Issue 121 RRP $9.90 TROUT FISHER - Fishnhunt · he tackles various technical problems commonly...

NEW ZEALAND Issue 121 RRP $9.90

CATCHING ON

ArmCHAIr ANGLING

TrEmENDOus TONGArIrO

TECHNOLOGY and the mODErN FLYFIsHEr

TROUTWINTeR 2010

Welcome to Godzone's only dedicated trout fishing magazine, Kiwi owned and produced . . .

ISSUE 121FeaturesTREMENDOUSTONGARIRODavidWilliams...10TECHNOLOGY&THEMODERNFLYFISHERNickReygaert...20CATCHINGONMarkSanders...26ARMCHAIRANGLINGRussellMcKendry...38

FixturesTAKEOFFTHEBLINKERSPeterStorey...2SAYITWITHASMILEPeterGaraway...4NORTHISLANDROVINGBelindaThomas...6EASTERNDarylFrench...8HOOKIT&COOKITStephan&BrigitteBaumberger...18NELSON/MARLBOROUGHTonyOrman...32SOUTHISLANDROVINGMelHollis...34SOUTHERNWATERSMikeWeddell...36

COvERFront:UnderwaterRainbow(NickReygaert)Back:Start'emyoung(JudyGreen)

THIS PagERerewhakaaitumagic(BelindaThomas)

ISSN 1173-1761Nopartofthismagazine,ineitherprintanddigitalform,maybereproducedinanywaywithoutpriorpermissionofthepublisher.

PHOTOgRaPHERSAndyTrowbridge,BeckPhotography,CoryScott,DanThomas,DavidLambroughton,ElwynGreen,KiyoshiNakagawa,NickReygaert.

PROdUCTION & advERTISINgPeterStorey,Editor&Publisher,1RonaldRoadLakeTaraweraRD5Rotorua3076NZ.Email:peter@nztroutfisher.co.nz;ph/fax:07(+647)3628914

Welcome to Godzone's only dedicated trout fishing magazine, Kiwi owned and produced . . .

ISSUE 121FeaturesTREMENDOUSTONGARIRODavidWilliams...10TECHNOLOGY&THEMODERNFLYFISHERNickReygaert...20CATCHINGONMarkSanders...26ARMCHAIRANGLINGRussellMcKendry...38

FixturesTAKEOFFTHEBLINKERSPeterStorey...2SAYITWITHASMILEPeterGaraway...4NORTHISLANDROVINGBelindaThomas...6EASTERNDarylFrench...8HOOKIT&COOKITStephan&BrigitteBaumberger...18NELSON/MARLBOROUGHTonyOrman...32SOUTHISLANDROVINGMelHollis...34SOUTHERNWATERSMikeWeddell...36

COvERFront:UnderwaterRainbow(NickReygaert)Back:Start'emyoung(JudyGreen)

THIS PagERerewhakaaitumagic(BelindaThomas)

ISSN 1173-1761Nopartofthismagazine,ineitherprintanddigitalform,maybereproducedinanywaywithoutpriorpermissionofthepublisher.

PHOTOgRaPHERSAndyTrowbridge,BeckPhotography,CoryScott,DanThomas,DavidLambroughton,ElwynGreen,KiyoshiNakagawa,NickReygaert.

PROdUCTION & advERTISINgPeterStorey,Editor&Publisher,1RonaldRoadLakeTaraweraRD5Rotorua3076NZ.Email:peter@nztroutfisher.co.nz;ph/fax:07(+647)3628914

www.nztroutfisher.co.nz 1

2 NZ Trout Fisher 121

Take off the BLINKeRsByPETER STOREY

This issue is dedicated to Richard Millett, for whom anything seemed possible and its creation invariably presented an opportunity for entertainment . . .

Afterpublishingfornearly20years,Ifullyrealisemanypeoplewillpickthisissueupandputitdown

againimmediately,simplybecausetheword'Tongariro'isonitscover.Yes,asanationKiwisremain'parochial-plus'andwhilethere'snothingwrongwiththatperse,inmyopinionit'samind-setthatcankeepatroutfisherinthe90%,onwhichSimonexpoundedsoeloquentlylastissue.Tothe10%,ofwhomyouareipsofactoeitheralreadyoneorintheprocessofbecoming,theword'Tongariro'ofcourserepresentsavastsourceofanglingknowledgethat'sfullyapplicabletoanyotherriverofasimilarnature.Theironlyplaceforblinkers—angling-wise,anyway—isinthepresentation.

It'swiththisinmindthatIrecommendJohnGiacon'slatestbook,Waikaremoana,toyou.Whileit'sbeenproducedonatightbudget,containspassagesmanywillrecognisefrompastbooks,andisliberallysteepedinthepleasuresoffamilyandcomradeship,inmyopinionthisbookcontainssomanyworthwhiletipsforfishingthisandsimilarlakesthatonlyafoolwouldfailtobuyacopy.Combining30successiveyearlytripstothelakebyasizeableandrepeatinggroup,thesocialstructurethatdevelopedandtheanglingknowledgesogained,withapassionforthelakeitselfthat'sstraightfromtheheart,WaikaremoanaisanuniqueandthoroughlyentertainingreaddestinedtobecomeapermanentpartofKiwianglingliterature.Shortofgivingyouthecoordinates,intrue'Giacon'fashionit'sprettymuchafull-onguidetothelakeaswell.Whatmorecouldyouask.Contact john@nzangling.co.nz

AnotherinterestingpackagethatactuallyreachedmebackinSummerwasStealthFilms'The Dead Drift — an in depth analysis to fly fishing in New Zealand.ThisDVDfeatureswell-knownFiordlandguideandformerTroutFisherwriter,DeanBell,demonstratinghowhetacklesvarioustechnicalproblemscommonlyencounteredwhenflyfishing

hereinNZ.ThecombinationofDean'sskillandeasycommentarywithSteveCouper'sgreatfilmingmakethisDVDathoroughlyworthwhileadditiontoanysight-fisher'slibrary.Contact steve@stealthfilms.co.nz

AfurthercontactmaderecentlyisKrisSheaofTrippin for Trout,whoseattitudeIreallylike.Havealookaroundhissite—it'squiterefreshing:http://trippinfortrout.blogspot.com/

HereathomeI'verecentlybecomeinvolvedwiththeTaraweraSelective

BreedingProgramme,helpingtoclearTeWairoatrap.Asanangleritmadesensetosayyeswheninvitedtojointheteam,butit'salsogoodtoputsomethingbackintoafisherythat'sbecomesuchanimportantpartofmylife.

ForthoseunfamiliarwiththeTSBP,thetrapisthemainsourceofhatcheryfishreleasedintheRotoruaLakes;andmanyotherplaces.Basically,allfishrunningTeWairoabetweenAprilandmid-August—upto2000—havetopassthroughthetrap,wheretheirlength,weightandreleasedataarerecorded;thosereachingsetcriteriaarethenkeptforbreedingandtherestallowedtocontinueupthestream.ThefishselectedaretakenbacktotheNgongotahaHatchery,stripped,thenbroughtbackandreleasedintothelake.Anglersfishingthemouthmayalsoputfishtheycatchintothetrap.

Sofarthisseasonbothaveragelengthandweightareagainslightlyhigher,withagoodshowingoflargerfish.Thoseinsetareagoodaveragecentrerightandtworecentselections.

Afewthingshavesurprisedme.Thefirstishoweasythefisharetohandleinabolt-for-coversituation—Ihadexpectedastrugglebutinrealitytheybehavelittledifferenttoanyfishyou'vejustlanded.(Mindyou,Iprocessminesinglyratherthaninthrees,likeMarkSherburndoes!)Thesecondthingtostrikemeisjusthowmanyfishrunwhenitrainsheavilyandhowfewatothertimes—Ialreadyknewthisbasicfact,ofcourse,buthadneverseenit

demonstratedsoclearly.Anotherpointofanglinginterestisthatanovercastskylikethisoneandfogkeepfishmovingintothestreamduringdaylight,whereaclearskydoesnot.BytheendoftherunsIalsohopetogetaclearerideawhetherthemooneffectsruns,heavyrainorno.Youfrequentlygettheimpressionwhenanglingthatitaffectstheiraggression,soI'minterestedtoseeifthatperceptionismoregenerallyapplicable.

TheTSBPaimstocollectthetop5%ofthetotalruneachyear,withselectioncriteriarisingasenoughofeachlevelarecollected.Inanidealsituationtheywouldallbethose4kg-plusfishthatbuiltTarawera'sreputationbutsadlysuchfisharefewerthesedays.Duringthe1990's,Icaughtatleastthreematurefishover4kgeachseasonbut

Tarawera Trail Background Links:-

http://www.doc.govt.nz/upload/documents/about-doc/tenders/carbon-sink-tenders/conservation-projects/lake-tarawera-trail.pdf;

http://www.doc.govt.nz/about-doc/news/media-releases/an-exciting-turn-for-the-tarawera-trail/;

www.infonews.co.nz/news.cfm?id=22701;

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j_AF5aS_bcY

it'snownearly7yearssinceI'vecaughtanythinglargerthan3.6kg.

Justwhathascausedtheaveragesizeofmaturefishtodropisn'tclear.Twototallynewfactorssincethen,however,arethatovertwiceasmanyfisharereleasedeveryyearanddeliberatestepshavebeentakentoraiselakewaterquality,whichwashappeningnaturallyanywayastheeffectsofthe1886eruptionfade.Whileit'stemptingtograsp,blinker-style,atthatfirstfactor,sciencehasproventhatuptoacertainlevelnutrientenrichedwaterequatestolargerfishand,asclearlydemonstratedinRotoiti,ahighstockinglevelsimplymeansmoreofthem.Youonlyhavetocomparethesamereleaselakebylaketoseehowmuchvariationthereisinthesamefish,givenaricherorpoorerdiet.

ItwasRichardMillettwhointroducedmetoTarawera,nearly30yearsago,

whenIwasoneof20ormoreinvitedtostayathisfamilybachthatsummer.Whilstpassionateaboutthelakeanditsenvirons,hedidn'tcareovermuchaboutchangesinthefishery:tohimafishwasafishandprovideditplayedwellhewassatisfied;andifitscatcherwashisguest,he'dbeoverthemoon.

Ican'thelpthinkingRichard'skindofhospitality,thatofNewZealand'sfounders,maybelosingitsappealinourmarketeconomy.I'malsoawareIseescenic/wildernesstourismquitedifferentlytothosedrivingit,aslogicallyself-destructive.Yetsomewhatparadoxically,IstillbelieveDoC'snewpublicTarawera Trailaroundthelake(seelinkstopleftabove)shouldenhanceenjoymentofthisveryspecial

partofNewZealand.Myconcern,however,isthatcornerswillyetagainbecutturningvisionintorealityandthelakewillpay,irreparably.Unless,forinstance,theseweragethisnewtrackproducesisisolatedandshippedout,at12000budgetedusersayearitcouldironicallyhelprestorethelake'strophystatus(buthopefullywithoutanotherconsequencethatresultedinWaikaremoana—giardia).

That'saevenfinerlinetodrawnationally,ofcourse,butmaybeit'stimetotakeofftheblinkersandnotonlymarketNewZealandasRicharddidTarawera,butalsosellitthatway:somethingtobesharedwithallmindsfocussedonitsfuture.Parochially,nationally,globally:life'sbitterestfactisthat,likegoodfriends,youneverknowjustwhatyouhaduntilit'sgone.

say it with a

SMILE© Peter garaway 2010

Weheardthehelicopterfirst,adronethatquicklyincreasedinvolume.Then,witha

suddennessthatstartled,alittleHughes500soaredoverthedownstreamridge,descendedrapidlywithatightfishtailingmotion,andproceededslowlyupstreamaboutfivemetresabovethesurfaceofthewater.Wedoubtedthattheoccupantshadseenusorourbivouacunderthetrees.

Followingaquick,dragonfly-likeside-step,themachinehoveredbrieflyoverthestonyclearingneartheheadofthereach,andsettledintoaveryundragonfly-likelanding.Theleftskidtoucheddownonthesideofalargerboulderandthehelicopterbegantotiltsideways;notdangerouslyso,justatadlop-sided.Butbeforethepilotcoulddoanythingtheskidslippedofftherockwithasharpscrapingnoise,the

helicopterlurchedsharplythroughninetydegrees,andjudderedbackontothestoneswithadistinctcrunch.

Adoorflewopenandtwomenscrambledout,stumbledclearoftherotorblades,andturnedtofacethemachine.Astheenginedied,thepilotjumpeddowntoo,madeaquickinspectionoftheundercarriage,andsaunteredovertowheretheotherswerestanding.

Therewasanexcitedspateofwordsfromthepassengers,accompaniedbymuchwavingofarmsinthedirectionofthehelicopter,butwecouldn’tmakeoutwhattheyweresaying.Itwasobvioustheywerecommentingonthelanding,butthepilotmerelygavea“she’llberight”shrugandstartedtopullgearfromthecabin.

‘NowthathastobeBonedome,’Teddeclared.

Yep,andthoselooklikefishermentome,’Ireplied,‘Foreigners,too,I’dsay.AndIdidn’tspendtwodayshikinginherejusttobepippedbyadafthelicopterjockeylikehim.’

‘Indeed,no.’Tedagreed.‘We’dbettergetfishing.’

Wepickedupourrodsandwalkedquicklydowntothewater’sedge.Scrubbybushesblockedourviewofthehelicopteranditspassengers—andtheirviewofus—untilwereachedthewater’sedge.

Keepingacoverteyeonthenewcomersweostentatiouslyreadiedourrodsforfishing—andgrinnedateachotherwhenoneofthepassengerssuddenlyexclaimedandpointedinourdirection.Therewasanotherburstofspeechfromhiscolleague,directedatthepilotthistimeand,althoughwestillcouldn’tmakeoutwhatwassaid,theydidn’tsoundhappywords.

Thepilotabruptlystoppedwhathewasdoingandstoodlookingatus,handsonhips.Withaquickwordtohispassengers,hebeganstridingstifflyoverthestonygroundtowardsus.Afteramoment’shesitation,hispassengersambledafterhim.

TedandIwatchedthemenapproach.Thepilotwasindeed“Bonedome”

BragginsfromAcottsCrossing,theoperatorofahelicopterhuntingandfishingguideservice.Hisnicknamesupposedlyderivedfromhispenchantforwearinghispilot’shelmetevenwhenhedidn’tneedto—althoughcertainmembersofourlittlecommunityhadbeenheardtosuggestthenamewasmoretodowithhiscranialcondition.Theothermen,whomweassumedtobehisclients,werebothbig,solid,individuals,whocarriedthemselveswithassurance.

