A typical Hinemaiaia River fish caught yesterday.
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, another week has come around and there has been a significant change to the fishing scene in more ways than one. Firstly, I have noticed a big increase in angler numbers. This is despite the school holidays finishing last week. This is normal for this time of year as we get a big migration of fellow fishers come to the region in the hope of some fast and furious action.
Sometimes people get impatient at this time of year and get a bit flustered when someone gets in their way or doesn’t seem to display the right etiquette. This is all too common when the rivers get a bit crowded. Generally, most fishers are pretty well behaved and indeed the average fisherman is a pretty decent person, so I suggest before you get involved in an unwanted argument, talk to fishermen close to you, find out what their intentions are and work around it. Also, don’t hog a pool. If you have had a good return from a specific spot, then enjoy the experience and go find another spot so that another angler may have the same joy as you have had. (He may not but that’s not your problem).
This scenario happened to me the other when I happened to find myself in a hotspot on the Hinemaiaia River while a couple of anglers above me were blanking. After taking a few fish in quick time I invited them to take my spot and may be improve their luck. I was happy to have a cuppa and try another spot. I am always amazed at how many Jacks I catch in this river and a number of them have real battle scars. I checked this out with Didymo Dave, and he informed me that according to the trapping programs, early in the season there are more Jacks than hens but by September the hens catch up in numbers and it is pretty much 50/50. I guess why there are so many Jacks with flesh wounds is that the river is small in nature and there are more fish per square metre of river than any other river when the runs are on meaning confrontations are much more common.
Dark but well conditioned, strong fish from the Hinemaiaia River. – Fishing a drop off , Tongariro River. – Another typical Hinemaiaia River fish caught yesterday.
We did not get rain of any significance this last week although it was pretty wet last weekend but not enough to cause a significant fresh and as ai write, all rivers are low and clear. Even so, I believe the fish have been more receptive this week and I have no doubt that more and more fish are entering the rivers and I have certainly had better success this week than last week. Rain is forecast for early next week and if it is significant then the floodgates could open. I am finding the cleardrift egg patterns behind a bomb is doing very well now whereas the conventional terrestrial patterns like the pheasant tail and hare and copper were doing better last week. So don’t be too disappointed if you get to the river and find some of your favourite spots taken. The fish are becoming nicely spread out throughout the rivers now so if you can find a likely spot with a nice current flow then try it, even if you have never tried it before. You might be pleasantly surprised.
While I am not selling, I Love Fly Fishing gear from the store in Turangi now, I would recommend you look at the products online, 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.
Well, that’s it for another week so get out there and do it, you won’t be disappointed. -Brian – NZPFGA Member,
