Caught on Cleardrift Egg.
Brian Willson, NZPFGA member, is a professional guide and I Love Fly Fishing close friend and Ambassador, brings us his weekly fly fishing report from Turangi for the Central North Island lakes and rivers. For up to date info, for what flies are working call Brian, 021667867. Euro/Czech, Dry Fly, Trout Spey, Nymph and Wet Fly.
Greetings fellow fly fishers,
Well, another week has passed us by, and winter is all but behind us and warmer fishing time is surely what we have got to look forward to. Having said that, it was minus 2 this morning but we did have a nice day. A lot has happened this week and we have endured all sorts of weather patterns. Last weekend I was away down in Palmerston North and apparently on Saturday night the heavens opened up and there was quite a display of lightning and thunder. The Tongariro rose to about 271 cumecs and the Tauranga Taupo to about 1.6 metres.
I got home on Sunday and even though all the rivers were unfishable (except perhaps The Hinemaiaia), they were falling, and I knew that some very good fishing in all rivers was just around the corner. The Tongariro dropped to about 40 cumecs on Monday and some excellent fishing was to be had. My pick of rivers this week though was definitely the Tauranga Taupo which I must admit I have a soft spot for when the conditions are right. I elected to attack this river yesterday (Wednesday), when the level had dropped down to 0.6. As suspected on arrival to the river, the colour was a deep olive green. I elected to euro nymph with a V Nymph 4# rod which I find a very suitable and versatile rod for all euro nymphing methods.
Wednesday saw me have some incredible action with some unusual results. I probably landed a dozen or so fish and, remarkably, they were all mint condition, they were all hens, they were all caught euro style and they were all caught on The Cleardrift Egg which can be purchased from I Love Fly Fishing.) Today the “TT” had dropped down to about 0.5 and where I had been slaying them yesterday, nothing was doing today so I decided to move upstream a bit to find where the fish had moved to. I found a big pool that was not occupied by other anglers and decided to change my strategy and swing some woolly buggers around on a quick sinking line. I was instantly into a fish, a very good fish as it jumped a number of times out of the water, and it looked more like a rugby ball than a fish. It was very deep and shone like silver. I wanted this one but alas, one more jump and the fish was free. I can’t be sure, but I think I saw it poke its tongue out at me before it plunged back into the depths.
All caught on Cleardrift Eggs – Available from I Love Fly Fishing
Gutted, but heartened by the fact I had found some action and within 5 minutes I was into another hard fighting rainbow. Not quite the monster that had just eluded me but a better than average fish with some good size all the same. The next 2 hours I had a lot of action, both hens and jacks and the olive woolly bugger seemed to be the pick of the flies. The river was fairly well occupied with anglers but not too bad and there were plenty of good areas to cast a fly on both of these days. Remember now both Lake Otamangakau and Rotoaira are open for fishing now (another licence needed for Lake Rotoaira) and the Fish and Game licence for most areas outside Taupō waters are now available to purchase!
Well, that’s it from me this week so until next time, tight lines. For all I Love Fly Fishing gear check it all out out on-line at www.iloveflyfishing.kiwi and order what you need. Feel free to call Barrie, 021-925006 or barrie@iloveflyfishing.kiwi. You will receive your goods in quick order and at a great price.
Brian – NZPFGA Member,