‘Whatthe****areyoudoinghere?’Bonedomegreetedussourly,scowlingbehindhisdarkglasses.

‘Goodmorning,Bonedome,’Irespondedwithartificialheartiness.‘Doyouusuallytalklikethisinfrontofclients?’

Thetwopassengersexchangedaquickgrin—theyobviouslyunderstoodEnglish—andBragginsflushed.Heignoredmyquestion.

‘Youtwointendingtofishthissectionofriver?’

‘Wearefishingthissectionofriver.’‘Well,’hecontinued,‘how’dyou

liketomoveonsomewhereelse?I’vegottheseimportantclientswithonlyalimitedwindowofopportunity.’

‘Whyshouldwemove,Bonedome?’Tedaskedquietly.‘Wewereherefirst:whydon’tyoumoveonsomewhereelse?’

‘Nowlisten,’Bonedomeexpostulated,‘thesemenarevery,veryimportantvisitors.FromRussia.Ihave

togivethemthebestpossiblefishingopportunity,andquickly.’

‘You’dbettergetonyourbikethen,’Isuggested,noddingtowardshishelicopter.

BeforeBonedomecouldrespond,thetallerofhisclientsspokeincareful,accented,English.

‘Please,isthereaproblem?’‘Notatall,sir,’Tedrepliedpolitely.

‘Therulehereisthatthefirstanglerinasectionofriverisallowedtofishitfirst:anyonecominglatershouldwait.Orfishsomewhereelse.’

‘Ah,Iunderstand.’Thevisitorreplied.‘Thisisthelaw,yes?’

‘No,itbloodywellisn’t!’Bonedomeyelled.’It’sjustableepingconvention,that’sall.’

‘Con-vention?’‘Thatmeansit’sthelocal

custom,’Tedanswered.‘Etiquette.Agentlemen’sagreement.’

‘Agentlemen’sagreement?Ah,yes;Iunderstand.’

‘It’sbloodycobblers,’Bonedomeexclaimed.‘There’snolawatall;anyonecanfishwherevertheylike!’

Thevisitorraisedaneyebrow.‘Andifwedothis?’

No-onespokeforamoment,butTedpulledamulti-tooloutofhispocket,openedittothepliersdevice,andpretendedtoinspectthejaws,clickingthemnoisily.

‘Howreliableisyourchopper,Bonedome?’heaskedinnocently.'Bealongwalkbacktocivilisationifit,er,brokedownwhileyouwereoffguidingyourclients.’

Bonedomelookedabouttoexplode,whilehisclientsexchangedamusedglances.Thetalleroneaddressedhim

‘Ifyouweretoinsistwefishhere,thenwewouldnotbegentlemen,yes?’

Bonedomejustglowered,sothemanshruggedandspokeagain.

‘Pleaseshowusanotherplacetofish.Wedonotwishtobe…uncivilised.’

Hedippedhisheadtousinasmallbow,turnedandwalkedaway.

Asthehelicopterstartedup,IaskedTed,‘Doyouknowwhothatchapis?’

‘No,why?’‘IsawhimonaTVcurrentaffairs

programmetheothernight.He’sinthecountryongovernmentbusiness,buttheprogrammeimpliedthatheisinvolvedwithcertainRussian,er,criminalelements—ifyouknowwhatImean.’

Tedpaled.‘Andyouthreatenedhim.’‘Oh,’saidTed,weakly.‘Well,thank

goodnesshe’s—um—agentleman,then.’

Photo: a truly unwelcome visitor. (Biosecurity NZ)

Doubletakesandsecondglances,secondchanceseven,canpayhugedividends.Ifishedthe

OhinemuriRiverintheKarangahakeGorgeandMackytownforthefirsttimeinnearlyayearaboutafortnightagoandwasunimpressed.Thewaterwasgrimy,extremelylowandskirtedbygrot.Thefishwerethere,butcontinuousflycleaning,slipping,slidingandsquintingintodirtybottomeddarkwaterwasuninspiring,depressingeven.ButafortnightlaterIfoundoutwhatadifferenceagoodfreshcanmake!Thispopularriverfloodslikecrazy,butstaysmoreorlesstruetoitselfduetoitsstablerockybottom,eveniftherocks

canseemparticularlyunstablewhenyouwade.Todayit’srunningatabout11.9metres,20centimetreslowerthanIlikeitandhalfametrelowerthanwhatisconsideredtheunfishablelevelof12.4metres(refwww.ew.govt.nz).Agoodflushhasleftitlight,invitingandfreeofmostoftheslimethatpreviouslymadeitsofrustrating.Andthefisharestillthere,evenmoreso.

Onethingtoloveaboutthisriveristhatonanysunnyday,yearround,therewillbeahatchofsortsandtroutonthechompjustunderthesurface.Thesefishwillnipatemergersswungonalinechosentosuitthedepthandspeedofthewateryouarefishing.In

themainIuseaclearslowintermediatewithafastsinkpolyleader,makingfineradjustmentswithabeadheadstreamertiedaboveanemerger.OnsomedaysawalkintheriverislikeherdingwhitebaitsoanoliveorbrownMarabouorRabbitstreamerisamustinamulti-flysetup.It’snotimportanttohugthebottombutondifferentdaysalittlemoreorlessdepthmakesforthebestfun.It’saprettycruiseywaytocoverwaterandyoutendtopickuplotsofdinks.AboutthenIstarttorelax,mymindwandersandthetap-tap-tapIfeltontheswingturnsintoaminimonster.Themid-rangefishareenergeticrascalsinthe25to40cmrangeandchange

ACCessIBLe RIVeRsNORTHISLANDROVINGwithBELINda THOMaS

"Whanganui . . . big rainbows taking flashy flies in the fast water; cunning browns executing the softest takes

on dark nymphs, deep under the willows."

everything.Focus!Therearesomeabsoluteslammingfishinthisriverandtheycansneakuponyou.Andbewarethelunkers,fishwelloverfivepoundsarepossible.

Ingeneralitholdstruethatifthefishareintheriffles,forexample,thentheywillbetherethroughout,soifyoufindafewintherifflesorpocketsorpoolsorglidesthenstickingtothosecanincreaseyoursuccess.That’snottosaythattherewon’tbefishmoochingaroundeverywherebutit’sagoodruleofthumb.CzechNymphing,nymphunderdry,andinthesummerasingleordoubledryalltakefishonthewayupstreamandIoftenrunoutoftime

doingthatbeforeIgetthechancetofishtheswingonthewaydown.

Beajackofalltradesifyoulike.It’sariverthatofferssomethingforeveryone,andsomedaysitseemseveryoneisthereduetoitsaccessibilityandproximitytoAuckland.SobeforeIturnintoaonewomanOhinemurimarketingmachineImustaddthatit’sabouttheleastpeacefulplaceIfish.Trafficnoise,litterandacoldwindwhistlingdownthemidsectionsofthegorgearen’teasytoignore.Therockstendtobesharpandslipperyandthegoingcanbetoughonthelegs.Butondayswhenthefishingisgoodwewillforgiveinnumerablethingsandgohomeveryhappydespitethesemisdemeanours.

AnotheraccessibleriverthatIcan’tgetenoughofistheWhanganui.

Idaren’tsaytoomuchinfearofitsufferingmorepressurebutsomuchhasbeenwrittenaboutthisriveralready.Undoubtedlyitsufferedahammeringoverthe2009OceaniaChampionshipsbutonethingthatcompetitionfishinginthesehighlypopulatedrivershastaughtmeisthatpressureneednotruinyourdayout.Thecompetitorsinthatparticulareventcaughtupwardsof20fishinconsecutivesessionsonthesamebeats,whichisalotoffishthereforthecatchingifyouarepreparedtoloveeveryfishthatyoufind.Everyanglerfishesslightlydifferentlyandsomedaysyoujusthavetofindawaytodiversifytogetyourfish.Thisrollsoffthetonguebutinrealityandfacedwiththeglimpseofananglerupstreamitcanbeamindsetthattakessomediscipline.

TheWhanganuiislessromanticthanitstributarytheWhakapapa,andlessspiritualthantheManganui-a-te-ao,butit’sarivertoloveandIfellforitoverandoveragainthisautumn.Itwasaclichéofsorts:bigrainbowstakingflashyfliesinthefastwater;cunningbrownsexecutingthesoftesttakesondarknymphs,deepunderthewillows.Ifonprevioustripswe’vegonefornumbersinanany-fish-will-dolollyscrambleofaction,thistimewewereafterquality,fishtoremember.

Findingtheriverhighandcolouredmeantabandoningthedryflynymphcombo,loopingonindicatorsinsteadandbombingthelikelylies.Blindfishingrequiresreadingthewater,itsvelocity,hydrologyandstructureandcanbefascinating.WhileIlovetocomplicatethesewithavisibletarget,thethrillofthestrikeandfishbuckingontheendofyourlineisthereregardless.Overacoupleofdaystheriverdroppedandclearedandthefishingbecamemoreprecise,theresultsmoretargetedandthe

climbintheexponentialcurveoffocusandoutcomesmorepleasing.UsuallyI’dhavedecreasedthesizeofmynymphs,butthiswasn’tnecessary.Thefishpreferredaprettyunimaginativesize12Hare & Copperwithanorangeunderlay,andagoldtungstenbeadfortherainbowsandthesameHare & Copperdressedwithablackbeadandalittleredwireforthebrowns.

Itseemedgreedy,butthelureoffishingOtamangakauatnightafteragloriousdayontheWhanganuiwasjusttootempting.Knownmainlyasaboatfishinglakethereareafewopportunitiesforfishingfromtheshore,dependingonthelakelevels.It’sabitofagambleaswindcanplayadisruptivepartaswell,butifyoustrikeitrightanddon’tsufferfromthecoldtoomuchitcanbeblindinglygood.Wewerelucky,landedsomehotfishandhadathoroughlygoodtimetryingtokeepthemoutoftheweed.Aswithalotofthesespotsatnight,lumofliesdidthedamage.

OnthesubjectofnightfishingIsuggestthatyougetamongst

it.LakeTaupoisextremelylowwhichopensupafewspotsthathaven’thadspaceforabackcastinawhile.Italsotakesusalittleclosertosomedrop-offssobearthatinmindandarriveearlyorscopeoutanywhereyouplantofishinthelightofday.Atthesmallerstreammouthsorthosewithlesscurrentitpaystoputinacoupleofshortcastsbeforeyougetinthewater,oftentherewillbeagoodfishwaitingpatientlythereforyourarrival.

Blindfishingaccessibleangler-populatedriversandlakesaroundTaupoandRotoruaisprettymuchitforthewinterforme,soIplantoenjoythesocialsideofanglingwhenitpresents.Asfaraspredictionsgo,regardingtheTaupofisherythiswinterIpredictthattherewillbealotoftalk,muchofitwillberubbishandsomewillholdtrue;andatmosphericallytherewillbeleadintheair.Seriously,we’llbetotallyatthemercyofMotherNature,sofishyourbestandit’llbeagooddayout,andwherewouldyouratherbe?I’mreallyexcitedaboutthenewwinterlimitfortheHinemaiaiaRiver;it’sastunnerandsodifferenttotheotherTauporivers.I’malsolookingforwardtobumpingintoafewgoodsoulsthatIonlygettoseeannuallywhenwe’relinedupandhuntingtherunningtrout.

Benicetoyourneighbours.In

troutwetrust.

anythingonfly@xtra.co.nz

Photo: a gorgeous rainbow from a high and dirty Whanganui (BT)

ACCessIBLe RIVeRsNORTHISLANDROVINGwithBELINda THOMaS

"Whanganui . . . big rainbows taking flashy flies in the fast water; cunning browns executing the softest takes

on dark nymphs, deep under the willows."

Ahead in the BayTALKINGPLENTYwithdaRYL FRENCH

Wellitwasalongdrysummerandaffectthefishing,itcertainlydid.Mostofthe

streamsIfisharoundTaurangaandRotoruareallysufferedfromlackofwater,insomecasesreducingthemtoameretricklethatnoself-respectingtroutwouldwanttolivein,letalonemigrateup.TheAwahouMouthstoppeddeadmid-March,whenthelaketemperaturewasdropped2-3degreesbyanunseasonablycoolsoutherlyblow,andsowhenmymateDarylMarshallwasupvisitingfromtheDeepSouth,fishingwasrightinbetween,andquitehard.Thatsaidwedidmanagetogetsomefish,asyoucanseebythenicelittlebrownonthephoto,butitwastough.WhenfishinginlittlestreamsliketheonepicturedwithDarylandI,it'sbestifyoucanspotthetrout,astherenormallyaren’tmany,maybeoneeverysecondpool,andtheyareveryeasilyspooked.Spottingforthesebrownsisnotatalleasyasyoucanseehowwelltheyblendintothebackgroundtheylivein.OnethinginyourfavourwithBrownsisthattheyarecreaturesofhabit,however,andonceyouhavefoundoneit’slikelytoremainthereallsummer,evenifyoucatchitanumberoftimes.ThisBrownInicknamed“RogertheLodger“andsoIdidusemylocalknowledgetogetmyfriendhookedup.ManythankstoIvanandHeatherforallowingmeaccesstothisspecialspot.

Nowlet’smoveontowhat’shappeningwiththewinterfishing.

Insummarywinterhasn’tstartedyet.IamwritingthisinlateMayandthefishstillaren’treallyrunninginthebigthreeRotorualakes(Tarawera,RotoitiandOkatina).Myfavouritelake,Tarawera,hasonlyhadafewdecentrunsthroughtheTeWairoatrap.MymatesatFish&GamereportthatYTDMaythisyeartherehaveonlybeen373fishthroughthetrap,comparedwith708thistimelastyear.Theaverageweightisupalittle,andmoreimportantforthosetrophyseekersthebiggestfishareupconsiderablyinsizeoverlastyear.(MythankstoMattOsborneandthelocalFish&Gamefolksforthisinformation.)HoweverIhavealotoffaithinthisfisheryandthetrouthavetospawnatsomestage,soit’sjustamatteroftimebeforetheseasonhitstopgear.

InpreparationIhavebeentyingupafewofmytwofavouriteTaraweranightflies,asimplefluorescentDoll Fly,andaGreen Orbit,whichIturnintomykillerflybyaddingalittlejunglecockfeatureatthehead.

