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Lake Pukaki with the Southern Alps in the background.
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,
Well firstly I would like to apologise for no report last week for the central plateau, but I was on my way down to Twizel to see if I could snare a large trout. The first night I arrived it was freezing at 5pm and I figured maybe I will leave the first night fish alone just so that I could acclimatise. Now I have never really fished the canals before and being primarily a fly fisherman, I knew I would have to have to try other options as well as fly fishing if I wanted to be successful. This was really an exploratory trip to get the feel for how it works down here so that I will be more than ready for when I come down next time.
The first day I just travelled up and down the canals, looking to see where everybody was fishing and how they were fishing. It would be fair to say that just about every type of fishing method was being employed i.e., fly fishing, soft baits, natural baits, spinning, egg rolling and Spey casting. The numbers of fish being caught weren’t huge, but I noted a few fish rising (one of them very big), in the Oahu canal. I tried to catch one of these on a nymph rig set and although I was getting the perfect drift, I wasn’t getting any takers, so, needless to say, the first day I blanked. The next day was much the same and not much was getting caught. Apparently, it has been pretty hard lately. It came to mid-afternoon and a local came down and asked if I minded if he fished in close proximity to me. There was no problem with that as there is so much space down here that no one can really interfere with your fishing water. Fishermen tend to walk up and down the canals all the time, so it is like a conveyor belt. Everyone gets a shot at any specific position sooner or later.
This chap was using soft baits and within 10 minutes he had a fish on all be it a bit small. Next cast he had another fish on about the same size. Both fish were put back in the water. The very next cast he had another fish on and this one (by the bend in the rod) was bigger, much bigger. A long battle was to happen and soon the fish was to show itself emerging like a submarine from the depths. It was a massive brown trout, easily the biggest I have ever seen on a line. Although the fisher had a big, long handled net, I offered to assist with the capture if he wanted me to, but he seemed quite confident that he would be alright. He brought the brown into the net and 3 times it entered and swam out again. I was hoping that this wasn’t going to be a hard luck story. The browns are notorious for not wanting to come to the net. Finally, he had it. What a monster!!
“Lucky I’m a taxidermist “he said, which let me know that this fish wasn’t going back.
“How heavy you reckon” I said.
“Oh about 18 pounds” he said.
I figured it was all of that when I was thinking of a 25pound snapper that I caught around 10 years ago, and this brown looked every bit as big. And so, it was. The fish was posted on Facebook that evening at 27 pounds. To think, the fish of my dreams was swimming right next to me and refused my offerings, however, tomorrow was another day, and I would attempt a different strategy.
The next day yielded some good success with a number of fish, both rainbow and browns caught. Nothing big, perhaps a 5lb rainbow being the biggest. I was having success with egg rolling techniques that can be seen on U Tube. The following day I changed my tactic to swinging some big tube flies with the help of a cylinder lead sinker to get it down, fast. I caught more browns today, but the fishing became very tough from about lunch time on. Most fishermen in the area packed up in search of better water. I ran into a fellow fisher, Mike (pictured below), and he had been fishing in the Ohau B and C canals by the salmon farms and he told me the fish weren’t playing at all in these areas. Mike had had some good success a few days earlier with a soft bait. So, the next day was back to Christchurch for an overnight stay before heading back to Turangi tomorrow. If anybody ever wants to fish the canals, for something a bit different, I thoroughly recommend it. But a word of warning, it gets mighty cold down here quickly so be prepared. Back to normal next week where I will be commenting on the Turangi area.
As always, all your fly fishing and fly tying needs call and see me at the I Love Fly Fishing Shop in Turangi, 8 Wiremu St, phone 021667867. If there is anything you need, give me a ring and I will open up anytime (within reason of course 
), just call me and I’ll sort you out. 021667867.
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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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