| Fishing Guide / Author |
Fishing Reports for Local Area - Location |
    
Gerald & Sue Telford
Unregistered guest
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, March 12, 2002 - 1:52 am: | |
Subject: March 2002 Fishing Report
MARCH 2002
Well goodbye summer! Where were you? It is time for a little reflection on the past couple of months as well as a peak towards April and May, as the mornings have now cooled down and the leaves are starting to turn.
As the Elk are starting to bugle and the Reds look restless it is difficult to focus on the low waters and shifty trout. Yes most of our southern lake waters are now low and looking for volume to liven up the fish. It seems to be a trend through out the South that the fish have never truly "loosened up" over a cool summer. The general feeling is that it is mainly due to climatic conditions. As is often the case when the fishing is difficult there are fingers pointed at any and all other theories that may help caress the ego of some fragile anglers, mine included.
We do seem to have more than our share of anglers around the area at present. Interestingly enough, the bulk of these anglers are not Kiwi anglers. This raises a couple of interesting questions. The first is why are the Kiwi anglers not out? One painful answer may be because there is a very real perception that with all the non- resident anglers and local guides working the area the local opportunities are somewhat restricted. Another more user friendly answer may be that the locals are smart enough to stay at home when the weather is more suited to rest and relaxation than angling because you just have to. The list of problems set the minds wondering, though lack of fishing are many and often not new, seems a pity that the answers are still avoiding us. I have a couple of answers that I'll keep to myself as they are not what most of us want to hear. Besides, as a guide I look at the picture from a different angle to most.
So what are the prospects for April and May? All inflowing waters to the Lakes, i.e the Wilkin, Young, Makarora, Hunter, Dingle, Timaru, Matukituki and Motatapu will be open to fishing until the end of May, mind out for the duck hunters in May. There will be a lot of Browns beginning to move towards the river mouths and up stream as spawning urges the fish up stream. These are the fish that will support the fishery over the next few years so spare that a thought. These fish are not that simple to catch as they have things other than food on their minds, you can however on occasion distract them from their selfish thoughts and get some good sport. I think something big and bulky swung in front of the trout is more likely to succeed than fine and small from behind. I think perhaps I am getting a little ahead of things here. Before the reproductive urges set in the trout should be making the most of the bountiful summer banquet and be building up the winter reserves, hungry fish will equate to angling opportunity. Remember that a lot of these fish are by now extremely shy and have Ph.d's in entomology, you really have to spend time locating and hunting the few fish that are out feeding. Be prepared to walk the extra mile and spot for fish, with a few exceptions it will be very difficult to pick up fish blind. The terrestrial fishing with large dries is also on a decline so if you are looking for dry fly activity think small elk hair caddis and may flies. My pick for the next few weeks would be a 16 elk hair and 16 Dad's favourite, and if you can handle the frustration a willow grub in 16-18.
On the Lake edge there will be plenty of damsels, corixa, and midge. Speaking of damsels I was treated to some lateral thinking by one of my fishers a week or so back that had me almost speechless. Perhaps lateral is not quite correct, more a case of not seeing the trees because of the forest type deal. Jeff and I had found ourselves on a very well fished and popular spot in the Twizel area. The day was hot, calm and the water gin clean. I was not surprised to see a couple of dozen 2-6lb trout happily taking damsels off the top. Having seen the same situation on numerous occasions I was not prepared to linger long as the river seemed a far better option. As it was time for lunch I quickly tucked in while Jeff took stock of the situation, my reply to his suggestion of a damsel adult was a little less than positive, still if he felt he must then go for it. I'm going to enjoy lunch and get out of here before we are totally humiliated. The first presentation brought the considered result, a not to polite refusal. As Jeff was about to make another cast I suggested he leave the fly where it was as the king of the weed bed was coming by. I almost choked on my lunch as that 6lb brown oh so slowly lifted up and delicately supped that great blue hunk of foam and feather! Well 20 something fish latter it was well past 6pm and time for home. Right place? Right time? Maybe! Will that fly work again? The answer to the latter is a big yes. Thanks Jeff, you reminded me that it pays to keep an open mind. I have no doubts I would have maybe tried a small corixa or a damsel nymph for a short time on those fish but that damsel adult, no way! To Jeff it was simple, the fish were taking adult damsels so put one on. You lose sight of the picture sometimes. So pick the right day if you have the luxury to do so and there will be great fishing around Lakes Wanaka, Hawea and Dunstan.