TheOhauChannelisupandrunningagain,andwhileIhavetakennothinglarge,thereareanumberoffishthereifyoufishitcarefully.Checkoutthebackissuesformyarticleonhowtofishhere.

Anotherfavouriteplaceofmine,theNgongotahaStream,hasalsobeenaffectedbylackofwater,butastherainscomesowillthefish.RecentlyIhavehadacoupleofgoodbagsoutofthereusingmystandarduglyHare & CopperweightednymphandGlo Bug,butnothingbigyet.FromatrapperspectiveFish&GamereportedthatforthemonthsofMarch,AprilandMaytheestimatednumberoffishthroughthetrap(itisonlydoneoverabout10nights)was798fish,with70%ofthesebeingBrowns,butnorealdoublefiguretrophiesyet….wheredotheyallhideIaskmyself.Thisisabout20%downonlastyearandsothemainrunisstillyettohappen.IknowIhavetalkedabouthowyoufishthisstreambefore,butthisyearIhavecomeupwithatoptipforyourindicator.JamieDavies,aguidefriendofminefromTurangi,toldmeaboutthisstuffcalledDry-ShakemadebyTiemcoinJapan,andit’sjustmagic.Ihavebeenusingitallthroughthesummermonthstohelpmydryfliesstayafloat,andletmetellyouwhenIshakeuponeofthoseSimms Attractorcicadaimitationfliesinit,theflyjustseemstohoveroverthewater.Ihavenowstartedtouseitonmyindicatorswiththesameresult.Sonowthere’snoneedtoreplacethosesoggyindicatorsthatseemtostartsinkingjustatthewrongtime.JustDry-Shakeandgo!!

LasteditionItalkedaboutatherodandlinecombinationIwas“road”

testingforKilwell.ItwastheirInnovationIIrodwithmyfavouriteHighPlateaufloatingline.WellIhavenowtestedthisinmanydifferentsituations—smallbackcountrystreams,attheAwahou,TaraweraandalsodownatTurangiintheTongariro…it’sprettygood.SogoodinfactthatI’mnotrushingtofinishtestingit.

ThethingthatIlikeaboutitisthepowerithastothrownalongline.Thelineisnicelyweightedsowhenyoudogetaheapoflineintheairit'snottooheavyandyoucankeepatightloop,especiallyonthebackcast,andthenwithagooddoublehaul,castingover20metresisquiteachievableformostpeople.Forasmallrod(only9foot)ithasasolidlowersectionandagoodfightingbutt,soitcanhandleadecentsizedrainbow.

WelldonetoJeremyWellsandtheboysatKilwell,asformethisrodcompeteswellwithsomeofthosemorehighlypricedoverseasnamebrands,andcertainlyisrealvalueformoney.

Nowlet'slookaheadtothewinterfishing,andwhileasIhavesaid

there’slotstolookforwardtointheBayofPlentyarea,IdoheaddowntotheTongariroquiteabitasthatriverisjustsomethingspecialandmaybethiswinter'stheone.Insayingthathoweverlastwinterwasn'ttoobad.GreenieandIgotourfairshare,asyoucanseeonthebackcoverwithhimandhis3yearoldgrandsonJesse.

LatebreakingnewsisthatourDutchmateJurrianKoolen(usKiwi’scallhimYuri)hasjustturnedupforhis22ndannual6weekfishingtriptoNewZealand.Goodfishalwaysappearwhenheisabout,oftenattheendofhisline,andsoifyouseeawhitecampervanaboutwithagoodlooking,distinguishedDutchfellowroamingaboutsayhi,andifyou’llluckyyou’llgettherealoilonwhat’shappening.

Seeyououttherefishingandcatchyouinthenextedition.

French on Fishingdaryl@stoneycreek.net.nz

Right: Daryl Marshall and I testing the Innovation ii on a small stream near Tauranga (this & Te Wairoa casting photo by Elwyn Green)

TrEMEndouS TongarIroBydavId WILLIaMS

"Tongariro rainbows fight like demons. Some claim they are Californian steelhead stock but whatever, these fish use the lake to mature exactly as steelheads do the sea and return to their nursery rivers to spawn."

TrEMEndouS TongarIroBydavId WILLIaMS

ThesheernumberandsizeoftroutthatruntheTongariromakeitoneofthemosttremendousrainbow

troutriversinNewZealand.Youcancatchhard-fightingtroutinthisriveryearround,butit'sthesuperbwinterfishingthatexcitesmemost.Surethosecoldfrostymorningscanbeashock,butafishortwosoonwarmsthespirit.

TheTongariro,quitepossiblyNZ'smostwidelyknownriver,drawsflyfishersfromallovertheworld.RisingfromMountRuapehuandtheKaimanawaMountains,itflowssouthfor35kmsbetweentheTongariroNationalParkandKaimanawaForestParkand,afterskirtingTurangi,endsatthesouthernendofLakeTaupo,inStumpBay.

Huge Winter RunsThemainattractionoftheTongariroinwinteristheveryexcitingsportthatoccurswhenevertroutinLakeTauporuntherivertospawn.Althoughbothcatchratesandfishsizevaryyearly,itistheconsistencyofthesewinterrunswhichappealstome.

TheTongarirosustainsafabulous,wildfisheryofrainbowsandbrowns,withrainbowsdominatingatapproximately90%.Theaveragesizeofrainbowsis3.5lbsandplentyoffishupto6lbsarelandedeachyear.Thebrownsareusuallylargerat5-8lbs,withtheoccasionalfishover10lbs.

Tongarirorainbowsfightlikedemons.SomeclaimtheyareCaliforniansteelheadstockbutwhatever,thesefishusethelaketomatureexactlyassteelheadsdotheseaandreturntotheirnurseryriverstospawn.Theyhavedarkbluebacksandbrightsilverflanksinthelakeandonenteringtheriver,whentheyareoftencalledSilverBullets.Whenreadytospawntheflanksofmalesturnadistinctcrimson.Whilstmaturingtroutfeedvoraciouslyinthelake,mainlyonsmelt(anativebaitfish)andkoura(freshwatercrayfish),andonreachingmaturitytheyareinprimeconditionfortheirlongjourney.Someofthebestqualityeatingfishcanbecaughtcomingthroughthesnaggylowerpoolsorjustoffshoreinthelake,wheretheywaitforraininlargeshoals.

What’sdifferentabouttheTongarirospawningrunsfromothertributariesisthesheernumbersinvolved—athirdofallLakeTaupofishusetheriverandtypically50,000ormorerainbowsandbrownsmigratethisriver!Amazingly,onlyonefishfromeverythousandormoreeggssurvivestomaturity.

Spawningrunsareusuallystimulatedbygoodrainfalland,somebelieve,bythefallingbarometricpressurewhichprecedesit.Snowmeltwillalsotriggerruns;sodoesthewinterrecreationalhydrowaterreleaseand

thenextisscheduledfor18and19September,butbecarefulwhentheriverlevelrises.Atothertimestherewillalwaysbeasteadytrickleoftroutmigratingupstream,however,simplybecausenaturehasdecideditistheirtimetogo.Inshort,IthinkoftheTongariroasawonderfulconveyorbeltofanglingopportunity…

TherainbowspawningrunsusuallybegininAprilorMayandcontinuerightthroughuntilNovember.Thereisnofirmlyestablished“besttime”,butinrecentyearsit'sbeenJulytoOctober.Thespawningrunsofbrownsaremorepassive,withfishtypicallyenteringtheriverinJanuaryandtakingupto6monthstocompletetheirjourney.

Whenabigrainbowrunhappenssomeanglerslocatetheshoalandkeeppacewithit,fishingfurtherupstreamthenextday.Studiessuggesttroutgenerallymoveup-riverafewpoolseachday,soaspawningtrout’sjourneycantakeuptoamonth.Thefishtypicallymoveupstreamatnight,butdaylightmovementoccurswhenspawningrunsarefrequentanditisnotuncommonforwadinganglerstoseetroutswimuptoandaroundtheirlegs.OnedayonthelowerreachesapodoftwentydarkshadowsclearlymovedrightintothepoolIwasfishing.Thatdefinitelyraisedmyheartbeat!...andwithhandstremblingmysecondcastproducedasolidhook-up.

unique historyTheTongariroissteepedinfascinatinghistory.Initiallytherewassomeresistancetostocktheriveratallbecauseitwasconsideredtooremote!Browntroutwereintroducedfirstin1887andrainbowsby1897,maybebecauseofthedifficultyincatchingbrowns.Ithasbeenaworld-famousfisherysincethe1920'swhenthequalityofanglingwaspublicisedaroundtheworldbyZaneGrey,anotedauthor.Fishinexcessof10lbswerecommonthenandthebaglimitwas25fish!Unfortunately,thewhitebaitnativetothelakedeclinedandtherewasaninevitabledropintroutsize.Aftersmeltweresuccessfullyestablishedinthelake,thecurrent“flyonly”restrictiononthemiddleandlowerreacheswasintroducedin1934,tohelpconservethefishery.

Likeall'classic'rivers,manyTongariropoolsarenamedafteranhistoriclinkorsomefeature.TheBreakfastPoolspeaksforitselfandtheDuchessPooldrawsitsnamefromafishingtripin1927bytheDukeandDuchessofYork.TheMajorJonesPoolisthelongestontheriver,andagreatplaceforwetlining;itisnamedafterMajorRhysWykemanJones,whofishedthepoolwitha17footrod.

AfewpoolsarenotmarkedonthemapsandoneofmyfavouritesistheHoneyPotPoolwithintheBraidsarea,notfardownstreamfromtheSH1Bridge.Althoughitisnotthateasytofishitisabeautifuldeeppoolandalwaysholdstrout,justifyingitsname.

Tactics & TechniquesCatchingTongarirotroutisrarelyeasybutdawn,whenthewaterisundisturbed,isthebeststartingpoint.

Lookforsufficientdepthofwater—inwinteranythingoverwaistdeepisgoodholdingwater.Watchtheweatherforheavyrainwhichincreasestheflowrateandaddssomecolour.Thebesttimetofishisastheriverclearsadayortwolater,butitcanbedifficulttotimeatriparoundsuchidealwaterconditions.Ifthewaterisveryclearinwinterdonotdespair;thefisharestillthereandcanbecaught,usuallyonlightertackle.

Aswintertroutsteadilymoveupstreamthereisatemptationtostayinoneplaceandwaitformoretoarrive.Whilstthereisnothingwrongwiththistechniquethelikelihoodofmorehook-upsincreasesifyoumovearoundbetweenpoolstolocatemigratingfish.Ifyoucanfindapodorlargershoaloffishstaywithit.

Rainbowstypicallyoccupyfasterwater.Brownsprefertheslowerdeeperpoolsandaremorecommoninthemiddleandlowerreaches.Fishingatduskandintothenight,whenbrownsfeed,providesthebestchancetohookoneofthesegreatfish.

ThosehardfightingTongarirofishcertainlyjumpandrun—asyouwilldiscover,hookingandlandingtheSilverBulletsaretwodifferentthings!Giventheirstrengthdon’ttryandlandafishimmediately,letitrunatleastoncebeforetakingcontrol.Biggerfishwilloftentakeallofyourlineandruntoanundercutbankorothersnag.Onceinthelowerpoolsagoodsizedfishtookme40metresdownsomerapidsandIhadtopassmyrodaroundasubmergedlogtolandit!

Upstreamblindnymphingtheriverbedisthemostpopularmethodthesedays.Weightedbombsareessentialtopresentyourpointflyneartothebottomwherethetrouthold,particularlyifyouarefishingGlo-bugs.Withimitativenymphsanaturaldriftisabsolutelyvital,sobecarefulnottousetoomuchweightinthepointfly.Eggshaveatumblingmotionovertheriverbed,however,so

withGlo-bugsalittlemoreweightwhichcausesahesitantdriftcanworkwell.

Wetliningisalsoveryeffective,particularlywhentheflowishighand/orthewaterhassomecolour.Deeperpoolsaregenerallybettersuitedtowetlining,forinstancetheMajorJones,BridgeandRedHut.Someliescanbebetterreachedusingawetlineanditcanbefishedeveninnearfloodconditions,whengoodfishtakeblackWoolly Buggerssurprisinglyclosetotheedge.

Fishingpressurecanberelativelyhighduringwinterbutwithsomanypoolsthereisnevermuchproblemfindingfishablewater,andprovidedtheriverisnotcrystalcleartherainbowsarequiteforgiving.IrememberallowingananglertofishupstreamthroughandpastmeandoncehehadpassedIwashookedupagainonmynextcast.Thepresenceofotheranglersisalsohelpful—ifyouseeotherrodsbentitislikelythataspawningrunispresentinthepool,butifnooneelseiscatchingitcouldbetimetomoveon.Poolsandrunswhichareeithernotnamedorfurtherfromaccesspointsarealwaysworthseekingout.

Floodschangethepoolseachyear,usuallymakingsomedeeperandothersshallower.Whilstthiscantakeawayfavouriteliesitkeepsthefishinginteresting,asthereareeitherbrandneworimprovedliestodiscover.TheoverallriverchannelisstableaboveTurangi,butinthelowerreachessomestudieshavewarnedthatamajorfloodcouldcreateanewroutetoLakeTaupo.

Tackling upA7to9weightrodisidealontheTongariroinwinter.Ifyoucanhandlea10footrodthiscanalsobeusefultoachievefurtherdistance,bettermendingandtoclearbanksidevegetationatsomepoints.

Iusea10footleadertomybombwhichis“selftapered”byknotting(withasurgeon’sknot)8lband6lbline.Manufacturedtaperedleadersareequivalentandcanhelpwiththecastingofheavybombs.IffishingaGlo-bug,tippetlengthfrommybombtothepointflyisshortat6to9inchesbutifIamusingnymphsa4footlengthensuresplentyofmovement.

Fluorocarboncanimproveconfidenceinyourrigbutitisnotsoessentialinwinterwhenthewaterusuallyhassomecolour.TohelpgetmyfliesdownfastIuseasinkingproducton

TrEMEndouS TongarIro

thefirst9feetofleader,toreducetheline’ssurfacetension.

