Monthly Highlights
Below are photos and a story from the recent month's guided fly fishing trips in New Zealand's Central South Island.
December 2023
When Seetow booked guiding days many months ago he advised me that he and Sockchin were only able to fish once a year and therefore considered themselves to be beginners. That proved to be incorrect since both partners could present a fly very nicely!
Apart from 2 mornings which were calm and ideal for fly casting the rest of the time it was a case of battling strong westerly or easterly winds. Wind is part and parcel around these parts especially in this El Niño year. Luckily we were able to cash in during the calmer periods and Seetow especially managed to pluck out 3 browns pretty much standing in the same place!
One could be forgiven for thinking that the fishing must have been easy but that was not the case at all!
Lack of rain with lowering river flows are far from ideal but the trout were feeding, just!
Sockchin and I were further up the pool with Seetow set up with my new "emerger" down below us. I explained what he needed to do and he duly obliged. No mean feat since these brownies rose only very spasmodically in a smooth glide so a very careful drag-free presentation with the right fly was essential. All that combined with a serious dose of patience! Three brown trout later, and with the wind coming up, we decided to move further up the river where Sockchin also struck gold using the 'miracle' fly.
Sockchin & Seetow
[click image to enlarge]
Another nice rainbow just about to go home Sockchin with a pretty brown trout Nice fat brownie for Seetow Superbly conditioned rainbow took an SBN 050 size #18 nymph Seetow ,rainbow king of the Tekapo River!