Personally I've a few more days of guiding, yes I am counting, and its off to the SCI Convention in Las Vegas and then hunting, hunting and more hunting. Enjoy the last of what's been, by and large a difficult summer. The difficulties due I believe to climatic conditions.
Gerald
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TIGHT LINES & KEEP YOUR POWDER DRY
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Gerald & Sue Telford
PO Box 312
Wanaka
New Zealand
Ph/fax: 64-3-443-9257
email: gtelfor@es.co.nz
homepage: www.flyfishhunt.co.nz |
Sue & Gerald Telford
Unregistered guest
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, April 03, 2001 - 12:44 am: | |
Subject: April Newsletter
Fishing & Hunting Services is now embarking on the hunting season. One more month remains of the fishing season until it reopens again in November. I may squeeze one more report from GT for May and then the newsletters will reappear for November 2001.
Regards Sue
APRIL 2001 FISHING REPORT
Well April already! The absence of any rain over the past 5 weeks has the river very clear and flows at summer levels. We are certainly not as dry as other parts of the Island and water levels are not a major factor. The bright clear windless days are a factor as is the fact that the fish are getting to a highly educated state.
It is only the occasional day that you find the fish with their defences distracted. This happened on the Young River last week with the first 3 fish spooking at the first cast, the next couple were locked up in quiet eddies and not feeding and we at least had fun casting the fly box at them. Their body language was clear after the 1st cast but ‘you never know’. Then something pulled the switch and the next 5 fish swallowed nymphs with relish. The fact that we ‘saw’ 12 fish was a surprise but the ‘catching’ of 5 a shock. I even got fooled into thinking it may work again, so 10 days later I was back, net result, 2 fish seen and no fish fooled.
You could have been forgiven for thinking that the fish had all been caught, indeed they may have been a day or 2 earlier. This "where and why" question is the one thing that keeps us going back for more. There are a hundred different reasons why some days fish better than others, I know the answer to about 5 reasons and as frustrating as it can get I don’t really want to know the other 95 reasons!
I know just enough to stick to the fishing and sooner rather than later you will find a fish that is actively feeding and hopefully able to be caught.
We are a peculiar bunch us fisherman; we seem to want it all to happen every time we fish. If we can see the fish and can’t catch them - it’s to calm and bright. If the cloud is in we can’t see them - we know how hard it is when we can see them so what’s it going to be like when we can’t? Then we like a little breeze just to ruffle the water surface and get the terrestrial on the water BUT it has to be upstream and not to much of it! The list goes on, it is so much more relaxing just to be able to look at the water and then also see the trees.
I had a lovely lady out with her husband last month that enjoyed fly-fishing but didn’t like to get interrupted by a fish taking her fly! I find I am enjoying the company of those that can see the whole picture and not get all tied in knots about catching fish.
So how to enjoy April and may or may not have your relaxation interrupted by trout. The river flowing into the lakes are all low and clear and the fish very educated. These fish will also know that summer is drawing to a close and will be making the most of the feeding options. You would be well advised to fish 12 –15ft leaders with 3-4lb tippet and 16-18 nymphs and dries, if you just want the noise of the water and scenery then fish blind with a 9ft leaders and 12-14 prince nymphs. There will be browns beginning to move on their spawning runs and this will greatly increase the numbers of fish in the lower sections of the rivers. The Hunter River is now down past the Highburn Fan as Lake Hawea continues to drop, there will be good fishing there until the end of May, especially for the person that is prepared to walk. The Makarora, Wilkin and Young Rivers are low and very clear and some good fish are about but be carefully as they are wise to the angler. The Matukituki River is carrying some colour due to continued snowmelt but cooling temperatures will clear the water for the few fish that are there. The Clutha River is the best bet as it is gin clear and down to the levels that I feel make it more approachable to the shore based angler. There are still copy’s of the Upper Clutha Angling Clubs access book available from Wanaka Sports so get one and find out the contacts of the farmers and leave the gates shut and dogs at home. Further down the Clutha the Lindis River is de-watered from SH8 to Ardgour Bridge with irrigation abstraction, further up stream the fish are under the willows in the shade and looking for cooler water. Over the Lindis pass the Ahuriri River is still worth a look.
