Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Friday, January 16, 2009
Friday, January 9, 2009
Sunday, January 4, 2009
A week in Southland and Otago Fly fishing
Please check out the accompanying video fly fishing blog that goes with this post.
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.
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
Saturday, November 8, 2008
Another week in the Southern region
After the last storm that brought snow to low levels throughout Southland and into Otago and even Canterbury as expected the rivers flows remained low due to the cold keeping the snow from melting. We had one of those rare blue bird days with a light southerly yesterday - the southern fly fishers wet dream! Being a Sunday many folks were out to enjoy some fishing before or after voting and I am sure many had great fishing. We certainly did with most fishing taking nymphs but the odd fish free rising from time to time and a quick switch to a black gnat proving a wise change.
We did see something a little off putting yesterday. On a river that has a series of beats and anglers access signs right beside a main road but not a single vehicle at any of them we decide to stop and use one of the beats for our mornings fishing. We rigged and walked over to the river and dropped about 100m below the vehicle to start walking up and very shortly encountered a vehicle on the far bank that doesn't have public road access and is all farm land. I walked up to the one figure I could see and he informed me that he had driven down that side and dropped 4 fisherman off (so there was 5 fisherman in total) spread out over the next 4 fishing beats upstream. I said ok mate we are out of here and headed off to another area and had a successful day. Now I have no problem with other parties of fishermen, its parr for the course in rivers with roads beside them, however trying to be a sneaky and driving down the other side of the river thru farm land dropping of so many other fisherman when there are public anglers access signs from the other side is not really fair in my book. We were lucky that we realized what the situation was very early in our day and got out of dodge city but it could easily have been different and our day would have been wrecked. These jokers could have used two road public accesses and put 2 parties of two fisherman together, left the vehicle at one of the accesses and a sign at the other rather than spreading them out over 4 beats with no indication of them even being there from the public accesses. I am pretty sure that most other anglers would have been very annoyed to see this kind of conduct going on and it should not be condoned in any way.
If there are public accesses, use them. Leave a sign in your vehicle saying which way you went, UPSTREAM or DOWNSTREAM and if you want to be really nice write the time down you started off on the sign as well.
We did see something a little off putting yesterday. On a river that has a series of beats and anglers access signs right beside a main road but not a single vehicle at any of them we decide to stop and use one of the beats for our mornings fishing. We rigged and walked over to the river and dropped about 100m below the vehicle to start walking up and very shortly encountered a vehicle on the far bank that doesn't have public road access and is all farm land. I walked up to the one figure I could see and he informed me that he had driven down that side and dropped 4 fisherman off (so there was 5 fisherman in total) spread out over the next 4 fishing beats upstream. I said ok mate we are out of here and headed off to another area and had a successful day. Now I have no problem with other parties of fishermen, its parr for the course in rivers with roads beside them, however trying to be a sneaky and driving down the other side of the river thru farm land dropping of so many other fisherman when there are public anglers access signs from the other side is not really fair in my book. We were lucky that we realized what the situation was very early in our day and got out of dodge city but it could easily have been different and our day would have been wrecked. These jokers could have used two road public accesses and put 2 parties of two fisherman together, left the vehicle at one of the accesses and a sign at the other rather than spreading them out over 4 beats with no indication of them even being there from the public accesses. I am pretty sure that most other anglers would have been very annoyed to see this kind of conduct going on and it should not be condoned in any way.
If there are public accesses, use them. Leave a sign in your vehicle saying which way you went, UPSTREAM or DOWNSTREAM and if you want to be really nice write the time down you started off on the sign as well.
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.
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Improving weather in The Southern NZ regions
Since the 1st week and a half of the fishing season the weather has improved (for the time being) down here in the lower third of the South Island. This has created a vast improvement in water clarity and all the rivers and streams are clean at present.
I have visited quite a lot of waters in the last week thru West Otago and Northern and Western Southland - all have been clear and fishing well although flows are quite large still (be careful on your crossings). The fishing has been good and we have been able to sight and catch many fish using standard nymphing techniques. A few trout have sucumbed to the dry fly as well.
As normal at this time of year some of those little hidden gems are the place to be as they are holding fish while they carry good early season water flows.
The trout themselves are a mixed bag with some very well conditioned trout and some trout needing to work hard over the next 2 months to put their condition back on.
There is still plenty of snow to melt off the mountains so we will see some high, dislcoloured water soon enough again - remember you can still find clean water usually and there is always the option to fish a streamer fly.
In 10 days most of the South Island New Zealand back country rivers open.......
Tight Lines
I have visited quite a lot of waters in the last week thru West Otago and Northern and Western Southland - all have been clear and fishing well although flows are quite large still (be careful on your crossings). The fishing has been good and we have been able to sight and catch many fish using standard nymphing techniques. A few trout have sucumbed to the dry fly as well.
As normal at this time of year some of those little hidden gems are the place to be as they are holding fish while they carry good early season water flows.
The trout themselves are a mixed bag with some very well conditioned trout and some trout needing to work hard over the next 2 months to put their condition back on.
There is still plenty of snow to melt off the mountains so we will see some high, dislcoloured water soon enough again - remember you can still find clean water usually and there is always the option to fish a streamer fly.
In 10 days most of the South Island New Zealand back country rivers open.......
Tight Lines
Monday, October 6, 2008
New Zeland Southern Spring Weather and fly fishing
Yesterday I had the opportunity to drop down to the Lumsden accommodation and do some work around the yard etc and then took off from there on a big circuit checking water out.
Upper Mataura - big flow and green murk - no sight fishing - fishable
Lower Mataura - Big flow green/brown - no sight fishing - worm country!
Oreti @ Lumsden - Big flow green/brown - no sight fishing - Woolly buggers and worm country
Oreti @ Mossburn - Big flow green/brown - no sight fishing- Woolly buggers and worm country
Aparima - Big flow brown - no sight fishing - Woolly buggers and worm country
Hamilton Burn - Big brown - no sight fishing - Woolly buggers and worm country
Waraki - Medium flow - clean - sight fishing
Borland - Medium/big flow - tan clean - semi sight fishing
Lower Waiu - Big flow - brown - no sight fishing - woolly buggers and worm country
Mararoa - Big flow - brown - no sight fishing - woolly buggers and worm country
Upper Waiau - Big Flow - clean
More rain overnight turned to snow this morning for a short period so more water has been sent into the catchments and when it warms up again there will be plenty of melt coming off too.
Upper Mataura - big flow and green murk - no sight fishing - fishable
Lower Mataura - Big flow green/brown - no sight fishing - worm country!
Oreti @ Lumsden - Big flow green/brown - no sight fishing - Woolly buggers and worm country
Oreti @ Mossburn - Big flow green/brown - no sight fishing- Woolly buggers and worm country
Aparima - Big flow brown - no sight fishing - Woolly buggers and worm country
Hamilton Burn - Big brown - no sight fishing - Woolly buggers and worm country
Waraki - Medium flow - clean - sight fishing
Borland - Medium/big flow - tan clean - semi sight fishing
Lower Waiu - Big flow - brown - no sight fishing - woolly buggers and worm country
Mararoa - Big flow - brown - no sight fishing - woolly buggers and worm country
Upper Waiau - Big Flow - clean
More rain overnight turned to snow this morning for a short period so more water has been sent into the catchments and when it warms up again there will be plenty of melt coming off too.
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