Choosing fliesTungstenbeadheadnymphsarereallyhelpfultoachieverapiddepthinthedeeperpoolsandfasterruns.Ifisheitherwithgoldbeadsonmybombandsmallblackbeadsonmypointfly,orvice-versa.Size10or12natural-lookingbombsarerecommendedbecausetheyprovideplentyofhook-ups.FeatherMerchantstieanexcellentflashbacktungstenbeadheadbombcalledLeon’s Tongariro Tungsten(whichrainbowslikebecauseithaslotsofsparkle)andalsoHughie's Tungsten Bugwhichisamorenaturalcolourandbetterinclearerwaterconditions.IfthewaterflowisfastIuse“doubletungstens”whicharebombs

withtwotungstenbeadsbacktoback.Glo-bugsareeffectivewhenthe

runsareonastheysimulatetrouteggs.JacktroutoftensitdownstreamofaspawningpairtoimmediatelyinterceptanylooseeggsandmigratingtroutwilloftengrabGlo-bugspurelyoutofaggression.Beingbrightandnoticeabletheyareoftenmostsuccessfulduringearlymorninglowlightconditionsandafter4pm.Usuallyfishedinsize14,Glo-bugscomeinawidevarietyofcoloursbutthemostpopularareorange,redandchampagnewithareddot.Asparklytailcanbeaddedandlargersizesinstrongercoloursarefavouredwhentheriverisdirty.Fornightfishingsize10Glo-bugscanbeusedwitheyesattached.FeatherMerchantshaveagreatrangeofeggpatternsincludingthe

Nuclear EggandtheAnvil Egg,whichingeniouslyincorporatesaleadbead.

Larvalimitationsalsoaccountformanywinterfish.ThereareplentyofmayflieswithintheTongariroandmiddayhatchescanhappeninearlywinter,soitcanpaytokeepyourlunchtimesshortasthiswarmestpartofthedaycanbeproductive.ThisiswhenIusePheasant Tail Nymphs,eitherthetraditionalbrownpatternwithagoldbeadorCadillac.TheslowerpoolsarecrammedfullofcaddislarvaeandinwinterIliketofishdarkerbrownorblackpatternswithsomeaddedsparkle.

BlackWoolly BuggersandRed RabbitsaremyfavouritewetfliesandasofthackleflysuchasthePartridge & Orangewilloftentakefishatdusk.

Access & AccommodationAccesstotheTongariroisexcellentandtheexcellenttracksalsoserveaspublicwalkingtracksandcyclewaysinplaces.TherearemanykmsoffishablewateropeninwinterbutthewholeriveraboveFencePoolclosesfrom1stJuneto30thNovember,toprotectspawningtrout.Wadingacrosstheriverispossibleinafewplacesbutmyadviceisdon’twadeacrossunlessyouareveryfamiliarwiththecrossingpointbecausetheriverisdeceptivelypowerful.

ThefullcourseoftheTongarirocoverstwoTopo50maps:BH35TurangiandBJ35Waiouruandmostofthemajorpoolsaremarked.ThereisalsoanotherusefulmapavailablefromDoC.

"Fishing pressure can be relatively high during winter but with so many pools there is never

much problem finding fishable water . . ."

DrivingsouthoutofTurangithereareclearsignpostsoffSHItosomeofthemajorpoolsupstreamoftheSH1Bridge.ToaccesstheBraidsarea,BainPoolandotherpoolsdownstream,whentravellingnorthturnleftoffSHIintoGracesRoad500metresaftertheSH1Bridgeandthensecondleftdownashortgravelroadafteranother1km.

Turangiisanexcellentlocationtostaybeingjustnexttotheriver.Thereisawiderangeofaccommodationoptionsandthefollowingarerecommended:

TheTongariroLodgeisalongestablishedplacetostay,rightontheriver,justdownstreamoftheSH1Bridge.Theselfcontainedvillasandchaletshavebuiltindryingroomstogetthosewadersdryinwinter.Thelibraryoffishingbooksisverygoodandtheywillcookyourcatchfordinner,whichreallyroundsoffthedaynicely.Refertotheirwebsite(www.tongarirolodge.co.nz)formoreusefulinformation.

TheTongariroRiverMotelisalsoaccommodationdedicatedtoanglers’ needs.Theproprietorisveryknowledgeableaboutgoodpoolstotryandthereisafishsmokerandlargelibraryoffishingbooks.Theirwebsite(www.tongarirorivermotel.co.nz)isexcellentandincludesdailyfishingreports,withweeklyupdatesfromguides,andsomegreatdescriptionsofalltheTongariropools.

ForholidayparkaccommodationthereisTurangiCabinsandHolidayPark,only2kmsfromtheriver.

Planning TripsTherearemanyadditionalresourceswhichareextremelyhelpfultobothNewZealandandoverseasanglerswhofishtheTongariro.Localtackleshopsareanexcellentsourceofadvice.Tocheckthewaterthere'sthewebcamover-lookingtheHydroPool(www.riverbirches.co.nz/rivercam.php).Otherinternetfishingreportsareeasilyfoundbywebsearch.

TheNationalTroutCentre,4kmsouthofTurangi,iswellworthavisit.Juveniletroutcanbefedwithfishpelletsinthekidsfishingpoolandaviewing

chamberprovidesamazingunderwaterviewsofrainbowtrout.ThecentrecontainsaTroutHatcherywhichisusedforeducationalpurposesandasafall-backincaseofnaturaldisaster.

TheTongariroismanagedbytheDepartmentofConservationwithitsowntechnicalsupportteam.Usefulmonitoringreportsofaveragefishsizeandnumbersarepublishedontheirwebsite.AseparatelicenseisrequiredtofishtheTongariroandtherestoftheTaupoarea,whichincludesLakeTaupoandthemanyotherriversflowingintoit.TherearesomeadditionalregulationsspecifictotheTongariro,forexamplestrikeindicatorscanonlybemadeofyarn,withnobubblesorotherdevices,andfishingisnotpermittedbetweenmidnightand5a.m.

IfyouaretravellingwithfamilyorfriendstheTongariroisinthemidstofseveralotherbeautifulplaces:theWorldHeritageTongariroNationalPark,themagnificentsightofsnowcappedMountRuapehuwhichhasskifields,theenormousLakeTaupoandseveralgeothermalareas.

Winter Pick WhenfishingtheTongariroinwinterbepreparedforalittlediscomfortlikescrapingiceoffthecarintheearlyhoursandbeingbundledupinseverallayersofclothing!.......butintheeveningsthecomfortofaroaringlogfiremorethanrepaysthatearlystart.

TheTremendousTongariroisdefinitelymypickforthewinterseason,wherethereisexcellentanglingavailableeveryyear.WheneverIstepoutontotheTongariro’sbanksinwinterIknowthatgood-sizedrainbowtroutarenotfaraway.AsdawnbreaksIwatchmyindicatorintentlyforoneofthoseheart-stoppingtakesfromaSilverBulletthatwilleasilystripmyflylinedowntothebacking.

Mostpeoplelookforwardtotheendofwinter,butifyoufishtheTongariroatthistimeofyearyoumaynotbeamongthem!

Photos:-

Main: Jamie Davies with a particularly nice fish from the Hydro Pool. (Elwyn Green)

12-13: Tongariro — beautiful water and more than enough to go round, provided you think outside the square (David Williams)

Above: typical Tongariro rainbow (Nick Reygaert)

"As dawn breaks I watch my indicator intently for one of those heart-stopping takes from a Silver Bullet, that will easily strip my fly line down to the backing."

gin-clear media presents

www.gin-clear.com

fly fishing film festival

..the world’s best fly fishing entertainment coming to Auckland, Christchurch, Dunedin, Wellington, Invercargill and Palmerston North in July 2010. Venue details and tickets available at

INTo FuLL CoLouRByTHE PUBLISHER

Justincaseyouhadn'tnoticedbynow,finallythismagazineisfullcolour.Tomyreadersandthosewhohavebeenwithmeallthewayespecially,mywriters,myadvertisersandretailers,myfamily:thankyouallforhelpingmakethishappen.

Whyhasittakensolong?WhenIfirststartedoutasportsstoreownerIwassellingintosaid:"It'sagreatidea,butNewZealandtroutfishershavenevergotbehindamagazine."Hetookthesale,however,nearly20yearsonisstillselling,andhiscommentholds—butmaybeonly5-10%ofanymarketislikelytobuydedicatedmagazinesregularlyanywayand,let'sfaceit,thisone'sprettysmall.Combinethatbasicrealitywithminimaladvertising,duetoaverysmartcontractacompetitorstruckwithourfisherymanagersatitsoutset,bulkretailincomeonsale-or-return5monthslaterandnomajorpublishingcompanybehindme,andit'salwaysbeenpersonalinvestmentandincreasedreadershipthathaveledthewayforward.Quiteunexpectedly,increasedreadershiphasoccurredthisseasonwhilethemarketremainsnegativeoverallandsomemagazines'saleshaveplummeted.SoI'maddingvalueinresponse;ultimately,it'sonlysoldcopiesthatkeepanymagazineinbusinessafterall.

Tobefrank,IwouldhavepreferredtowaitforSpring.Thisawinterissueandtheyarealwaysthelowestsellersbecausesofewofusarefishing,butGSTseemslikelytoriseinSeptemberandthattippedthebalance,experiencesuggestingthatleavingthemagazineasitwaswith2.5%wipedfromtheweeklybudget,couldeasilyseeallthisyear'ssuccessevaporateyetagain.

Yes,inmanywaysthismoveintofullcolourisalsoagestureoffaithinmyself;thatthisseason'ssalestodateinourcurrenteconomy,meanI'mfinallyproducingamagazineNewZealandtroutfisherswillgetbehind.Bepreparedforanother8pages,ifthatfaithbecomesreality;andmaybeareturntobimonthlypublicationaswell,ifenoughofyousayyouwantit.Sendmeanemailifyoudo.

Soifyouthinktheresulthassuchvalue,pleasetellafewmatesandmaybeevenconsidertakingoutasubscriptionifyoudon'talready.Whateverhappens,GST-wise,neithertheseratesnortheRRPwillchange.

Maytherisebewithyou...

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INTo FuLL CoLouRByTHE PUBLISHER

Justincaseyouhadn'tnoticedbynow,finallythismagazineisfullcolour.Tomyreadersandthosewhohavebeenwithmeallthewayespecially,mywriters,myadvertisersandretailers,myfamily:thankyouallforhelpingmakethishappen.

Whyhasittakensolong?WhenIfirststartedoutasportsstoreownerIwassellingintosaid:"It'sagreatidea,butNewZealandtroutfishershavenevergotbehindamagazine."Hetookthesale,however,nearly20yearsonisstillselling,andhiscommentholds—butmaybeonly5-10%ofanymarketislikelytobuydedicatedmagazinesregularlyanywayand,let'sfaceit,thisone'sprettysmall.Combinethatbasicrealitywithminimaladvertising,duetoaverysmartcontractacompetitorstruckwithourfisherymanagersatitsoutset,bulkretailincomeonsale-or-return5monthslaterandnomajorpublishingcompanybehindme,andit'salwaysbeenpersonalinvestmentandincreasedreadershipthathaveledthewayforward.Quiteunexpectedly,increasedreadershiphasoccurredthisseasonwhilethemarketremainsnegativeoverallandsomemagazines'saleshaveplummeted.SoI'maddingvalueinresponse;ultimately,it'sonlysoldcopiesthatkeepanymagazineinbusinessafterall.

Tobefrank,IwouldhavepreferredtowaitforSpring.Thisawinterissueandtheyarealwaysthelowestsellersbecausesofewofusarefishing,butGSTseemslikelytoriseinSeptemberandthattippedthebalance,experiencesuggestingthatleavingthemagazineasitwaswith2.5%wipedfromtheweeklybudget,couldeasilyseeallthisyear'ssuccessevaporateyetagain.

Yes,inmanywaysthismoveintofullcolourisalsoagestureoffaithinmyself;thatthisseason'ssalestodateinourcurrenteconomy,meanI'mfinallyproducingamagazineNewZealandtroutfisherswillgetbehind.Bepreparedforanother8pages,ifthatfaithbecomesreality;andmaybeareturntobimonthlypublicationaswell,ifenoughofyousayyouwantit.Sendmeanemailifyoudo.

Soifyouthinktheresulthassuchvalue,pleasetellafewmatesandmaybeevenconsidertakingoutasubscriptionifyoudon'talready.Whateverhappens,GST-wise,neithertheseratesnortheRRPwillchange.

Maytherisebewithyou...

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MATAuRA RIVER GuIDED FISHING & ACCOMMODATIONNewZealand'sbestMatchtheHatchfishingonthefabulousMataura

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FOR SaLE . . .FISHING RODS FOR SALE

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WhileyoureadthisweareinTurangienjoyingourannualholidays.Wearereadyforthisbreak.Oursummerseasonwassurprisinglygoodandweareverypositiveforthingstocome.Thisissuewewouldliketosharealightlasagnedishwithyou.Itfeatureswintervegetablesandricottainsteadofa

whitesauce.Therecipemakes4portionsbutisalsoagreatdishtoreheat.Sowehopeitwillbecomeoneofyourfavouritedishesand,ofcourse,thatyoucatchlotsoftrout...Carefullymixallingredientsforthesalsaandmarinateforatleasttwohours,setaside.Seasonthetroutsliceswithsaltandpepperoryourfavouriteseasoningandquicklysearonbothsidesinaheavyfrypanoronaflatgrill,usingalittleoliveoil,andthensetaside.Cookthelasagnesheetstoafirmstageandrefreshincoldwater,setaside.Placethepumpkinslicesonanoiledbakingtrayandroastat180°Cforabout12minutes.Heataheavyfrypan,addsomeoliveoilandquicklycooktheslicedsilverbeetuntilithasshrunktoabouthalfofitsoriginalvolume,coolonatray.Brushabakingdishwithoil.Linewithasheetofpasta,spreadsomeofthetomatoesandjuiceoverit,followwithricottaandgentlycombinethetwo.Laysomeofthetroutandpumpkinslicesoverandsprinklewithsilverbeet,season.Coverwithanothersheetofpasta.Carryonwiththeremainingingredientsfinishingwithalayerofpasta.Sprinklewithmozzarellacheese.Bakeat160°Cforabout30minutes.Allowcoolingandthenportionaccordingly.Servewithavocadosalsa.Happycooking!

