Fly Fishing Late Season in The South Island of New Zealand

Lots of Mayfly but no fish feeding on the surface? Try an Emerger pattern. The last 2 days with the cooler weather down here has seen me guiding on river "X". Yesterday saw several missed chances - got to be super quick on the strike. I have been running a tundten beaded PT with and emeger dropper ( a special home tie pattern) and have had great success. Yesterday saw two 9lbs brown trout to the bank. Today same river, much lower down on the system, same rig and 9 fish hooked with 3 lost.



As I said in the last post the cold weather would make the difference and it certainly has. The mayfly is on but make sure you choose the right method of attack - surface has not been working but sub-surface with the emerger has. Tommorrow may be different but then again maybe not! Choosing the right rig and fly's for the conditions at the time is a big part of the fly fishing game.

Lates Season Fishing down South New Zealand

The last week since Easter has seen some odd warm (ish) weather with quite large quanties of precip falling west of the divide with some signifacnt spill over. The eastern side has not recieved too much rain but with the temps being warmer (until now) on top of the large floods we recieved about 3 weeks ago in many areas have certainly taken a toll on the the big mayfly hatchs we normally get. Although there has been some good steady action on the lower Mataura and yesterday on the upper “X” saw a good mid afternnon hatch of mayfly with fish feeding on the sub surface on the emerger but no actual surface action.



With the cold and clear weather on us now and steady thru to Friday there should be stronger hatches and we should see trout coming to the surface to sip the mayfly a great deal more on most of the Southern rivers.




With only 9 days left to go before the lowland rivers close it’s nice to see some stable weather for a change. This season has certainly been hard due to the very chanageable weather patterns but with good local knowledge has produces some great fishing at times.

The back country rivers stay open until the end of May and if the weather patterns give us some decent weather there will be some more good fishing available for the keen angler.



I am starting to get ready for some duck shooting and have been bringing bags of feed back from Southland to feed our ponds - (evening shoots preferred) but I will get in a bit more trout fishing before I head up to Golden Bay in mid May for a wee break. I am taking some saltwater fly fishing gear in the vain hope there might be some snapper around still (they usually move on around the end of April to follow the warm water) - we will see.
NZ Fly Fishing Expeditions - Back country Rainbow

NZ Fly Fishing Expeditions - Back country Rainbow

My last few days of guiding have been interesting from the tuition front. An interesting point is how detrimental to good fly casting is the habit of wanting to overmuscle the rod to load it up as opposed to allowing good technique to work the rod and allow for clean excution of the presentation. It’s something we are all gulity of now and again and is probably excerbated by “hog fever” and trying too hard rather than feeling the smooth rhythm of good fly casting. To be sure powering the rod up takes musclar activity and especially so when it comes distance casting but the majority of trout we catch is in a 30 -45 ft distance using long (and sometimes very long) leaders. Having the skills to deliver an acurate cast the right length, first time can make a huge difference to the results at the end of the day…….practice your casting. Make the time to practice particularly before going on a trip. Practice casting is best done on the grass in the park and not while seeing a 8+ lbs New Zealand feeding parked in a tricky pool eye. Yes life is busy but do yourself a favour - PRACTICE - it will pay off!

Autumn fishing is here.

Daylight saving time has changed back (thank goodness), the leaves are changing colour and there is one month left for the lowland rivers (the ones that run to the sea)these close on the last day of April and the high country rivers close at the end of May.

There is some great fishing from now until the end of the season with some good Mayfly action.

The Pommy had a very big and quite localised rain event about 2 weeks ago that created a very large flood event (it also hit the Waikaia but not as bad) which has seen debris left to very high levels up the banks and has certainly pushed fish back downstream and knocked them about. They will be moving up again.

The Oreti and Aparima have seen fresh fish moving up in last week and spawning runs are getting underway. It is no longer possible to target salmon in these systems due to the seasonal license restrictions in place from F&G. Even on poor light days blinding thru runs and riffles should produce a result or two - forget the aquarium pools unless you want to hit them after dark.

The Greenstone is now free slather (no booking system) again for all (if you have the correct licensing)until next season and is fishing well. The Caples is also fishing well and both are holding good numbers of fish and more Brownies are showing up in the systems. Even getting trout coming for cicadas still!

If you want to catch lots of fish, hitting the Mataura and working the riffles and waiting for the afternoon mayfly hatch is the way forward.

Quinnet salmon have been gathering at the heads of the lakes for their runs and the deltas have been productive.

Certainly now the days are shorter more gentlemanly fishing hours are available and there is some very productive fishing during the shorter light hours - particualry mid afternoon when the hatch is on!

Tight Lines,

Simon

SW Guiding Fly Fishing Report 24.03.09

Well I have just had a busy last week guiding and there has been some excellent fly fishing opportunities as our season runs into Autumnal conditions. We have a month to go before the South Island's low country rivers close at the end of April and another month until the end of May when the high country rivers close here in the South Island.

