Vigorous rise on the lower Tongariro.
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, it has been a pretty hot week in the Central Plateau and the trout are rising everywhere. This is the time of year I love the best for several reasons. For one it is quite pleasant fishing with the sun out and two, it brings the dry fly into the many methods of catching a trout. I don’t think there is anything better than to see a big trout rise and consume a dry fly. In fact, my main method of fishing for me personally at this time of year is with the dry fly. It can be frustrating seeing trout rising all over the place but not taking any notice of your well-presented fly. Trout can be very selective and if you don’t get that fly quite right then more than likely it will be rejected.
So changing flies often is essential for best results and sometimes you may have to go really small and have the tippets as light as you dare. I am finding good lacewing moth imitations working quite well at the moment. Sometimes I will have a size 16 on the end of a 12-foot leader with a 4X tippet on the end. Seeing the small fly is generally not a problem as I was fortunate to have eye laser surgery several years ago which has made my long-range vision very good. The trade-off (Which they didn’t tell me at the time) is that my close-up vision is not as good as it used to be, and I have pairs of $2 glasses all over the place so I can read without squinting and tie fishing knots of course.
I would never be able to thread the eye of a size 16 hook with 4X tippet without the aid of these glasses (sometimes I wish the manufacturers would make the eyes of these hooks just a little bit bigger), but I would choose the extra power I have with long vision any day. I am presently guiding a senior couple from Idaho (who I have for the next 2 days), and they can both fish and have been good company. Mark is very determined and spent a fair bit of time trying to get a couple of browns in the Waitahanui River to take his nymph but even after some seemingly perfect drifts, they showed no interest.
A couple of nice bows from the Tongariro River – Nice Rainbow caught today on the dry fly, a lacewing moth imitation. Click: LACEWINGS
The Waitahanui is a very pretty river and the sight of some of those browns up there is enough to send shivers up your spine. I have had a few bust offs this week and this is always on when you hook a big fish on light gear. All rivers at present are low and clear and more rain is due early next week which will help a lot. Heaps of cicadas out there at the moment and the trout are just starting to get a taste for them. This should improve dramatically in the next few weeks.
Well, that’s it from me 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,