1 lime, juice

salt & pepper

¼ cup olive oil

½ avocado, diced

1 clove garlic, minced

½ chilli, finely chopped

¼ cup cucumber, diced

1 tsp coriander, chopped

1 spring onion, finely sliced

2 tomatoes, deseeded & diced

AVoCADo & TomATo sALsA

TRouT LAsAGNe WITH PumPKIN, sILVeRBeeT, RICoTTA ANDAVoCADo & TomATo sALsA

1 x 400 gm tin Italian tomatoes, roughly chopped, juice reserved

1/8 of a small pumpkin, peeled, deseeded & thinly sliced

1 trout fillet, skinned & boned, thinly sliced

4 lasagne sheets, fresh or dried

4 cups silverbeet, finely sliced

Fresh garden herbs, chopped

mozzarella cheese

250 gm Ricotta

salt & pepper

olive oil

Technology and the Modern FlyfisherByNICK REYgaERT

Recently,TeAnauwasonthereceivingendofanintenseautumnstorm.Itrainedheavily

forthreedaysstraight,duringwhichtimetheMilfordTrackrecordedover700mmofrainfall.Theresultwasoneofthemostseverefloodsinadecade;however,whenyoulivedownhereyoulearntoexpectthesethings.TherealshockcamewhentheWhitestoneRiverbrokeitsbanksandwashedawaythefibreopticcablethatdeliversthe

telephoneandInternetconnectiontotown.InstantlyourconnectiontotheoutsideworldwasseveredandquitesuddenlyTeAnaufeltveryremote.MybelovedInternetwasgone!

TheheavyraineliminatedanyprospectoffishingsoIhadthewholedayatmydisposal.UnfortunatelyIwascompletelylost.IbeganwonderingwhatIdidbeforetheInternetcamealong?Iseemedincapableoffunctioningwithoutit.Eventuallyafteracoupleofcoffees

andalotofstaringintospace,IdecidedthatgoingbacktobedwasnotanoptionandthatIbetterstartdoingsomethingproductive.

OnthefirstdayIcleanedthebathroomandonthesecondIwrotethisarticle.I’mnotinferringthatcleaningthetoiletinspiredmetowriteaflyfishingarticlebutIhadalotoftimetothinkdownthereandwithoutthedigitalnoiseoftheInternetthingsseemedsomuchclearer.

The InternetSomepeopleviewtheInternetashumanity’sgreatestinvention—aninventiononthescaleofthewheelortheprintingpress.TheybelievetheInternetwillbringaboutunprecedentedeconomicandpoliticalempowerment,richercommunication,aculturalrenaissance,aneraofeconomicprosperityandworldpeace.Thereis,ofcourse,anotherfactionofpeoplewhothinkquitetheopposite;theInternetwillcauseeconomicandculturalexploitation,thedeathofprivacy,andadeclineinmoralvalues.Myopinionliessomewhereinthemiddleoftheseextremesbutonethingisforsure,theInternethaschangedthewayweliveandit'sheretostay.

ThereisnodoubtthesedaysthattheInternetaffectsthelivesofalmostallNewZealanders,buthowhasitchangedtheflyfishingexperience?Wellformeithasaddedawealthofknowledgeandinformationtomytripplanning.Asanyexperiencedfishermanwilltellyou,pickingtherightplaceandtimetogofishingarefundamentaltoasuccessfultrip.Detailedinformationonweather,flowregimes,rainfall,windspeed/directioncanallbesourcedinstantaneouslyviatheInternet.Rememberhavingtobuythenewspapereverydaytochecktheweather?GoogleEarth,thevirtualglobe,mapandgeographicinformationprogram,isanotherincrediblypowerfulInternettool.Freelyavailableforinstallationonhomecomputers,ithasmadecheckingoutthoseremoteplacessoeasy.Intheprogram,thewholeworldhasbeenmappedoutbystitchingtogethersatellitephotographs.Usingtheprogram’scontrolstheviewercanflyaroundandviewdetailedimagesoftheearthfromthesky.Amazing!Everyyeartheresolutionofthesatelliteimagesisimproving,tosuchanextentthatlatelywehaveusedittopredictwhichpoolinarivermightholdfishduringtheautumnspawningrun.

On-lineforumshavemadesocializingwithinflyfishingcircleseasierthaneverbefore.Itisnowamatterofafewminutessurfingandacoupleofemailstofindsomeonetogofishingwith,beitashorttriptotheNorthIslandorhalfwayaroundtheworldtoIceland!

Aninterestingmilestonepoppeduptheotherday.YouTube,thepre-eminentsiteforInternetvideo,turned5yearsold.Thisshockedmeasithasbecomesopopularandwidelyrecognizeditfeelsasifit’sbeenaroundmuchlonger.BillGates,theownerandfounderofMicrosoft,famouslysaid,"TVwillbeirrelevantinfiveyears".Thatwasin2007andastheyearstickbyitseemslikehispredictionmaywellcometrue.

IfsoYouTube,withits2billiondailyviewership,willprobablyruletheroost.

WhatuseisYouTubetoaflyfisher?Well,otherthanthousandsofhoursoffootagefromlocalandexoticdestinationstolivevicariouslythrough,thereisplentyofknowledgetobegainedfromthecontent.JusttheotherdayIwaslookingatflycastingvideos,inthespaceofafewminutesIhadwatchedshortlessonsfromHywelMorgan,JackDennisandLeftyKreh.ItcostmenothingandIlearnedacoupleofvaluableinsightsfromsomelegendsofthesport.

FlytyingisanotherdisciplinethatcanbenefitfromthemassiveknowledgebankthatisbeingbuiltonYouTube.Haveatryathome,typeinacommonflypatternandseeifthereisavideoonhowtotieit,youmightbesurprisedbyhowmanyqualityvideosyouhavetochoosefrom.OnemajorflawofYouTubehasbeentheoverallpoorqualityofthevideos.Thatischanginghowever,asthesitebecomesmorepopularthequalityofthecontentisimprovingremarkably.

AfewdaysagoIpetitionedagainsttheabolishmentofthewaterconservationordersprotectingtheHurunuiWatershed,atravestyofthepresentgovernment.AllofwhichwasdoneinstantaneouslyovertheInternetfromthecomfortofmylivingroom.ItcertainlymaderuralSouthlandseemalittleclosertothecorridorsofpowerthanitactuallyis.

OveralltheInternethaschangedmyflyfishingexperience,directlyandindirectly,sodramaticallythatIcoulddrawendlessreferencesandcomparisons.UltimatelytheInternetisvirtualanditisentirelyapersonalchoiceonhowmuchyouinvolveitinyourlife.Bewarned,however,itisdisturbinglyaddictive.

PLB and GPsTheserecentadditionstothetechnologystablehavebenefitedflyfishersimmensely.GPSstandsforGlobalPositioningSystem,atechnologythatusesaglobalsatellitenavigationsystemtoprovidereliablelocationinformationtoahandhelddeviceinallconditions.Thissystemisveryusefulifyouaregoingtoaremoteplacewithoutadefinedtrackorboating/kayakinginlargelakes.

ThePLB(PersonalLocatorBeacons),asmallerversionofEPIRBs(EmergencyPositionIndicatingRadioBeacons),areasafetydevicethat,onceactivated,allowsearchandrescueteamstopinpointyourwhereaboutsonlandoratsea.MostPLBshavein-builtGPSthatdramaticallyimprovestheaccuracyofthesignalandcanreducethesearchareadowntoonlyafew

Technology and the Modern Flyfisher

"Google Earth, the virtual globe, map and

geographic information program, is another incredibly powerful

Internet tool. Freely available for installation

on home computers, it has made checking out those remote places so

easy."

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Technology and the Modern Flyfisher

squaremetres.Theyaredesignedforpersonaluseandaresmallenoughtofitinyourpocket,makingthemfunctionalforcamping/trampingtrips.

The mobile PhoneAgainanotherdeviceitwouldbehardtoimaginebeingwithout.Ithasbecomeagreatwayofcommunicatingfromremoteareasifyoucangetasignalandinsomewaysactsasabackupsafetydevice.WiththerecentadventofIphonesandBlackberrysweareseeingthepersonalcomputerandmobilephonemorphingintoonedevice.Nowthatmobilebroadbandisbecomingcheaperitwillbepossible,usingthesehandheldcomputers,tochecktheupdatedweatherandflowregimesfromtheriverbank.

CamerasCatchandreleaseissoprevalentnowthathavingacameratocapturethemoment,beitabeautifulvalley

ormagnificentfish,hasbecomeanessentialinanyflyfisher'skit.Small,compactcamerashavebecomeverypopularandcanproduceincrediblepictures.Theso-called‘pointandclick’camerasoftenretailbelowthe$500markandareveryeasytouse.AfewofthemorepopularmodelsincludetheSonyCyber-shotDSC-WX1,CanonPowerShotSD940ISandFujifilmFinePixF200EXR.

Droppingthecameraintheriverhasbeenthecurseofmanyflyfisherman,alasthisproblemhasalsobeenovercome.Nowyoucanbuysomesuperbquality,compactcamerasthataretotallywaterproof.Youcanslipthemintoyourwadersorflyvestwithoutanyfearofadunking.Therearemanygoodmodels;CanonPowerShotD10,FujifilmFinepixZ33WPtonamejusttwo.

Ontheotherendofthemarketweareseeingtheprofessionalstylecamerasbecomingmoreaffordable.Thisnewbreedofcamerahasbeenlabelled'prosumer',hintingthattheyare

alsoaimedattheenthusiasticamateur.MostofthesecamerasareDSLR’sanacronymforDigitalSingleLensReflexcameras.

IntheDSLRmarket,NikonandCanonarethetwobrandsthathaveledtheway.Canon’sEOS7Disanamazingbitofcameratechnologyataveryaccessibleprice.NotonlycantheEOS7Dtakecrystalclear18Megapixelphotographsbutitcanalsorecordfull1080PHighDefinitionvideo.Againweareseeingameldingofmanytechnologiesintoonedevice.

Carbon FibreRecently,IcastaHeliosrodmadebyOrvis,abrandthathasnevergainedmuchpopularitydownhere.IalwaysthoughtOrvisproducedprettyordinaryrodsbuttheHelioscaughtmebysurprise.FirstthingInoticedwashowlighttherodwasbutthisishardlyasellingpoint.Therealsurprisewashowresponsivetherodwastocast.

ApparentlyOrvisusehigh

"Luckily trout have not changed much in the last

hundred years and they can still be fooled by the same flies and gear your

grandad used."

temperaturethermoplasticresinstoencasegraphitefibresandeliminateanyfibreglassorgraphitecross-scrim.Effectively,Orvishasfoundawaytoremovemasswhilesimultaneouslyincreasingbulkmodulusanddecreasingelasticmodulus.Aneasierwaytothinkofitisthattheymadearodthatcanholditsshapebetterwhileitbends,andonethatcanreturntoanunbentconditionfaster.

Iknow!Iknow!Wehaveallheardthiskindofmarketinghyperbolead infinitumbutthistimeIcouldactuallyfeelsomedifference.Ofcourse,theHelioshasapricetagtomatch;itisoneofthemostexpensivetrueproductionflyrodsaround.

Conclusion?Carbonfibreanditsassociatedtechnologycontinuestoproducesomeofthelightestandmostresponsiverodsever.Itseemsthatwehavenothitthedevelopment‘ceiling’yetanditwillbeinterestingtoseehowtheotherbigrodbrands‘pushtheenvelope’inthenextfewyears.

AlloftheseadvancementsaregreatbutIhaveacoupleofnagging

doubts.Wherewillitallgo?Anddowereallyneedtogothere?Surelythecoreaiminflyfishingistooccupyyourselfdoingsomethingyouenjoy,dowereallyneedallofthistechnology/advancementstoaccomplishthat?Luckilytrouthavenotchangedmuchinthelasthundredyearsandtheycanstillbefooledbythesamefliesandgearyourgrandadused.

IhaveareoccurringnightmarewhereIenvisionmyselfstandingbyaremoteriverfumblingthroughabagtryingtoansweraringingcontraption.AtfirstIthinkit’smymobilephoneandIattempttoanswer.PullingitoutofthepackIaccidentalcatchthecornerofmyPLBanditfallsinthewater.IreachdownandmyGPSslipsoutofmytoppocket;joiningthePLBintheriver.Icurseandfishbothout.

Thecontraptionbeginstoringagain;Itrymymobilephonebutitisn’tthat.Irummagethroughthebagagain

anddiscovermynewIphonevibrating.SomethingmustbedonebutIdon’tknowhowtoworkityet.Ipresseverybuttonandcombinationofbuttonsuntilfinallyavoiceechosforth.‘Hi,I’mcallingtoseeifyouwouldliketotakeadvantageofthenewsubscriptionofferforSkyTelevisionweareofferingthismonth…blah,blah,blah.’Iwanttohangupbutcan’tfigureouthow.Iturnthewholethingoffbypullingthebatteryout.

SteppingbackIhearthesickeningsoundofgraphitesnapping.Thisisnoordinarygraphitethough.Thisisthesoundof‘graphitefibersencasedinhightemperaturethermoplasticresins’imploding.That’srightthegraphitethatmakes,themostexpensiveproductionflyrodonthemarket!Meanwhilemymate,theonewhoventuresoutontripswithjustavestandflyrod,hasjustcaughtabeautifultrout.

Technology,takeitorleaveit?Youdecide;meanwhileI’mgoingbacktocleaningthetoilet.

CaTChIng onAfewyearsagoIwasstayingupat

aMountRuapehuskicluband,onaparticularlymiserableday

withtheski-fieldshutbyhighwinds,Idecidedtogetinaday’sfishingontheTongariro.Oftentheweatherdownthehillisbetterthanatthetop,butonthisparticulardayitwasstillsleetingfromastrongSoutherlywhenIarrivedinTurangi.Thegoodnewswasthattheriverwasnicelycolouredandtherewerefewotheranglersaround;mostpeopleweresmartenoughtostayinbythefireonadaylikethis!

SotherewasjustoneothercarparkedattheendofKutaiStreetand,afterwanderingupthepathtothemidanduppersectionoftheHydroPool,Ifoundasinglefishermansettinguphisrodbythetopofthepool.Nomatter:therewasplentyofroomfortworodsontheHydro.SoInoddedaquickhelloand,asetiquettedemanded,askedifhemindedmefishingthemiddlesection?Noproblems.