The Nevis River will close on the 30th of April, as with the Fraser and Manuherikea Rivers, they and their inhabitants will appreciate the closed season.
The high dams Poolburn, Manorburn and Onslow will fish well to the end of the season and perhaps are the best option to catch fish, just watch the weather up there as it can be summer in the morning and winter 3 hours later.
Lakes Wanaka, Hawea and Dunstan are all holding good numbers of fish and spotting from the edges will find good fish in shallow water in the early morning and again once the heat of the day abates.
It is tough on the water at the moment but it will improve as the temperatures cool. I’m putting the rod down at the end of the week as there is a noise coming from a Stag or two ‘in them there hills’. It is hunting time for me. If you’re not into hunting then head to the Matuara River as it will really fire up in April.
GERALD
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FISHING & HUNTING SERVICES
"Tight Lines & Keep your Powder Dry"
________________________________
Sue & Gerald Telford
PO Box 312
Wanaka 9197
NEW ZEALAND
ph/fax: 64-3-443-9257
email: gtelfor@es.co.nz
homepage: www.flyfishhunt.co.nz |
Sue & Gerald Telford
Unregistered guest
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, April 02, 2001 - 12:44 am: | |
Subject: Monthly Report
Its interesting how we quickly assume that this season is worse or better than the last. Without the fishing diary and indeed last year’s copies of the Troutfisher one’s memory is inclined to be decidedly short. I was going to start off with a crack at our unseasonable weather and lack of summer to date. Low and behold that’s exactly what I had to say this time last year.
So this season is very similar to the last. Summer is very average to date and the wind is as usual dictating the terms. The West to Nor-west winds that we are having troubles with at present are a pain in the butt. The only option is to find water that puts the winds at our back or those few sheltered spots that give us the opportunity to fish upstream. One of the biggest hassles with a strong down stream wind is not so much the casting as the lack of line control with mends on the drift, it is very frustrating to have the wind pick your line off the water and destroy a drift. This was the case last week with a big brown on the Matukituki. We had the fish sighted and from a mere 6m had to wait 45minutes to get the one cast at that trout, to our delight he came from a couple of meters deep and sucked in the large cicada pattern. That one fish was the icing on a goods days fishing, it had little to do with the size of the fish, more to do with the determination to stick it out and capitalize on the few opportunities that we were presented with that day. Another fish was fooled by a long down stream drift, that fish also came from deep down to take a large dry. The very wind that was making the fishing difficult gave us the cover to get into an upstream position and make the cast.
So what should we expect for March? Some heat in the sun and not so much wind would be a bonus. I am not counting on that so it’s going to be a ‘hotchpotch’ of different waters for different weathers. The inflowing waters such as the Hunter, Young, Wilkin, Makarora and Matukituki should continue to fish well. The Wilkin is harboring some very nice Browns at the moment and with a little luck they should be well focused on Cicada’s and Grasshoppers. Bare in mind that like most fish they are getting well educated by March so don’t expect to find them in the margins, I’d look for them along the deeper quiet banks and in the back 3rd of the pools. If that doesn’t work then fish the fast heavy water with a size 8-10 stimulator or humpy pattern and experiment with a nymph under it by 20 –30cm. There are still good flows in most rivers and the water temperatures are not to warm and forcing the fish deep. The Hunter is fishing well with good numbers of both Rainbows and Browns, if you are lucky enough to have a hot day without a down river wind you will get plenty of good fishing. The Makarora’s few fish are getting very difficult to catch, the rainbows in particular are showing total contempt of a less than prefect presentation, some of the browns are still very catchable and of good size.
The Motatapu is still not fishing and until the fines are flushed from the river over the next couple of years we are going to struggle to feed any fish in the system. I walked from the mouth to the Aspiring Road last week and with the exception of one fish at the confluence with the Matukituki saw no trout over a 5km distance. The Matukituki has some good fish and if the river is not discolored by snow-melt is a lovely river to fish. The scenery alone makes for an enjoyable day. With the cooling evening temperatures the snow melt will lessen and the fishing improve with it. The Hawea is fishing well if the flows are down, at present they are not. The mighty Clutha is having plenty of good caddis hatches at night and with the less than perfect weather is not seeing quite the number of anglers as normal. This is true of most of the local fisheries and will continue to improve as the season progresses. The Lindis is very low and clear and the section for Cludden Hill to the mouth is almost dewatered with irrigation draw off, this is an annual occurrence and the fish that don’t migrate seem to manage some how in the remaining pools.
