Hinemaiaia River. The trout were hanging out on the left of the main flow. Left of the ILFF Stream Access rod.
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.
We are now well into October and while the winter runs are nearly behind us there is some exciting fishing to look forward to as the days get longer and warmer and the angling pressure on the river’s eases. The month of October has opened up a lot more water for the angler for starters and I look forward to other fly-fishing options like the dry fly being part of the artillery that I can use against the wily trout. The beginning of the week was very windy as is typical for this time of year. Earlier in the week I decided to fish the Hinemaiaia River to be a bit more pleasant out of the wind. The Hinemaiaia is probably the best river to fish down the southern end of the lake when the wind is strong as it is well sheltered by high cliffs and vegetation on both banks. I made a good decision as it was very pleasant conditions at the river when I arrived around lunch time and better still, hardly any anglers. I tried out the usual go to runs and while I could see a few fish, they were more interested in poking their tongues out at me and paying no attention to my nymphs that I was drifting past their noses.
A change of tactic was required and so I decided to have a go for the fish that I couldn’t see. If you look at the photo of the Hinemaiaia you will see a typical stretch of water where the obvious plan would be to throw a nymph high up into the foam line allowing for a natural drift coming back downstream with little or no mending , rather stripping in slack line as required. The more difficult approach would be to drift the nymphs down the left (as you look at the photo) in the slower current. This requires several mini mends as the fly line closer to me is flowing at a much faster rate and I have to keep mending it up stream to ensure my nymphs are travelling at the right speed. What makes this option attractive is that there is a large snag beneath the surface on the other side where some trout should be holding up and if I can just drift it close enough to the edge of the snag, I just might be in business. Well for the next 2 hours I had some good steady action. These trout had not had the same pressure as others that were holding in the easier to fish lies and therefore less wary. I was conventional nymphing here with a bomb and a dropper, but this water was ideal for euro nymphing, but I was doing OK with the conventional nymphing method, so I continued.
There are still good numbers of fish in the Hinemaiaia, but they are thinning out a bit now and a lot of the fish in the river are very spooky after putting up with a lot of angler pressure through the winter. The Tauranga Taupo has continued to fish well and like the Hinemaiaia River, has had very little angling pressure. Lots of fresh fish still in this river, especially if you get upriver a bit around the first river crossing area and above. Today, Thursday, I decided to Euro nymph the Tongariro River in the afternoon. I had some business earlier on in Taupo and amongst other things to do, I didn’t get down to the river until 3pm. I decided on The Boulder Reach as I should have it to myself. On arrival at carpark there were 4 vehicles parked up which immediately made me change my plans. The Blue Pool sounded like a good option and as luck would have it, I had it all to myself. It proved to be a good option as I was soon into a solid fish that hugged the bottom and fought hard much like a stubborn brown and it even had me stumped for a while. It proved to be a really nice rainbow hen which I landed and released. Not long after I was hooked up again, this time there was no doubt of its pedigree as it was leaping all over the place. Another fresh bow, both hens, different fight styles but both glorious. This fish was also returned. To be fair I rarely keep fish, unless someone I know particularly wants one for the table. I actually get quite a buzz letting them go and letting them carry on with their life’s journey.
Major Jones Pool, below swing bridge, Tongariro River. – Prime bow from The Blue Pool, Tongariro River. – The Blue Pool, Tongariro River.
I have no problem with fish being taken for the table by anglers as the fishery is healthy and is not in the same fragile state as some other areas in the country where catch and release is recommended to preserve the fishery. I am finding terrestrial nymphs like pheasant tail and hare and copper are working pretty well now and not too big. With Euro nymphing in faster and reasonably deep water like the Blue Pool, I find adding a bit of split shot above the bomb works a treat. I just like to feet the odd bounce of my nymphs cannoning against the bottom rocks while they are drifting. Well, I’m off down to Christchurch for the weekend tomorrow for my brother’s 70th birthday so I’ll miss the weekend’s fishing, but the weather looks pretty settled and the rivers will be clear so those that decide to throw a line, should be in for some good fishing.
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,