Glancingdown,IwassurprisedtoseethathehadassembledwhatappearedtobeaSurfrod.“IfhepullsoutapacketofPilchardsandaboxofsinkersnextI’mgoingtohavetoappraisehimofthelocalfishingregulations”,thinksI,butnextitemoutofthepackwasanormallooking,ifslightlyoversizedflyreel,soIwanderedofftomypositionfurtherdownstream,wadedintotheprescribedwaistdepthandstartedfishing.Thisprovedtobehardwork:IwascastingthestandardTongariroNymphRigupstreamintoastrongwind;theusualfluffy3cmdiameterindicator,3metersof3.7kgleaderandaheavybeadheadnymphtrailinganotherlight,fluffyGlo Bug.Thesetogetherhadalltheaerodynamicpropertiesof,well,bigfluffyballs,andwere,inotherwords,utterlyuselessonawindyday.Iwasmanagingtogettheoddcasttogoupstream,butnotreallyachievingthedragfreedriftthatisvitalforthistechniquetowork.

Iwasalsonotachievingthedistanceneededtoputmyfliesintothenicebitofslackwaterbehindthebigrockinthemiddle,whereIexpectedthefishtobeholding.Tocompoundmyproblems,Iwasunconsciouslytryingtocorrectthedeficienciesinmyactionbyapplyingmorepowertoeachcast,somewhatinthemannerofAussiecricketlegendGeoffThompson’sslingingbowlingaction.Iwasdroppingmyhandandrodtipfartoolowbehindmeandthrowingthewholerodforwardthroughawidearc,whilstalsotryingtoco-ordinateamassivedoublehaul,finishingupwiththerodtipdownnearthewaterinfrontofme.Allthisreallyachievedwastoaggravateanoldskiingshoulderinjuryandshortenmycastandtemperfurther.

Sometimelater,havingretrievedmyfliesfromthenastyblackberry-coveredbankseveraltimes,undonehalfadozenwindknots,andextractedoneofmanymisdirectedtungstenbeadheadsfromthesmallofmyback,Iglanced

upandsawaperfectlyformedrollcastsailacrossthefullwidthofthepoolandlandwellupstreamoftheotherchap.“NowI’mhallucinating”,Ithought.“Musthavebeenyesterday'sbumpontheheadwhileskiing”.However,asIwatched,thatfirstcastbecamefarfromaccidental.Hewasconsistentlyroll-castingasimilarrigtomyown,withoutanybackcast,upstreamandacrossthefullwidthofthepoolintoagale.“Crikey!Nowthatreallyisimpressive”.Hewascatchingfishtoo,andhadn’tevenbotheredtoputhiswaderson.

IgnoringthisdistractionIgotbacktofishing.Finally,fortunefavouredmeandImanagedtoflukeaparticularlynaiveRainbow.IstrolledbackuptomyrucksacktogetmyThermos,andbychancearrivedjustastheroll-casterwaspackingupwithhisbaglimitoffish.IdiscoveredhewasanAmerican,hisrodwascalledaSpeyrodandthatcastwasaSpeycast.ItoldhimIwasveryimpressedwiththedistancehewas

achieving;andwasIstartledtohearhewasnot:hehadborrowedhiswife’srodforthedaybutwasnotgettingthecontrolandrangehewouldhavelikedwithit!

HecontinuedthathisrealreasonforchoosingtheSpeyrodwasasoreshoulder:hefoundthathewasabletocastthisrodwithoutliftinghisarmsmuchabovewaistheightandthatthecastcouldalsobeperformedwithverylittleeffort.Iwasbeginningtofeelastrangeresonance.MytripstoTaupoalsousuallyresultedinseveraldayswithapainfulshoulder.Itwaseasytoperformasinglecastorevenahundred,butafterafewdaysIwouldhaveperformedthousandsofcasts,falsecastsandblindcasts,andinterspersedthesewiththeoddspotofskiingtoo.Plus,ofcourse,theThommo’impersonationsdidn’thelp.

WewanderedbacktoourcarsandIputmyfishinthecoolerbagofsnowthathadkindlybeendeliveredtomycar

roofthepreviousnight,thendroveroundthecornertothefirstofseveralexcellenttackleshopsinTurangi,aimingtogetmyselfanentrancelevelSpeyrodandthenbackontotheriverandintothisrollcastingbusinessasquicklyaspossible.

Asluckwouldhaveit,thefirstshophadanicelooking13’6”doublehandedrodinstock.Iwanderedovertotherackandcheckedtheprice:Surelytherewasamistake?Thereseemedtobeanextrazeroontheend.Theproprietorwanderedoverandconfirmedthatthepricewas,infact,correct.Mymistakewasclear.IhadbeenmagneticallydrawntoahandmadeHardy.Thisprobablyexplainedwhyitwaslockedintotherodrackandwhythestoreownerwashoveringexpectantlynearby.“Didtheyhaveany,youknow,morereasonablypricedSpeyrods?”“No”.Ohwell,Iwasn’treallypreparedtosellmycarandallofmyskigearforonerod,soontotheothershops,noneofwhichturnedouttohaveanyatall.

ByMaRK SaNdERS

". . . as I watched, that first cast became far from accidental. He was consistently roll-casting a similar

rig to my own, without any back cast, upstream and across the full width of the pool into a gale. "

Itwasatthispointthatastrangeshiftinmymentalstabilityoccurred.I didn’t really feel like going out fishing again.Itwasstillonlyearlyafternoon,Iwasstandinginatackleshopafewhundredmetresfromoneoftheworld’strulygreatTroutRiverswithafreshrungoingthrough.Ishouldhavebeeninecstasy,butsomehowsomethingwasmissing.

Nowthismaysoundsacrilegious,anditwasn’tthatIdidn’tstilllovefishing,butthethoughtofthrashingthewaterwithaheavyweight-forwardlinefortherestofthedayjustdidn’tappealanymore.Icouldhaveswappeditfortheshootinghead,buteventhatidealeftmewithastrangesensationofemptiness.Thiswasanewexperiencetome.Ihavebeenknowntodrivean11hourroundtriponaSaturdaytogetafewhours'fishingin.MyfatherfirsttookmeTroutfishinginEngland’sLakeDistrictattheageoftenandIhaveknownsincethatdaythatthiswasavitalpartofmyexistence.Whathadhappened?

PerhapsitwastheslowdawningthatthefishingmethodsusedontheTongariro,whilstdevastatinglyeffective,lackedacertainfinesseandaestheticvalue,andborelittleresemblancetothedelicatecastsIhadlearnedasayouth,castswhichseemedtoworkperfectlywellwithlightlyweightedfliesonthesmallerstreamsandlakesIoftenfishedintheCoromandelandHunuaranges.Idrovebackuptothelodgemullingthisover.OnmyfirsttriptotheTongarirointheearly90’sIhadtakenlighttackleandfishedthegreatpoolsinmidwinterwithdryflies,curiously,withoutsuccess.Ithadnottakenmelongtonoticethatmanybigfishwerebeingcaughtbyneoprene-cladfolkstandingdeepinthepoolsusingheavytackle.Aquicktriptoalocalshopsoonhadmefittedoutwiththe8weightfloatingset-up,andontheiradvice,agiantfluffyindicatorandseveralepoxiedheavyTungstenbeadsvaguelydisguisedasflies,plusapileofassortedpinkandorangeGlo Bugs:the

classictruckandtrailerrig.ThisworkedwellandIbegantocatchfish;biggerandmorepowerfulfishthanIhadeverseenbefore.Ialsolostalotofflies.Expensiveflies.

IreturnedtotheAucklandwiththesethoughtsinmindandbeganmysearchforareasonablypricedSpeyrod.I’dneverreallybeena'gear'fanatic.Ihadanumbergoodrodschosenforfunctionratherthanstyle,andwasquitecontenttobuythebudgetmatchedset-upsthatwereavailableinalltackleshopsandevenmanydepartmentstores.Soaquickcheckroundtheshopsleftmepuzzled.Icouldbuyanynumberofrelativelycheapflyrods,butthecheapest Speywasgettingonfor15timesthepriceofthebudgetcombinations—orasurfrod,forthatmatter.WhatsortofesotericcarbonfibrewastheextrametreofSpeyrodmadefrom?ThemostreasonablewasthelocallymadeCDrod,butthatwasstillwaybeyondmymeans,and

CaTChIng on

eventhespecialisedlinesneededwereextraordinarilycostly.Sotheremysearchended;forawhileatleast.

Meanwhile,whileresearchingSpeycastingontheinternet,I’dcome

acrosssomeintriguingreferencestoanewlocalone-handedrollcast:the“TongariroRollCast”.Therewasevenavideoandfulldescriptionofhowitworked.Thevideowasinteresting:WasthattheRedHutPool?Yes,andthecasterwasdroppinghisheavyfliesrightinbytheundercutbankontheoppositeside.Noteasy,evenwithanoverheadcast—Ihadwornanynumberofflieswhileattemptingtodojustthat.Apparentlytheindicatorandfliesactuallyactedasananchorforthe“D”loop.Thatwasclever;almostmagical;elegant.Noneedtoduckeither!

I’dalsostartedtotiemyownfliesandbecomeinterestedinHughMcDowell’sdescriptionsoffishingun-weightedweewetandspiderfliesdownacrossrifflesandpocketwater.

Myresearchhadalsoturnedupthatupstreamnymphinghadoriginatedtotargetexactlythissamewater:theshallowspawninggravelandboulderbedsthatwerenearimpossibletofishwithheavysinkinglinesandflies.SomehowthisrathercleverdelicatestylehadevolvedintothemodernFrankensteinversion.Butwhyshouldn’titstillworkintheshallowwater?

SonexttripIpackedboththeusualtackleandamuchlighterset-up,withafewofHughie’sspiderandweewetfliesriggedup.Whynotexperiment?

Istartedoutwiththeheavygear,andbyastrokeofincrediblegoodfortunefoundmyselffishingontheoppositebanktoarealexpertattheTongariroRoll.Beinglefthanded,Icouldmirrorhiseverymove.Henoticedmyattentionandevendidafewslow-modemocastsformybenefit.FreeLessons.Fantastic!

ImovedalongtotheBreakfastPool.Theriverwaslowandclear—difficult.Ispentafewhoursfishingwiththeheavy

kit,then,wellwhynot,gotoutthelightrodandmoveddowntothefastrifflesandpocketwateratthetailofthepool.NoonethatIcouldseewascatchingfishanyway.Iwashavingfunrollcastingwithtreesbehindmeandnoneoftheusualtangles,nor,forthatmatter,thesickeningclatteroftungstenagainstgraphite;butstillnosuccess.Therewereacoupleofdelicatetugsontheline,whichcouldhavebeenfish,pumiceorleaves,butthatwasall.

Afteranhourorsoofpleasant,ifunproductivefishing,Idecidedtochangeflies,tuckedtherodundermyarmand,leavingthelinetrailinginthewater,tookacoupleofstepsbackupthebanktorigup.Therodbentoverandwasnearlypulledfrommygrasp.FliesandspoolsoftippetscatteredasIgotthefishundercontrolandlandedit.Whathadjusthappened?

AsI’dsteppedback,mydanglingflieshaddriftedinclosertotheedge,whereafishhadtakeninankledeep

“Was that the Red Hut Pool? Yes, and the caster was dropping his heavy flies right in by the undercut bank on the opposite side. Not easy, even with an overhead cast — I had worn any number of flies while attempting to do just that."

waterafewcentimetresout.Well,okay,whynottrythatagain?Istoodfurtherupthebankandlefteachcasttoflutterforlongerintheshallows,andhadtwomorefishinquicksuccession!Otheranglerswerenowedgingdownthepooltowardsmyspot.Ishowedmytinywetfliesandgotdisbelievinglooks.Somesawtheheavynymphsstuckinmyjacketandnoddedknowingly.YetwhathadreallyhappenedwasthatIhadaccidentallyfishedabitofwaterthathadreceivednopressureforthewholeday.Itwastooshallowandfasttointeresttheheavybrigadeandnoonehadbeenwadingiteither.EvenI’dbeenstoppingmydriftstooshort.

BuoyedbythissuccessIdecidedtoconcentrateonthismethodfortherestoftheseasonandsoonwascatchingalmostasmanyfishasI’dbeengettingwiththeweightedset-up;mostlybyrollcastingsmallwetfliesdownandacross.Whatwasdawningonmewasthatthistechniquekeptmyfliesinthe

waterforalmostthewholetimeIwasfishing.I’devengettheoddfishhookupasIcast,sometimesevenastheflieswereretrievedacrossthesurfaceathighspeed,andinplacesthatIwouldn’tnormallyhavedreamtofcasting.

AlittleafterthisIhadarealstrokeofluck.IwaswalkingdownAuckland’s

QueenStreettogetsometravellerschequesforatriptoEnglandformyfather’s70thBirthdayandcameacrosstheTisdall’sclosing-downsale.IwentinandfoundthatitwasthefinaldayandtherewasasingleSpeyrodleftat60%discount!Done!Iboughtitonthespot,thinkingtomyselfthatIwasgoingtohavetointersectthenextcreditcardbillbeforeitwasopenedathome.Theveryknowledgeablestaffalsogavemeexcellentadviceonchoosingasuitableline,evenadvisingmenottobuytheonlyonetheyhadinstock!Fortunately,onmytriptoEnglandthefollowingweekImanagedtofindthesuitablymatchedfloatingline.Iwasinbusiness!

FirststoponreturningtoAucklandwasapracticetriptothatfamousTroutfisheryLakePupuke,indowntownTakapuna.I’dreadaboutthebasicSpeycastsandwatchedtrainingvideos,butthiswasmyfirstgoattherealthing,andprettydireitwastoo.Thetimingrequiredismuchslowerandmorerelaxedthanaconventionalcast,butmyinstinctwastospeedthingsupwheneverfrustrated.AfterawhilethebasicsstartedtoworkandIwasreadyfortherealthing—adayonWaddell’sPool,chosenforitseasywadingandlackofobstacles.

IfoundmyfavouritecastwastheDoubleSpey.Thedifferencebetweenthesingleanddoublecastsisthatthesingleisan“aerialcast”,buttheDoubleisloadeduponthewaterbeforethe“D”loopisformed.TheSingleneedsabitmoretimingthanthedouble,whichcanalmostbeperformedinslowmotionandisalotmoreforgivingoferrors.However,theessenceofrollcastingin

CaTChIng on

generalisthattheflyshouldalwaysbepositioneddownwindofthecaster,sothecorrectcastneedstobechosenforthewindconditions:it’seasyenoughtoflickthelinebackdownstreamandstartagain,butalothardertounwrapthelineandflyfromyourtorso.

