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A superb jack.
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.
Hello again fellow fly fishers,
Well, another week has come and gone and once again it has been a very busy week. I have been pretty full on guiding this week and the weather has been testing to put it mildly. Earlier in the week we experienced the polar blast that brought a lot of snow (to sea level in some places) in the South Island. I had a trio of Australian based anglers on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday when the weather was at its most bitter. Thursday was particularly nasty with a very strong southerly wind all day after a minus 3 degrees start. Fishing was excellent however and over the course of 3 days many fish were caught and also lost which made my trio quickly forget about the cold.
By and large the fish were in excellent condition with only a few mending fish. After I had finished with the Aussies I had a New Zealand doctor for a couple of days. He had the best of the conditions with milder days and hardly any wind and like my previous clients, had plenty of action. All my clients were nymphing and the nymphs doing the damage were a Tonga Bomb with at least one pink bead at the head and a Cleardrift Egg both available from I Love Fly Fishing. In the next couple of days, I am taking a 90-year-old to the river so I’m hoping the weather improves as at the time of writing this report, it is hosing down.
I have postponed the venture from tomorrow as this weather is
forecast to hang around for a day or two. He is a client from Sydney who has
been with me a few times in previous years and throws a pretty mean line for
his age. The Tongariro has definitely been my favourite river of the week, but
the current rain will make fishing the “TT” a real consideration as I find this
river always fishes well at this time of year and can be carried out in virtual
solitude as there are a lot of runs and pools with no fishers. The outback
rivers like the Whakapapa, Waipunga and Mohaka are now open. I think I will
wait until next month before I attack these rivers. I have found I have my best
luck in the past on The Whakapapa from about November through to April.
I will be venturing over to the Taranaki region over the weekend and you can rest assured I will be taking my fly rod over to test the several excellent little streams over there that come off Mt Taranaki. Hopefully, the rain coming down at present doesn’t upset my plans as these streams do colour up pretty quickly. Plenty of fishers are coming to the I Love Fly Fishing shop in Turangi purchasing a range of products and sometimes just seeking some advice. Remember, whatever your requirements, you can ring me anytime if outside normal trading hours and I will open up ( within reason of course 😀). 021667867.
Until next time.
central north islandfishing reportfly fishingMohakanew zealandnorth islandriver fishingtauranga-taupo riverTongariro RiverturangiWaipunga
Brian
My name is Brian Willson and I have been a fly fisher for over 50 years. I am a professional fishing guide and current NZPFGA member of which I have served at executive level and have guided anglers of different skill sets, ages and gender from all over the world. I have also written two books on fly fishing and am a keen artist. I am passionate about fly fishing and the therapeutic qualities it offers and enjoy sharing this experience with people on and off the water. Over the years I have made some amazing friendships that continue to this day. I have partnered up with one of these friendships, Barrie Barnes from I Love Fly Fishing, and I sell exclusively, quality, affordable fly fishing gear at my premises at 8 Wiremu Street, Turangi, the designated I Love Fly Fishing shop in Turangi which is open all hours— just ring 021667867 anytime. I take a serious interest in my clients and freely offer advice when asked and am happy to talk fishing anytime. Tight lines, Brian Willson
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