Russ from Colorado throwing a good line in The Boulder Reach, Tongariro River.
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.
Link for Cleardrift Eggs: https://iloveflyfishing.kiwi/product-category/fly-tying-materials/eyes-tungsten-beads-bodies-jarvies-cones/soft-eggs-cleardrift/
Well, a lot has happened in the last week. USA has a new president, and I will comment no further on this otherwise we won’t get any fishing talk in. Interesting times ahead though, for sure. The fishing continues to be very good indeed. I have just come off the water now and have had plenty of great action with some very good fish. A number of fish are still spawning, and the majority of fish I am catching that have spawned are in very good condition, indicating that they have put condition back on, very quickly. Obviously, there is an abundance of food in the river, helped by the fact that we haven’t experienced any major floods that might have otherwise upset the food chain.
The Cleardrift Egg has been performing very well and is easily my fly of choice at the moment. It doesn’t seem to matter what colour, but I suggest you have a mixture as sometimes one colour may be more suitable than another. 6mm eggs are best but if the water is a bit discoloured, consider 8mm. Earlier on in the week I had the pleasure of guiding an Italian couple from Milan. Neither of them had fly fished before and, as luck would have it, I cast out a line demonstrating what to do and a trout grabbed it on the first cast (a guide’s dream). I handed the rod to Matthieu, and, with guidance, he landed his first fish. Not so long afterwards, Jessica hooked up and the trout took off like a train down river. I suggested that I assist her with the capture of this trout because in my mind I knew that she would never land it on her own. I managed to turn the fish around before it bolted down some rapids and got it into a position where I felt I could give her back the rod. The fish was an excellent specimen as you can see in the photo.
The biggest fish of the session was lost after a fairly long battle, a big Jack which Matthieu was a bit too eager with at the end and, alas, he broke the line when in close before I could net him. I had a good vision of the fish, and he was up there (darn it, would have been a good photo). Some more fish were caught and lost, and it was a very pleasing guiding day. A few days later I guided an American from Colorado and fortunately he could cast, and this helped as the day greeted us with quite a bit of wind. The fish weren’t quite on the bite as much as when I had the Italian couple but not bad, not bad at all and he finished the day with some good success. As like last week, I have been alternating between Euro Style and conventional nymphing depending on what the wind has been doing and have been having good success with both methods.
Some prime fish for the week, still keen on The Cleardrift Egg.
I am taking out some regular clients this this weekend and the wife is Irish therefore we are going to watch the All Black/ Irish rugby test prior to heading to the river. I have warned her that should the All Blacks lose she may very well get a dunking in The Tongariro River. I think rain is forecast for the weekend but hopefully not too much as the rivers at the moment (especially The Tongariro) are at good levels, however I always like The Tauranga Taupo to be flowing around 0.5-0.6m so additional rainfall would be good here.
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,