Afterafewhoursmycastswerecoveringthefullwidthofthepoolandmydownstreamdriftswerecatchingtheoddfish.VeryoccasionallyI’dreallynailacastandoncebothfliesandlinelandedhalfwayupthetreesonthefarbank.Itwasprobablyworthlosingmythreefavouritefliesjusttogetafeelofwhattherodwascapableof.Itwasalsoveryenjoyable.Thelongdriftsmeantfewercasts,thebigrodmadeforfabulouslinemendsandIdidn’thavetoconcentrateonanindicator.TheonlyrealdisadvantageoftheDoubleSpeycastwasthatitwasprettynoisyandsplashy,soitwasimportanttofishtheclosewaterthoroughlyfirstbeforestartingwiththerollcasts.

That’saboutwhereI’matnow:arealconverttoSpeycasting.My

plannowistotargetwaterthatcan’tbefishedeasilybyothers—runswithdeepun-wadeablegutsprotectingshallowwater,underoverhangingtrees,infrontofsteepbanks.EvenonthebusyTongariroRiverinwinterthereareplentyofuntouchedspots.

Ohyes,andI’vejusthadmyfirstevercastinglessonsinceIwasachildinordertolearntheelusiveSnakeRollCast,ofwhichI’dreadalot,butnevermanagedtodecipher,andfindingittobeatrulymagicalthing.That’sthereasonyoucouldhaverecentlyobservedmestandingunderthetreesinfrontoftheMercerRowingClubontheWaikatoRiver,notthemostlikelyspotinNewZealandfortroutfishing,buttotallycontented,castingtidy,snag-freerollcastsbeneathoverhangingfoliagewithalwaystheslightchanceofafishtakinganinterestinthefly.

Mark is a 51 year old physics technician with Auckland Hospital cancer services: msanders@woosh.co.nz

Photos of Chappie Chapman fishing the Red Hut Pool, Tongariro River, were taken by Nick Reygaert.

"After a few hours my casts were covering the full width of the pool and my downstream drifts were

catching the odd fish. "

Perhaps next season?NELSON/MARLBOROUGHwithTONY ORMaN

Summerscomeandgo,somearebetterthanothersand,frankly,thissummerinMarlborough

wasnotagoodone.Anerraticspringandearlysummerhadtheriverupanddownlikethoseproverbialdrawers,thenturningtoabriefperfectfewweeks,andthendroughtandlowflows.

Aprilisoftenahardmonthasfishtendtogetterritorialwithspawningurgesstirringandseemtoreverttochasingeachotherratherthanfeeding.Andtheygetspookier.IwasremindedofthatonthePelorustheotherday.Ispottedtwogoodfish—bothbrownies—andcasttothemindividually.Theyweren'tbotchedpresentationseither

butbothfishspooked.ThenIfoundacoupleoffishbuttheyweremoreinterestedinchasingeachother.

ThePelorusatthemoment,isinadubiousstate.Alookatunderwater

stonesshowsadearthofinvertebratesandtroutnumbersaredefinitelydown.AcoupleofdecadesagoalookofftheDaltonBridge,justupstreamofCanvastown,wouldrevealatleastadozenandmorelike20fishcruisingandrising.Today,unlessashoalofsearunnershasarrivedunderthebridge,you'rehardpushedtoseeoneortwo.

Whatisthecause?Dairyrun-off?WellI'mnotsure.ThedairyfarmersinthePelorusandit'stributaryRaivalleys

areprettyenvironmentallyconscious,voluntarilyfencingoffstreamsandbuildingcowbridgesoverrivers.Onechapsuggested1080poisonwhichofcoursewasdevelopedasaninsecticidebackin1917andbecameapossumpoisonbecauseit'snon-selective—i.e.toxictoeverythingthatnibblesit.Whateverthereasonitneedsresearch.

ThePelorusisalovelyriver.ProbablythebeststretchesarearoundDaltonBridgeanduptoPelorusBridge.ThelowerreachesshouldholdsomebigfishandIreckonaHob Nail Bootlure,size8,fishedondarkcoulddowell.

Upstreamtheriverisasheerdelighttobehold.Beechforestleansoverthe

Right: Wairau "Rainbow" countryMain:A spooky Wairau Brown on a dry Inset: A likely pattern for kahawai and sea run browns

river,longdeepclearpoolswithanemerald-likequality.;yetthefisharefewandfarbetween,admittedlysometimesbigthough.ThegeologicalmakeupoftheupperPelorusisinteresting.ItrisesintheRedHills,asterile-lookingmoonscapeplateau.Millionsofyearsago,thosehillsweredownnearFiordland,wherethere'sanotherlotofRedHills.BisectedbytheGreatAlpineFault,geologistsreckontheMarlboroughblockonthewesternslideofthefaultline,slidnorthwardstoitspresentlocation.Thathardmineralcountryjustdoesn'tseemtobeconducivetogoodinvertebratelifeinthestreams,sofewtrouttuckerequalsfewtrout.

finequalityriverbutnowamereshadowofpastglory?IfishedtheGoulterinthemid-1970sandenjoyedwonderfuldays.Thenthefishhogsfounditwhenitwronglyhada10fishlimitanditwasdecimated.NowIrarelyfishit.Ipreferthememoriesofthe70s.

AttimesIgetluredawayfromtroutandmyAFTM5Fenwickgraphiteto

aweight7budgetpricedflyrodtocastahometiedsaltwaterflyatkahawaiattheWairauBarorDiversion.WhatfunthatcanbeanditwasaboutChristmastime.

Earlierintheseason,usingasize8slimwhitishlure,youcanhooknotonlykahawaibutsomegoodsearunorestuarylivingbrowns.Thelastspringwasinclementweatherbutperhapsthisyear'sspringwillbeabigimprovementwithbetterweather,goodwhitebaitrunsandmaraudingsearunbrownies.

Lastseason'sbrownbeetlehatchwaspoorwithcool,southerlywindsinNovemberandsporadicbeetlehatches.It'safavouritetimeoftheyearformetobeatduskbyagrassystreamwithbeetlesa-buzzingaroundandtroutslurping.Youdon'tneedaspecificbrownbeetleimitation-asize12Humpywilldothetrick.PerhapsnextseasonthespringwillbewarmeveningsandsomeofthetopdryflyatduskfishingI'vehad?

Rollonnextspring,notforgettingtherearesomewinteropportunitiesalongthewaytoOctober1,2010.

Tony OrmanAuthor/Journalist/EditorPh: +64 3 577 7875 P O Box 939 Blenheim 7240 NZe-mail: boto@slingshot.co.nz

Marlborough'sfishingdoesnotoozequantitybutthequalitycanbehigh

anditcomesinvaryingstyles.FlowingthroughBlenheimistheTaylorRiver,aspring-fedstreamthatemptiesintotheOpawaRiver,whichinturnjoinstheWairauestuary.GoodfishcanbeseenattimesoffthebridgeswheretheTaylorflowsthroughBlenheim.AlittlePheasant Tail Nymphisafavouriteofmany.Atnightsomeheftytroutupto4kgscanbetaken.

TheOpawa,ontheoutskirtsofBlenheim,issurprisinglynotfishedmuchbutit'saqualitystream;againspring-likeinnature,particularlyupstreamfromthestatehighwaybridge.Itslowerreachesmeanderinsnake-likefashion,slowanddeep,butthere'sgoodfishthere.DownthereaDamsel Nymphsize10or12isaworthwhilepattern.

SpringCreekisanotherqualitystream,disappointinginrecentyears,butitdoesturnupsomegoodfishthatrunupfromtheWairauestuary,suchasthe4kgbrownafriendtookinmid-morningwiththegoodoldPTN.Itwentback.I'mmystifiedatthereluctanceofFishandGametonotmanageSpringCreekbetter.Surelycatchandreleaseisrequired?Andflyonlytoo?

TheWairauRiverisalwaysworthfishingbutdobeawareitstrouthaveatendencytorunupstreaminpods.There's"miles"ofriver;uppastWairauValleytownship,uppasttheWashBridgeontheWestCoasthighway,untilyoustrikethewildernesssectionintheRainbowStationcountry.InthestretchbytheWairautownshipafriendtoldmeofsomegoodhoursusingatandemofaRoyal WulffdryandaPheasant Tail Nymphunderneath.Itookhisadviceanditworked!

"UptheRainbow"getsahammeringfromguidesandclientsandrecreationalfishers,andbyFebruarythetroutaredamnedspooky.Butit'smagnificentlysceniccountrytobein.Andthetroutarequalityplus.Oftenadryflyisabetterchoicethanthenymphforspookytroutcanfleefromtheplopofanymph.Butputadryflyonandthetroutmaynotevenrealiseit'saconcoctionoffurandfeatherandmistakeitforabeetleorcicada,dependingonyourpattern.

Thisuseofadryflyonspookytrout—ratherthananymph—wasatipmyoldfriendthelate"Smithy"toldme.Worthremembering.

SurelytheupperWairaucouldbecatchandreleaseand"flyonly"asalsoshoulditstributarytheGoulter,oncea

Flexibility MAINLANDROVINGwithMEL HOLLIS

AnotherwonderfulautumnhaspassedandthewarmthfromthoseImetduringitwillnodoubt

helpmefightoffthechillofwinter,whichwemustnowlivewithuntilspring!

Ispentmanyhourswanderingaroundthelocalwaterwaysofmyhomeregionduringsummerandwasheartenedbythenumberofnewanglersgettingoutandgivingflyfishingago,especiallyouryoungerpeople.Ialwaysenjoyspendinganhourwithabeginnerandhavenohesitationtakingabreakfrommyownfishingtotalktothem,spendsometimelookingattheirtackleandpossiblydemonstratetheintricaciesofthrowingafly.Thedelightofwalkingawayafterwatchingasmilespreadacrosstheirfacesastheyachieveagoodcastandhavingtheirenthusiasticthanksechoonmyears,isalltherewardoneneeds.

AroundDunedinthisyear,IhavenoticedmyfishcounthasbeendownattheendofeachtripalongtheTaieriRiverinmyweeboat.Afewextra-deepreachesintothe'bagoftricks'havebeennecessarytohookintoafishattimes—althoughthisdoesmakeyoumuchmoreappreciativewhenyoudocatchone.Justthrowingalureoverthesideandhaulingbackafish,asonewouldwhenoutseafishing,hasneverbeeninmyexperiencewhattroutfishingisallabout!

Afternoonsduringautumnwhenthewindeasedoffhaveseenmeanchoredatabendintheriver,castingrepeatedlytofishsittingrightundertheoverhangingwillows.Frustrationhasmountedduetothemanyconnectionswiththese,buteventuallyachangeofflyandanaccuratesidewayscasthasdeliveredagoodpresentationtoasittingtrout,resultinginasuccessfulhookupandaverysatisfyingreleaseafewmomentslater!Asmyobservationshavenotedalargenumberoffingerlingsthisseason,Iwilllookforwardwithhighexpectationsforournewseasonandhopetheymostlysurvivetoprovideincreasingnumberstocastaflyto.

Thisseasonseemstohavepresentedanglerswithmorechallengesthanpreviousones;fishjusthaven’tjumpedoutofthewaterandlandedattheirfeet,orconnectedtotheirfly,spinnerorlure,immediatelyuponitlandingonorinthewater.EventhetwomainreservoirsinDunedinhaveprovedmoredifficultthanusualandIhavehadmanymeetingswithanglersreporting, “Things are a wee bit quiet at the moment”. Itisattimeslikethesethatyouappreciatethemomentofasuccessfulhookupevenmore,andcanbeforgivenforenjoyingyoursuccesstothefullestandmilkinganextrarushfromtheadrenalsupplybyretellingyourstory

overandovertothosewhowilllisten.Onesuchmomentcomesto

mindduringearlyJanuarywhenIencounteredTed,oneofthefoundingmembersofourflyfishingclub,whonowattheageof84,withabadkneenecessitatingtheuseofawalkingstick,sadlycannotgetoutandenjoyhisfishingasmuchashedidpreviously.HewasjustsittinginthesunshinewithhisrodathissidewhenIcameacrosshimandgavehimthestoryofanicejackbrowncruisingalongthesteepwallbackbehindme.Tedreplied,“Well, I just might walk back that way and watch it for a while, as I do more watching than fishing these days”. AshewalkedoffIcautionedhim,nottoattemptacastoffthewallandhejustwavedahandandchuckled.TenminuteslaterInoticedTedcastinghappilyintheexactspotwhereIhadlastseenthejackbrown.SoIwalkedbackroundtohimandsatdowncloseby.AfewcastslaterTedfirmlyhookedintosomeweedgrowingoutfromthecracksintheconcretewall.Withnothingmorethanamumblehetookastepdownthesteepslopefromthetop.MyheartwentinmymouthasIenvisionedTedfallingintothewaterandassessedthedifficultyIwouldhavegettinghimoutofthewaterandbackupthewall.Iaskedhimtofreezeinthepositionhewasandtakeafirmhold

onhisstick,whileIwalkeddowntotheclumpofweedandremovedhisdryfly.

Wesattheretogetherforafewminutesenjoyingthesunandsharingpastmemorieswhilehavingalaughortwo.Threespinfisherswalkedby,eachhavingacastandretrieveeveryfewsteps.Tedchuckledatthisandmumbledoutofthecornerofhismouth,“I doubt if they will catch a fish in such clear water!” Momentslaterthejackdidaseriesofrisesandswirlsalongtheedgeclosebyus.EachofthespinfishershurriedlycasttheirluresinhopeofahookupandIrollcastmyfoamcicadaontothewateralso.Almostinstantlythejacklockedontomyfly,Itightenedupandthewaterboiledatthebottomofthewall.SoIsaidtoTed,“Here we go mate we have it” andwhileTedapplaudedandinstructedfromabove,Iwalkeddowntothewater'sedge,landed,weighed,unhookedandreleasedthetrout,afterfirstholdingitheadhighsothatTedcouldgetagoodlook.Withthehighsuchamomentcanprovide,IshookTed’shandandhethankedmefortheentertainmentinavoiceloudenoughforeventhefurthestawayofthethreespinfisherstohear.IhadobviouslymadeTed’sdayandithadbeenallthebetterformetoo,havinghadtheopportunitytosharetherushwithhim!AsIpassedourfellowanglers,

eachofthefirsttwointurnlookedawayandignoredmysmiles,whilethethirdonegavemealooktokill.Suchisthefuntobehadsometimeswhilefishing!

