Monthly Highlights
Below are photos and a story from the recent month's guided fly fishing trips in New Zealand's Central South Island.
November 2016
The start of the 2016/2017 season (now two weeks ago) has been a typical up and down affair as far as the weather goes. It's common to have to contend with strong winds but a lot rarer to have a whole week when it has rained at some stage every day!
Most rivers and streams are high as I write this and although many are still fishable it is far from ideal conditions for the fly angler.
Long term, the high flows augur well for later in the season when traditionally some streams suffer from low flows.
"Roll Casting"
Cashing in on perhaps the best 3 days so far, Meg, my first customer of the season and a relatively new fly angler, enjoyed more favourable river conditions.
It's not that often I get to guide kiwi anglers so it was nice to be speaking the same dialect!
Super patient, Meg was the ideal pupil - keen to test her newly learned skills of which the roll cast was her key attack weapon.
A slight glitch on the first day when we realised neither one of us had brought their camera so it was no surprise when a superb jack rainbow ended up in the net but not captured on film. Bugger!
Hot on Meg's heels was Mr "Rainbow" himself also known as Gene from the US. Gene loves rainbows and it seems his affection for that particular fish species acts as a magnet because there was a procession of these lovely trout in and out of the landing net!
Speaking of the roll cast, it's rare to see an angler persevere with such success as Gene had to do with the tough conditions.
The local rainbow population can breathe a sigh of relief now that Gene has finished his stint in NZ. Hope to see you again Mr "Rainbow"!"
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| Not ideal for an evening stroll! Pukaki River bed | Gene alias Mr Rainbow with a very pretty specimen | |
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| Gene shows he knows how to catch browns too! | Gentle release. Note the glove to get a better grip of, and less damage to, the trout | |
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| Spring on the Tekapo River bed | Meg - One happy lady angler! |
