Past American client, Mel, sent me in this fine Brown from the Tekapo 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,
Well, I’m back in the North Island and keen to get into the local rivers once again. The fresh earlier last week gave all the rivers a much-needed jolt to get the fish moving and all reports I have heard since I have been back is that the fishing has been very good indeed. I had a good time down south and certainly saw some absolute monster fish in some of the canals. It is certainly a sight to behold when you see an enormous fish (some I saw must have been around the 30lb mark), swirl or jump out of the water. There are several methods used to try and catch these brutes from conventional fly fishing to bait (using shrimps). I elected to have a go with a 6 wt fly rod using Tongariro techniques with 2 nymphs and an indicator.
While drifting my nymph I had 2 trout at different times, rise, and then hurdle my indicator when realising that the offering was not what they wanted. Both these horses were around the 20 lb mark. I had caught a few good fish around 4-5 lb mark but nothing too big. Then suddenly I was hooked up to a fish of significant size. I was fishing with a 2X tapered leader with about 2feet of 4X tippet added to 2 small nymphs. My methodology of getting the nymphs down was by using split shot which I was constantly changing the weight of to suit the changing flow of the canal. This is the key I found in fishing the canals. Get the nymphs down fast but ensure they drift naturally. The fish I had on took me 400 metres down the canal to where it joined at a T intersection with a bigger canal.
The fight was heart in mouth stuff as I knew the trout was way bigger than my leader breaking strain and patience was key. Slowly I was able to retrieve line and just as well as I was almost spooled and certainly would have been if I couldn’t have followed the trout down. There were a group of other fishermen down at the junction and one of them kindly netted my fish, a fantastic maiden hen fish of 7.25 kg or 16lbs. The length of the trout was 77 cm and had a very high condition factor. The trout was caught on a 6 wt V Access stealth Rod on a size 14 willow grub nymph all available from I Love Fly Fishing. I caught all the action on my Go Pro and it was one of the best scraps I have ever had on a fly rod.
The Tongariro, fishing well after the recent fresh.
Locally we are expecting a fair bit of rain mid week so this will once again be good news for fishing the rivers (and the stream mouths) especially when the rivers start to fall. The full moon also will be non-existent by the end of the week which will make night fishing worth a shot especially if you are looking for that big brown.
Well, that’s it from me again this week so, as always, 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,
