A trip to the KP

Weather had been fine, the river was holding a moderate flow and Summer was coming. Before the Parrot gets too low and heats up, we thought a trip over for a look was warranted. Glenn and I drove over in cloud and cool conditions and as we arrived at Kinglake the rain started and the weather was cool. We drove into Pheasant Creek and had a coffee while the weather cleared. We fished the Golden Mile and Glenn took a couple early, both on a dry. River looked beautiful and we were hopeful of more trout. The sun was trying to shine and we changed flies often trying to unlock todays secret fly. I managed a small trout with a nymph and also lost another small fish on a dry. A great day on the Parrot but I fear it might be the last for a while until we have a bit of cooler weather in March /April.

Season 2016-17 A trip to Owen River Lodge

If you have the best wife and family in the world, you'll know what this means. My surprise 60th birthday present was a trip to Owen River Lodge, the best large wild brown fishing lodge in the world. We made a two week trip out of this excursion but the fishing is what this blog is about.
I was told by my guide Pete, that modest returns of large fish was what I could expect. Modest, means 3-5 fish about 6lb is considered a good days fishing. I had three guided fishing days and was very excited. We fished the Wairou river on day 1. We lucked out with the weather and had the first sunny , windless day of the season. Pete tells me to go down and cast to the fish that he's spotted. I can't see it and ask for an exact position. He explains its lying behind the large rock about 2 metres out from the bank. I look closely and ask him where it is in relation to the large rock at the end of the shaley sand. He looks again and says to me " that's the bloody fish you donkey, cast at it" i cast a small fly, size 14 Para adams, the fish rises and I strike. What happens next was unbelievable. The fish rips up the river and takes about 30 metres of line. I can hardly hang on and after a long 10 minute fight i manage to get him in. A couple of quick snaps and I'm on the board with my first fish and plenty of photos. That fish was a modest 6 lb. We fish all day and managed 10 trout , a remarkable effort, for day 1. I missed plenty due to poor casting but over the next 2 days managed to land 18 trout. The two largest were 7lb and the remainder ranged between 3-6 lb. A combination of dry and wet flies were used . Lots of fly changes, thanks to Pete and Adam. They must have changed flies about 100 times each day. No more than 2 casts over any fish before a change of fly. The windy conditions were challenging on the morning of day 2 and I was only average to say the least. Need more practice at home before I fish in the wind again. It was an amazing experience, I'll never forget nearly being spooled by a fish. That big brown trout took my dry fly, charged upstream 50 metres, came charging back downstream with me following as fast as I could. Once the fish got below me, I had to run across the rocks and get below him. After a few leaps from the water, a couple of rapids and many attempts to bust me off I finally landed him 110 metres from where he was hooked, what a fish.
Sight fishing in NZ is fantastic but you need a guide to ensure success. Pete was sensational and found fish each day. I couldn't see them but he was great. Fishing a nymph blindly along those rivers could mean you might get a couple but the guides are worth their money and should be used if possible.

A visit to the McKenzie river at Zumsteins March 2016

We had an extra day at the Stawell Gift planned this year as Michele had some VAL work to do setting up photo finish cameras. I decided to take my fishing gear and wander up the creek from the picnic area to see if I could take a few fish. River was low and clear, as expected. I walked up the creek and fished the pocket water as best I could. Used a small red Humpy and managed to entice 4 small brown trout to the surface. They were very slow with the take and as they swam off just held the fly in their mouth. I only lipped the first 3 after waiting a long time to lift the rod but finally landed a fish about 25cm. I waited a ridiculous amount of time before lifting and I could see the fish 5 metres away with the fly in its mouth. A great 2 hour session on a fine sunny day.

Return to Harrietville, February 2016

I waited patiently for a return to my favourite river and the season was slipping away. Four days in February and another four in April built the anticipation of a great end to the season. Water levels were low but I was anxious to get onto the river. The afternoon we arrived was warm and sunny and I walked the traditional Howards Bridge wade. Glorious to finally be there. The trout were keen to have a crack at anything resembling food and I took about a dozen even though they were pretty spooky. Frosty Corner the next morning and although the weather was perfect the trout weren't keen at all. I managed about 5 and never felt as though I had the correct fly.  Water level was too low for a nymph so i ditched them and concentrated on the usual range of dry flies. Nothing really helped and I only managed a handful of trout for the next couple of days. The top section of Frosty Corner accounted for a dozen trout on day three when i used my Glenn Innes hopper. Took a couple of great browns there when the sun was on the water. I remember the Maestro told me one of the fish he ate was full of black beetles when he gutted it a couple of weeks earlier so the next day I waited for midday and used a black beetle. Very difficult to see, but as soon as it hit the water trout came from everywhere. Had a stellar afternoon taking great fish from very shallow water. Sensational angling and quiet stalking in tough conditions. Hooked a massive brown from amongst a log jam in Frosty Corner after a great cast. he took my beetle and after  10 seconds of being hooked shook his head and escaped to safety. I know where he lives and I'll be back in April.