will continue to explore this strangely exciting idea.
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Spring continues way down in the South Island
The spring weather down here at 45 deg South continues which is not unusual as it normally goes on until Xmas.
This last week has seen me doing some big miles around Southland in particular ducking and diving around the weather.
Yesterday we ended up on predominately rainbow trout water and had success with 3 landed, 2 lost and 2 missed strikes. Most of the day was fine and sunny on us but all around was frontal storms barreling thru. It snowed on us once briefly and rained twice - again briefly. Considering the weather our choice for the day was a very good one.
Rivers (29th Oct):
Upper Mataura - brown dirty in am (due to stopbank works above fairlight) clearing later in day.
Oreti - discoloured in am clearing and fishable by afternoon above Mossburn
Mararoa - clear and low/medium flow
The fishing has been excellent during the last week but the ability to dodge weather has been of the upmost importantance. Fish in all the rivers have been very accepting to most standard nymph patterns.
The backcountry rivers open this Saturday the 1st of November 2008.
Tight Lines.
This last week has seen me doing some big miles around Southland in particular ducking and diving around the weather.
Yesterday we ended up on predominately rainbow trout water and had success with 3 landed, 2 lost and 2 missed strikes. Most of the day was fine and sunny on us but all around was frontal storms barreling thru. It snowed on us once briefly and rained twice - again briefly. Considering the weather our choice for the day was a very good one.
Rivers (29th Oct):
Upper Mataura - brown dirty in am (due to stopbank works above fairlight) clearing later in day.
Oreti - discoloured in am clearing and fishable by afternoon above Mossburn
Mararoa - clear and low/medium flow
The fishing has been excellent during the last week but the ability to dodge weather has been of the upmost importantance. Fish in all the rivers have been very accepting to most standard nymph patterns.
The backcountry rivers open this Saturday the 1st of November 2008.
Tight Lines.
Thursday, March 13, 2008
Back in the Whakatipu
Great to be back home after a very successful trip up north. I had a chance to chase some snapper and also some kingfish in the Coromandel on the fly with mixed success but lots of enjoyment. Snapper for dinner one night!
The weather is starting to cool down in the South as Autumn is approaching but the fishing is still great. On the Oreti river yesterday with no wind and early cloud cover burning off provided some great fishing. Trout sitting under lips and taking nymphs were enticed easily with accurate casts and later in the day fish started coming to the surface taking dry's and provided some more sport. All in all 5 to the bank and lost 3 so not a bad day!
As we move more towards the end of March and into Autumn we will start to see some great mayfly hatches on some of our rivers while the mountain rivers will conitnue to provide great sport right up until the end of May. The brown trout have had a great summer and are coming into awesome condition as the season drifts towards closing of the lowland rivers at the end of April and the back country rivers the end of May. From now to the end of the season is one of my favourite times to be on the river, big strong fat fish and awesome weather, scenery is pretty good too!
The weather is starting to cool down in the South as Autumn is approaching but the fishing is still great. On the Oreti river yesterday with no wind and early cloud cover burning off provided some great fishing. Trout sitting under lips and taking nymphs were enticed easily with accurate casts and later in the day fish started coming to the surface taking dry's and provided some more sport. All in all 5 to the bank and lost 3 so not a bad day!
As we move more towards the end of March and into Autumn we will start to see some great mayfly hatches on some of our rivers while the mountain rivers will conitnue to provide great sport right up until the end of May. The brown trout have had a great summer and are coming into awesome condition as the season drifts towards closing of the lowland rivers at the end of April and the back country rivers the end of May. From now to the end of the season is one of my favourite times to be on the river, big strong fat fish and awesome weather, scenery is pretty good too!
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