Fish on the Waipehi Stream mouth at dusk.
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’s been an interesting last couple of weeks with some very settled weather and some excellent fishing. I have had the pleasure of guiding some Australians for the last week (regular clients), and we have had some good fun. I took them one evening to the mouth of the Waipehi Stream and we struck the perfect night weather wise with light winds and pleasant temperature. As this was a bonus night for them, I fished as well and nothing much happened until after dark when I hooked into a very large fish which I sensed immediately was a big brown which indeed it proved to be. I landed the beautifully conditioned Jack that was 700mm long and right up around the trophy size.
Action was reasonably steady throughout the evening including a mint brown hen that I landed around 10pm that, although slightly smaller than the Jack, was in equally good condition. Some more Rainbows and smaller Browns were caught before we decided to have a cuppa around 11pm before the final onslaught. At 11:45 one of my clients hooked up and his fish just sat in front of him. This was just as well because he had his line wrapped around the top of his rod and was frantically trying to fix the situation. At last, he was free, and the trout was still on. Luckily it hadn’t woken up because it would have broken him for sure. I came over to assist and put my torch in the water and could see he had a huge brown Jack very similar to the one that I had caught earlier.
I managed to get the net under him and not a moment too soon as the hook was spat instantly the trout was netted. It was the first Brown my client had ever caught and also the biggest fish he had ever caught. It was a good way to finish the night. All fish were caught on large, dark Woolly Buggers. A great time to be targeting small stream mouths at the moment with plenty of fish, both Rainbows and Browns congregating in the cooler water. New moon is this Sunday so there are a few dark nights yet before the moon gets bigger and stays in the sky longer. The Tongariro River is full of fish at the moment with Browns and Rainbows steadily rising for Lace- Wing moths throughout the day. This should continue for a few weeks yet. I don’t think I can remember fish in the river being in better condition at this time of year with several fresh fish about.
Big browns are abundant around the stream mouths at night.
These fish are all being caught by various methods whether it is swinging streamers, nymphing or dry fly so there are plenty of options out there. The rivers are all still very low and the “TT” is still too low for me to get excited about, but I will be keeping an eye on it and as soon as we get a decent spell of rain, I will be checking it out. Well next week I am heading down South to do a bit of wilderness fishing and check out the Twizel canals. Tonight, I will have another night fishing attempt with my Australian clients, and I will comment on that in my next report.
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,
