The Whanganui 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, the long dry spell of weather continues and to be honest it would be good to see a bit of rain to stir things up a bit. I was over at the Whanganui yesterday and while it is flowing at a good fishable level at around 19 cumecs at Piriaka, there is a lot of nuisance weed drifting with the current which means constant cleansing of nymphs even when you take the weight off the nymphs. Very frustrating. A good fresh is needed to clear all this weed.
Not so bad in the Tongariro but the river is still low and clear running at approximately 21 cumecs. Plenty of trout in the river but you have to be patient. am enjoying the dry fly on the Tongariro at the moment having most success with small Lace-Wing moth imitations. Some fishers are having success with small Adams and cicadas so it pays to keep your options open as some days some imitations will work better than others. There are more browns in the Tongariro now and some of them are of trophy size.
I actually had one of these beasts on the other day. He took the nymph at close range and just sat there, motionless. I reeled my line in so that my indicator was nearly at my rod tip and still no real resistance. I figured I had a slab but then I saw him, and he was very big indeed. Suddenly he decided to wake up and went for a downstream run with no intention of stopping. Just as quickly, he was gone only to leave me pondering, why? It wasn’t a bust off, just not quite hooked well enough. Nothing I could do. The worst thing was as he tore off downstream, I swore I saw him poke his tongue out at me. I don’t think that was called for, totally disrespectful.
A nice bows from the ‘TT”. – Peter into a fish on the Whanganui River. – The Whanganui River.
All methods are working in The Tongariro at the moment. Even in the low conditions I saw some wet liners have some success in the lower river. The “TT” also has some good fish in it but with the gin clear conditions they are spooky but can be tempted with the dry fly. No real rain forecast for the weekend but certainly worth getting out there and doing it when you will have large sections of the river to yourself. Pheasant tail nymphs and variants of these seem to be doing the trick and even emergers tied under a dry are worth a look.
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,