SomeweekslaterIsuggestedtomymateGeorgethatheshouldhanguphisspinningrodanduseaflywhenthewaterislowandclear.ItisjusttooeasytospookthetroutoftheWaitakiValleylakesonanynormalday,withoutrepeatedlythrowingalargespinneratthem.ThentogetthemessageacrossIgaveademonstrationofcatchingfishwithonlyarodlengthoftippetandaweightednymphcloseintothebank,rightunderthewillows.Fishingfavourwassmilingdownagainforme,astwotroutwerelandedandreleasedwithinnomorethanhalfanhourofstalkingthelakeedge.Variationandflexibilityisneededinthechoiceofwhatyoufishwithintheseareas,asjusttryingthesamemethodrepeatedlydayafterdayisnotenough.Soifyouarenotgettingresults,simplyeaseoffonthegrumblesandtrysomethingelse;beflexible!

Followingthesefewsummerrecollections,suddenlyitisautumn

andIamontheroadagain.Thistimeit'stomeetupwithRussellMcKendry,fellowcontributortothismagazineandmaniacfisherman,andHeather,histreasureofawife.AfteraneveningphonecallpriortoEastertoconfirmour

meetingpointinKurow,thetimehadquicklyarrived,ourintroductionsweremadeandwespentfourdaysinmidApril,eitherstalkingthelakemarginsorcruisingtheshallowswithmyweeboatonelectricdrive.Eachdaypresenteduswithflatcalmopportunitiestothroweverythingimaginableattroutofallsizes,wearingourselvesouttoapointofcontentedexhaustion.Thenitwasbacktothesanityofcampatday’sendandtheirincrediblecampervan,toenjoytheculinaryskillsofHeather,whodailyattemptedtoincreasemywaistline,whileRussellgenerouslybombardedmewithliquidrefreshment.Lateintotheeveningsweexchangedskitsfromold'MontyPython','NotOnlybutAlso'and'LastoftheSummerWine'showsandIcanstillrecallHeatherrepeatedlyhavingtowipeawaytearsoflaughter,duringsomeofourbestRoyalCommandcomedyperformances.MysincerethankstobothHeatherandRussellforawonderfulfewdaysinyourcompany!

Mel is a keen, 60-year old amateur fisherman always happy to make new fishing contacts.Email: mel.hollis@xtra.co.nz

PHOTOS (MH):-Autumn splendour, Haldon Arm, Lake Benmore;Russell gets it right at Fisherman’s Bend, Lake Waitaki.

BIG WaterSOUTHERNWATERSwith MIKE WEddELL

Weoftenreadabouttheattractivenessofsmallstreamsandtheirfishing,butlittleis

writtenaboutlargerwaters.Thisisanattempttoredressthebalance.

Firstly,Ithinksmallstreamsappearmoreattractiveasanglersthinktheyarelessofachallengetotheircastingskillsandareeasiertoread.Largerwaterscanbeatestofcastingskillsbutcanbejustaseasytoread.Combiningthetwotocatchfishcanbedifficultattimes,oftenisveryeasy,butisusuallysomewhereinbetweentheseextremes.

Iwouldclassalargeriverasonethatcannotbecoveredcompletelybycastingfromthebank;thereisalwayssomepartoftheriverthatcannotbereached.ThelargeriverthatIfishmostregularlyisthelowerMataura.Inmanypartsitisthreetofourgoodcastswide,althoughinsomeplacesitishalfthatwidth.OtherlargewatersthatIfishoccasionallyaremuchbigger—theWaitaki,theCluthaandtheupperWaiau,whichflowsbetweenLakeTeAnauandLakeManapouri.

TheMataurahasabigheadoffishandevenonadaywhenlittleishappeningtherearealwayssomefishtobefoundthatarecatchable.Itreadslikeasmallstream,eventhoughmuchofitisinaccessibletothewadinganglerduetodepthandwidth.ThebraidedWaitakihasmanybraidsandthesearelikesmallstreamsbutthebigchannels,suchasthosearoundKurow,areadifferentpropositionbeingdeep,wideandfast.TheWaiauismoreliketheWaitakithantheMataura;althoughitisinonechannel,muchofitisverydeepandwide;anditrunsfast,withdenselybushedbanksforgoodmeasure.TheCluthaalongitswholelengthisdeep,fastandwide—asyouwouldexpectfromtheriverwiththegreatestflowinNewZealand.

Sowhatisthebestwaytoapproachsuchbigrivers?Firstlythefeatures

thatareliabletoattractfeedingtroutneedtobeidentified.

ThisiseasyintheMataura.Itisasuccessionofripplesandflatsandmuchofitcanbefishedwiththefly,eitheron

ornearthesurfaceoronthebottom.Thebestsectionstendtohaveabedcomposedoffistsizestonesorbigger;conversely,areasoffinegravelarenotsoproductive.

Ontheotherrivers,unlessfisharefeedingonthesurface,lookforshallowerwaterifmostofthechannelisdeep;oryoucantargetindividualfishclosetothebank.Thesebigrivershavealotofwaterunfishablewiththeimitativefly,asthewatercanbeover4metresdeepanditisverydifficulttogetaflydownthatfar.Soworkingoutwhenandwherethefisharegoingtobeaccessibleisamustiftheyaretobecaughtregularly.

Thepsychologyoffishingbigriversisimportant.Theyhavetobethoughtofastwofishableriversseparatedbyariverthatcannotbefishedatall;yetitishowyouthinkofthatunfishablebitthatmakesthedifference.Theimportantthingtorememberisthatmanyofthefishthatyouhopetocatchliveinthatmiddlebit.Ifthatmiddlebitisflatandfeaturelessonthesurface,thefishwill

onlycomeintotheedgeswhenfoodbringsthemin.Typicallythesethreebigriversoffergoodfishingfromduskonwardswhensedgeshatch.Theseinsectsskitteralongthesurfacetothebank,sotroutgetagoodgoatthembytakingupstationclosetothebank.

Hatchesofmayfliesarenotaseasytofish,notbeingconcentratedclosetothebank.Howeverspentspinnerswilldriftintoslackwaterclosetotheshore,especiallyalonggravelbeachesandoffergreatfishing.

Thestapledietonthesethreebigriversiscaddislarvae,bothcasedandcaseless.Theseliveonthebottom,sotocatchfishbetweenrisessectionsthatareshallowenoughtogettheflydowntothebottomneedtobefoundandasuitablyweightedimitationused.

Evenriversthatarenotthoughtofasbraidedsometimeshavesmallsidechannelsandthesearemucheasiertofish.Backwatersarealsowellworthlocating,astheycanoftenbefishedwhenthemainstreamisoutandthefishareeasiertogetat.

Anyriverareasthathaveoverhangingtreesoradjacentbushcanbeidealforfeedingtroutastheymopupinsectsfallingfromabove.Tocatchthemcancallforanunconventionalapproach,suchasjustloweringtheflyontothesurfaceratherthancastingit.

WhenevertheriversoftheSouthareverylow,thisopensupaccesstoareasusuallyunfishable.LastSummerIspentmanydaysontheMatauraandwasabletowadefreelythroughwaterthatisnormallytoodeep.Thismadefishingaloteasieraslongcastingwasnotneeded.ThelowerClutha,atunder300cumecs,hasalotofgoodwater,especiallyaroundweedbeds.Herethetroutcruisetakingsnailsofftheweeds,whichareunreachableatnormallevels.

Withoutquestion,thegreatestadvantageofbigriversisthat

therearealotoffishinthem.Inonepooltheremaybemorefishthaninseveralkilometresofasmallstream.Whatmoreincentivecouldyouwant,topersuadeyoutogiveabigriveragooverWinter?

PHOTOS, all taken by the author:-

Main & top: low water not only makes wading easier on large rivers, but also clearly defines feed lines and holding areas.

Below: " Any river areas that have overhanging trees or adjacent bush can be ideal for feeding trout as they mop up insects falling from above." Spot the trout!

Mike Weddell: mike.weddell@SportOtago.co.nz

armchair anglingBy RUSSELL McKENdRY

At face value,floattubesareprettylaughter-inducing.The

sightofmebackingintothewaterwearingwadersanddivingfins,andwiththeparaphernaliaoffloattube,lifejacket,rodandnetcanbequitecomical—especiallyifItriponarockwhilegrinningatacamera!

Iloveit,though,asachangefromstalkingorwading,andtherearesituationswhenthefloattubegetsyoutoexactlywhereyouneedtobe.Boatsaregreat,ofcourse—especially

withquiet,electricmotors—butthefloattubeispositivelysneaky.Noneedforlongcastsonmanyoccasionsbecausefishseemtoacceptthefloattubeassomethingnatural.I’llneverforgetthedayIwaschippingacicadapattern,nearthetreesatadeepdrop-off.ThelightbreezewasdriftingmetowardstheflyandIsimplyretrievedslackandguardedagainstdrag.SoonIwasonlyacoupleofrod-lengthsawayfromthefly.Myintentionwastoback-pedalandpayoutlineuntilIwasinapositiontoplacetheflyalittlefartheralongthe

SomethingelseIenjoyisthesimpleportabilityofthefloattube.

Itweighsverylittleandcanbecarriedlikeapackforaconsiderabledistance,ifnecessary.Ittakesupverylittlespaceintransitandit’squicktoinflate—especiallywithalittleelectricpumphookedontoavehiclebattery.

FormanyyearsIusedoneofthe‘doughnut’type,withatrucktubeinit.Ineverhadapuncturewithit.Themorerecent‘U-shaped’typehastwovinylbladdersinitstwinpontoons.Morefragile,butprobablysafer,nevertheless.

GettingintothewaterwiththepontoonfloattubeismucheasierbecauseIdon’tneedtostepintoitfirst.

Withthepontoontube,whichhasacross-barthatcanbeun-clipped,Icanpullthetubearoundmyankles,closethecross-barandpickthetubeupbythehandles.ThenIwaddlebackwardsintowaterdeepenoughtofloatin.WhenIhavepulleduptheapronand‘velcroed’itintoplace,I’mreadytogo.Sometimes,though,gettingafishaboardafloattubecanbeabittricky…

“Are you standing up?”, one of a group of youths called from the shore. “No, I’m in a seat”, I replied. I was in my float tube and, when I revealed my fins by sticking them up in the air, we all had a laugh . . .

treeline,butIwasstoppedbyasuddenglintofsilverinthebottle-greendeep.Thenanother.Thenashape.Thenafish.Itwascomingupfromverydeepwaterandheadingformyfly,swimmingupinatighteningspiral.IcouldseeitasifIwerelookingdownawell!Verycalmlyanddeliberatelyitengulfedtheflyasthoughthefloattubeandflyroddidnotexist.WhenItightenedonitIfoundmyselfalotlesscalmanddeliberatethanIhadbeenonlymomentsbefore.Thathasbecomeaveryfondmemory,madepossiblebythegoodoldfloattube.

Ifoundoutthehardwaythatyoucaneasilybreakyourrodwhenbringingafishtothenetinafloattube.Iwastooheavy-handedononeoccasionandunderestimatedastrongfish,whennightfishingwithaheavytippet.Ihadclampedthelinewithmyrodhandand,asIdrewthefishtothenet,therodwasatmaximumflex.Yes,youguessedit.Thefishplungedstraightdown.Itshouldhavebrokenthenylonormaybehavetornoutthehook,butthistimeitwastherodthatbroke,withacracklikeastockwhip!Surprisinglythefish,astrongbrownie,didatlastendupinthenet,withthreeofthefivepiecesoftherodstillworking.Ihadheard

aboutover-doingpointloadingbuthadn’tthoughtitthrough.InthefirstplaceIshouldhavenothavehadmyfingerheavilyclampedontheline.IwouldalsohavebeensaferusinganetwithalongerhandleandnowIdouseaboatnet.Inshallowwaterwecanlandfishwithashort-handlednetwithoutoverloadingtherodtipbecausethefishhastoswimawayfromit.Howeverindeepwaterthefishcanheadstraightdown,underanalreadyoverloadedrodtip.Bytheway,becauseofKilwell’srodwarranty,theyreplacedthesectionfreeofcharge.Thankyouverymuch,Kilwell!

armchair angling

". . . fish just seem to wander all over the place and often I have had to change course quite a bit to catch up. With a bit of luck the fish will be travelling across my line of sight by the time I get a chance to cast to it. I like that because I can make a sort of ‘sighter’ cast first, in its wake . . . "

tocasttoit.IlikethatbecauseIcanmakeasortof‘sighter’castfirst,initswake.Withtherightlengthoflineinhandit’spossibletothencastintothetrackthatthefishisabouttoswiminto.UsuallyMurphyleadsthefishrightorleftofthattrack,butit’sanexcitingfewmomentsfindingout—andyouusuallygetanotherchanceanyway.Withthestealthyfloattubeyoucanchaseafishlikethatforquiteawhileuntilitgetsontoyou—orontoyourfly!“Sip–sip–gulp!”Or,betterstill,“Sip–sip–chomp!”asitseesthecomparativelylargeartificialandmunchesdownonitlikeCaptainHook’scrocodile.Greatfloattubefun!

Howmuchofalakeisunfishablefromtheshorelinebecauseoftrees?Howmuchofthatshorelineispopulatedbyfish?Onabright,brassyafternoontheanswerwillbevirtuallythesametobothquestionsastheshorelinefishheadfortheshadowofthetrees.Floattubetotherescue.Youcansimplypaddleoutthroughthetreesandfishbackintotheshadows.

Whatifbinocularstellyouthatgoodfishareswirlingandslashingondamselnymphsbutthelakeislinedwithswampandtheshorebottomissosoftthatyoucannotwade?Youcanjustpaddletowhereyoumightwanttowadeandambushfishastheycruisepastyou.Floattubetotherescueagain.

Butno,thetubeisn’ttheanswertoallproblems.Ofcoursenot—whataboreifthatwereso!No,it’salotoffun,butit’sjustanotherapproach…Literally.

ChasingfishissomethingIhavebeenknowntodoinmyfloattube.Sometimesafishcanbeseenonacalmlakeatquiteadistanceasitcruisesalong,moppingupmidgeemergers.Oftenitisjustonefish.Funny,that.AnywayIenjoypaddlingovertoit,ifIcan,andofferingitaweeshuttlecockorsomethingsimilar.Arear-viewmirrorwouldbeanadvantagesometimes,seeingthatthetubemustbepropelledinreverse,asitwere.ThesefishjustseemtowanderallovertheplaceandoftenIhavehadtochangecoursequiteabittocatchup.WithabitofluckthefishwillbetravellingacrossmylineofsightbythetimeIgetachance

Issue 121 RRP $9.90 TROUT FISHER - Fishnhunt · he tackles various technical problems commonly...

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