It's a great time to be out on the water with very few anglers around compared to the main summer months and with some great mayfly action coming up until the end of the season you knwo I will be out there getting stuck into it.

Update from Fly fishing New Zealand

I am just about to post a vid blog but in the mean time:

The lower 1/3rd of the South Isalnd has been fishing well.

The Cicada season on the west coast is at an end and in-land has been reltively poor due to the regular cold snaps we have been getting over summer killing off the grub.

Sea runs have started appearing in some of our better know sea running rivers and also chinnook salmon are showing up. The Clutha River belkow Roxburgh is one example of this where a solid amount of large salmon have been caught.

The latest cold snap produced teh coldest day in QT in March since 1991 and also a solid flush thru most of the river systems. This should only help induce more fish to run up these systems and we are lookinglike getting some excellent mid to late season fishing.

Tight Lines,

Simon

SW Guiding and Carlin Bamboo

Summer Time and Cicada's

We had a great weekend's Safari fly fishing trip to a remote backcountry river and the cicada's were going off. Check out A 70's Safari Party clip!

I am now away again for a 2 day trip into Southland and the weather is looking great so no doubt more terrestials will get used to tempt the hungry trout to the surface.

We are staring to see more settle weather coming thru but as always the odd frontal system has been coming in but moving out quickly as the next good high ridges in so now is a great time to be Fly Fishing New Zealand

SW Guiding New Zealand Fly Fishing Report 12.02.09

Fly Fishing New Zealand Video Blog

Handcrafted Bamboo Rod update

Chris Carlin of Far North Rod Smiths emailed me yesterday to say that he had finished making my rod and is starting the big journey to NZ. I will be hooking up with Chris when he gets down my way and will be looking after him on the water for a day'a real New Zealand fly fishing and get him into some big South Island brown trout. Maybe I wil get a chance to cast the rod? Probably another day!

He sent me some photos of the bamboo rod, a 8'6" 5wt 3 piece of handcrafted beauty. I greatly admire the skill and effort that goes into making rods like this. Even many of the tools required to make these stunning rods can't be bought but have to be made by the rod maker themselves.

Check out the accompanying photos and remember to give Chris a buzz (when he finishes his NZ vacation) and order yourself one of his stunning rods - it will be a rod for life!

Tight Lines,

Simon

Fly Fishing New Zealand - another summer week

Oh, the NZ school holidays are finished so most Kiwis are back at work until the weekend so its a great time to becoming fly fishing in New Zealand over the next few months.

Going on a New Zealand Fly Fishing Safari

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.

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.

South Island Rivers to re-open soon after spawning season- Felts soles Banned

With less than one month until our lowland rivers (The South Island of New Zealand) re-open on the 1st October the usual excitement is beginning to build. I am keen to get back on the water and start my seasonal exploratory duties of checking out the various waters around and track down some big trout for standby when the right clients and conditions avail themselves. You can bet your arse that I will do a bit of fishing too!


Felts have now been officially banned by the Minster - see below:

To reduce the risk of didymo spread, Conservation Minister Steve Chadwick today agreed to the New Zealand Fish and Game Council recommendation to restrict the use of footwear with felt soles by fishing licence holders.

“Our world-famous trout fisheries are threatened by the invasive alga ‘rock snot’, or didymo. While didymo is currently only in some South Island rivers, it could be easily spread to other places and we are taking these steps now to protect our precious waterways,” Steve Chadwick said.

The new condition is part of the Anglers Notice and comes into affect from the beginning of the fishing season on 1 October.

“The New Zealand Fish and Game Council has recommended that people who hold a licence to fish for trout, and other sports fish, should contribute to the national campaign to halt the spread of didymo by not using felt-soled waders when fishing.

“Given that felt-soled waders, and similar footwear, are very difficult to clean using the ‘Check Clean Dry’ approach, I have accepted the Council’s advice.

“It is important that fishers realise that this restriction does not remove the risk of didymo spread – it will address one particularly high risk, but we still need them to continue to be vigilant about cleaning other equipment.

“The ‘Check Clean Dry’ practice is critical to fight against didymo and other freshwater pests. Fishers have a special responsibility to help care for the trout fisheries that are the basis of their sport, and I urge them to continue to vigilantly follow Biosecurity guidelines.

“I will also be asking both the Department of Conservation and Fish and Game councils to increase their monitoring and education work relating to other vectors of didymo in freshwater, as part of the Biosecurity NZ nationwide campaign.

“I acknowledge that some anglers will need to change the types of soles they use, however, no-one wants to see didymo spread further, and the negative impact of didymo reaching their favourite fishery would be far greater than meeting the costs of this restriction.”