So it’s really going to be the last of the summer months to fish and the best of the dry fly fishing in our area. The cicadas’ are about when the weather heats up and if they are not then there are the quiet waters and plenty of willow grub activity especially around the head of Lake Dunstan. Both Hawea and Wanaka are fishing well to cruising Browns and I have best results on those windy days with big dries bouncing on the waves. Its not classic sight fishing but the sight of a big Brown lifting to a size 10 dry is fun enough. Get out and enjoy.
************************************************
FISHING & HUNTING SERVICES
"Tight Lines & Keep your Powder Dry"
________________________________
Sue & Gerald Telford
PO Box 312
Wanaka 9197
NEW ZEALAND
ph/fax: 64-3-443-9257
email: gtelfor@es.co.nz
homepage: www.flyfishhunt.co.nz |
Gerald Telford
Unregistered guest
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, September 03, 2000 - 1:58 pm: | |
Subject: Monthly Fly Fishing Report - June 2000
Wanaka has been blanketed in low cloud for the past 4 days and now we finally have some sun. It's that time of the year again and with only 10 days until the end of May the season is all but at an end.
It will be, "sit down in front of the fire and read the trout fisher and dream of spring and summer" for the next couple of months.
The waters open to winter fishing are the Hawea River, Clutha River from the Albert Town Bridge to the sea, and Lakes Wanaka, Hawea and Dunstan, there is also a small section of Timaru Creek open from the Bridge to the mouth. This section of the Creek is less than a kilometre in distance and has 2 runs that may hold fish. The mouth of the creek will be the better spot and will provide good fishing for those wishing to exercise the arm during winter.
The mouth and rip vary depending on the lake level and wind direction but the depth is always around 1 metre to 2 metres. The bay and delta around the creek mouth is all shallow water so you are not looking for the drop off but attempting to find the depth that the running fish are lying at prior to moving into the Creek.
The main run of Browns will have gone through already and those trout still in the Creek will become increasingly difficult to catch. The Rainbows on the other hand will just be starting to gather and will not run hard until August, BUT there will be smaller runs going up all June and July, it is just a matter of being there at the right time. There is no way of really knowing the right time with out being there. The best approach is a set of nymph and a sink tip or at the least a sinking leader and by trail and error attempt to fine the depth at which any fish may be. The down side of this can be the amount of Manuka and other sunken debris that accumulates at the Creek mouth.
The Hawea River is still fishable and has a small number of Rainbows present at the moment. How long the River will stay fishable is weather dependent, as Contact Energy will begin to run water from the Lake to maintain the Clyde Dam very soon. It will depend on rainfalls in the Wanaka and Wakatipu catchment has to just how much water Contact have to run. This in turn will determine if one is able to fish the Hawea or Clutha. The Clutha has been fishing a little better than normal to date and despite the floods of November seems to be in good form. The lower sections immediately above Lake Dunstan should provide good sport to down and across steamer fishing. Access 23, 24, and 24a as shown in the Upper Clutha Anglers booklet will show you the way. If you find yourself in Wanaka and need a copy call in at Wanaka Sports and talk to Graeme or Fiona.
The Lakes will still provide some good fishing by stalking the edges looking for cruising Browns. It is very difficult to fool these trout in winter as the water clarity and sun angle at a huge advantage to the trout. If you manage to fool 1 in 10 with small nymphs or a 'Monsoms Bully' you will be doing well. My pick would be to concentrate on the River or Creek mouths and hope to pick up spawn run fish.
The opportunities are here if you wish to pursue them, if you prefer the comfort of home then look to overhaul your gear, tie some flies and catch up on some reading. Even get out the photo albums and reflect on last season. Use this quiet time to reflect and plan a few adventures for next season.
I'm heading into the mountain to hunt Tahr and Chamois for the next couple of months. At the very least I'll have an idea as to how much snow we are going to have to fill the river next season.
Gerald
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