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The mighty Whakapapa River looking very fishy.
Brian Willson NZPFGA member, professional guide and I Love Fly Fishing shop partner, 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 and if you want to call to the shop – 8 Wiremu Street – call Brian on 021667867. Brian fishes Euro/Czech, Dry Fly, Trout Spey, Nymph and Wet Fly.
Greetings fellow fly fishers,
Another week has gone, and we are just that much closer to Christmas. I am writing this report a little bit early because I am off to Australia tomorrow for a week so there will be no report next week. The fishing remains pretty good on the whole and there are not many anglers on the rivers. I had the pleasure of taking a lady from New York out on The Tongariro a couple of days ago, (never fly fished before), and we had a great day. After catching a nice young hen at The Judge’s Pool in The Tongariro and losing several others, I decided to have a look at The Boulder Reach. On arrival, surprise, surprise there was no one there which is typical of most pools in the area at the moment. The river at this point still has that milky look about it making siting fish difficult. I did manage to pick up a dark shadow and then, on closer examination, could see a large Jack stationed in shallow water and then I could see a hen just on the other side of him. I positioned my client in a position where she could drift a nymph past both of them.
Soon I could see another trout, a smaller Jack, coming up the rear and trying to join the party. My client was a novice, and a number of her casts were not quite in the right place but enough were and the trout weren’t getting spooked. They obviously had their minds on other things. Every so often the big Jack would turn around and chase the smaller Jack away, but he kept coming back, fascinating to watch. I soon realised that the only trout showing some interest in the drifted nymphs was the big boy. As long as they weren’t going anywhere, neither were we. 45 minutes passed and then, Bingo! the big trout struck, a dead bite and my client thought she was snagged. I assured her that she wasn’t, and fireworks were about to start. Fortunately, the trout fought like a strong brown and didn’t scream off, obviously not wanting to get too far away from his lady friend.
I wanted this one and I could see the cleardrift egg embedded in his upper snout. He had a huge Kupe that on first glance, could munch through anything. I managed to get the net under him, and it was most satisfying to hatch a plan and for it to come off although after 45 minutes I was beginning to wonder. It was a great fish, chunky and strong looking like a Brownie and my client was pleased to say the least. I went for a walk up from the State Highway Bridge yesterday and had some reasonable success in the couple of hours I was up there. There are certainly a lot of spent fish amongst the bunch but enough freshies to keep you excited. Small naturals are doing it, and the egg flies are still working fine.
From now on, a lot of holiday makers are going to migrate here so one can expect more pressure on the rivers. At time of writing, it is super windy (and being a southerly), quite cold. I think we are going to be in for a rough night as Wellington has experienced a major storm today and it is coming up the country.
The I Love Fly Fishing Shop will be closed from tomorrow until December 21 but good for business after that.
So, for all my loyal customers, have a merry Christmas and keep those lines tight -Brian.
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