Some waders and boots used by freshwater fishers have a sole made from a thick felted material, which poses a very high biosecurity risk as micro-organisms, such as didymo, can become trapped in the felt, and cannot be killed by the normal cleaning methods used with other footwear. There are alternative soles available, and waders can be re-soled.

Check Clean Dry
Check Clean Dry
Check Clean Dry

ANZAC Long weekend

The Nissan Safari all packed up with just about everything you could possibly need for a fishing road trip. We headed down for a few nights based in Lumsden and the last of the fishing left before the low country rivers close on the last day of April. We maanaged to get two good days on the Oreti - hard going with low light at this time making spotting hard (no need to be out the door early) of the year but we managed to get onto a few good fish on the dry fly and find some late evening hatches to attend. We also noted a pool that had 40+ fish in it but none feeding. It looked like they were waiting for a fresh (that was coming) to head on a spawning run. After dark may have been worthwhile but we had other plans.

Gunns camp in the hollyford was waiting for us with a cabin booked and a date with some rainbows. It is big mountain water and with the storm around remmbering wher you are and the safety that goes with an area that gets between 6 - 8 meters of rain per annum - any good downfall can see the river rise quickly. This is a place that fish can be found by pooking in thru dense Fiordland bush and finding pools and then spending time to spot for both rainbow and brown trout. Generally speaking the fish can be hard to catch at this time of the year but with patience, skill, some luck and targeting the 'bows when you find them can pay dividends. We had 2 good days here with some good bows to show for it and then it was off with a stop in the Eglington and a and some mayfly action before heading back to Queenstown. All in all a greta trip in an amazing landscape with some nice fish to boot.

SW Guiding Maps

Hi there - I have just been learning how to use nomao mapping for my blog and website - it's very good and easy to use. I embedded one below that you can scroll around on and look at my Queenstown base and Southland Homestay base locations and also get a photo and video - I hope you enjoy.

Pricked by SWGUNNY with Nomao

Beautiful Autumn

The first good autumn /winter storm came thru dropping quite a bit of snow down to about 3000 ft lowering to 1400ft in Queenstown. Snow to ground in areas south like Mossburn and Lumsden etc. This has been followed by a very cold night with big frost so will it be interesting to see the Southern rivers this coming week. All our backcountry rivers low and clean and I imagine similar in the South but it may create a small fresh followed by some melt fresh, stirring the browns up a little for spawning runs in some areas --- maybe!

There should be some great mayfly hatches in the afternoons - I am off to Lumsden for four days this coming week so I will let you know whats going on.

Makarora

A awesome sunrise this morning and and on the road headed for a days fishing with beautiful Autumnal weather at Makarora. Crystal clean water is what we expect to find and do worth a light southerly wind blowing on our tail. Pretty hard going this morning with fish being hard to find and those that we do we botch it all up and off they slide until we are well past. Around 1400 things changed as expected and the browns cam into the shallow riffles to feed on mayfly. We started to find fish and although no hatch was on we ran a parachute Adams over them and no hesitation with the fish coming up to suck them down. By 1600 wit the sun slipping behind the mountain tops and the temperature dropping it was time to walk back to the truck and head home happy with the knowledge of finding trout around the time we expected to see them and then managing to fool a few of them - another great days fishing in the late season. Oh by the way - still happy enough to wet wade on these nice days but wearing thermal underwear below the pants and carry a spare layer or 2 in the backpack.

Good late season fishing

6th April - leaving early today (0500) we headed off deep into southland to spotx. Arriving early we headed well up river before starting to fish to give us the best chance of undisturbed water (big walk back at the days end - oh well). As the light lifted we started spotting some good trout. We got them to lift to para adams #12 even with no hatch and when that didn't work we went to them and had success on Pheasant Tail #12-14. Got a good solid 1/2 hr hatch at 1400 - fish in the riffles - ye haa. 8 fish landed and about the same lost for one reason or another and a couple of missed strikes. The browns are moving up river for spawning so it is a good idea to check out upper reaches of water ways if the have reasonable water flow - look after a fresh. Well worth the longer drive today as the fishing in more northern southland has been harder as of recent. Still have got to chase those Salmon up the Dart yet. Next days fishing is friday 11th - will come back with a report then

28th March

A fresh came thru last night so we headed off to the Matukituki mouth to see if there were any salmon schooling getting ready to run or brown trout but to no avail. It was off on the hunt for rainbows in the mighty clutha - this proved quite successful with 5 fish taken and 2 lost (all on nymphs)one of which was a trout around the 8lbs mark. with all the rest coming in at between 3 and 5lbs but in the big water worked us hard like fish twice the size.

Apparently the salmon are schooling off the Dart mouth at the moment so that could be worth a crack next up.

The Autumn weather should be starting to create some good mayfly hatches on some of our southern rivers.