New Zealand Fishing

New Zealand High Country, High Tussock, Huge Hideous Fly – Perfect!

Back a couple of months as the New Zealand summer meandered into autumn, I got an invitation that many anglers dream about.

"Do you want to join us on a helicopter fly-in to the high country above Taupo, (central North Island of New Zealand)?" asked Pam, bless her!

Despite my morbid fear of helicopters after some very dodgy experiences in my time in the army, I hesitated for about half-a-heartbeat, and blurted out "Yes! Please."

The day arrived and of course there was low cloud with drizzly rain, and every chance the flight would be cancelled. But no, the weather over the range was supposed to be fine and clear.

So Pam, me and guide Steve clambered into the little hideousround bubble under the rotors, and up, up and away we went over the range-top into the fine, clear sky as promised.

The fly-in revealed the crystal-clear headwaters of the river we were to fish. It was fairly Summer low, with shallow runs dropping into pools where the river turned in an apparently never ending series of bends. All framed by high country tussock, right up to the mostly steep banks, dropping near to, or vertically into the water. Beautiful!

Out of the helicopter on a small clearing in the high tussock, we rigged up the rods, and that’s when things got a bit tense. Steve, our guide, and a good mate of mine saw the fly I was about to tie on, and launched into a frank and meaningful critique of "that hideous beast". Full story

Posted by Tony Bishop in fishing flies, Fishing Travel, fly fishing, my fishing trips, New Zealand Fishing

CATCH THE MOMENT: Fly-fishing New Zealand 2012

goaloneinnz

This, mostly, solo record of a 5 week fishing trip is possibly the best video I have seen on fishing in New Zealand. It shows the huge variety in landscapes, terrain and water. It also shows the wind, occasional rain, sandflies, and roads that test driving skill. All in all, everything that makes fly fishing here a true test of fishing skill, in superb surroundings. Wonderful piece of work.

Documentary of a fly fishing trip – New Zealand Jan./Feb 2012, 5 weeks / one ‘flyfischerman’, a German, and one "Go Pro – Hero 2".

Posted by Tony Bishop in Fishing Travel, fly fishing, New Zealand Fishing

Distance Schmistance.

One of the South Island of New Zealand’s best known guides, Chris Dore, offers some sound advice about getting more distance, and the benefits of being able to do so. This is especially true in New Zealand where casting in a wind is a very common requirement.

“I tire of hearing people bagging distance casting. "its not needed here in NZ" and most commonly "all my fish are caught within a few rod lengths" are common justifications.

Well mate, that’s because you can only cast a few rod lengths. And how do you go in windy conditions? You don’t? I wonder why…”

Posted by Tony Bishop in fly fishing, fly fishing how-to, fly fishing tips, New Zealand Fishing

Unexpectedly Great Fishing: Again!

A couple of my previous articles, ‘Expect the Unexpected’ and ‘No Great Expectations’, were based on the sometimes fabulous fishing that seems to pop-up out of nowhere.

I have just had five days of truly unexpected and exceptional fishing.

Like other trips like this, it all started out pretty much as usual. I was going down to the Taupo region of the central North Island of New Zealand, for what I hoped would coincide with the start of annual run of brown trout into the rivers and streams that flow into Lake Taupo.

I arrived to weather that was also pretty much as expected for autumn, clear skies, (maybe too clear) and a hint of a chill in the air. The main river I was going to fish, the Tauranga-Taupo, was low and very clear, again, maybe too clear. So, I was not expecting great fishing.

The next morning I set off up the river, and found there was no one else on the river where I was fishing. Big plus tick for that.

I also noticed lots of fish in the river. Well, to be truthful, for the first hour or two, most noticed me about one second before I noticed them fleeing to wherever it is where trout go when they notice fishermen.

But soon enough I shook off the city cloak of unawareness, and began to notice fish before they noticed me, and fling a fly at them. Sometimes they liked the fly and bit it, other times they treated the fly with utter disdain, and after repeated casts slowly moved off to that secret trout place.

Now, you may remember I was down at Taupo to catch browns, but I never saw one, but rainbows where there in big numbers.

Big numbers of rainbows was encouraging, but what was even more encouraging and unexpected was the size of the fish. In recent years the average size of Taupo area rainbows has been in decline, to the point where any fish over three pounds was considered a good catch.

Recent reports however suggested that the average rainbow size and condition coming up to spawning was well up on recent years.

The reports were spot on. That first day I caught and released 16 or 17 fish, not one of which was less than 3lb. Most were over a pound or two over that weight, a couple may have been even bigger.

The fish were in wonderful condition, deep and round, fat as butter, and fought long and hard… [full story]

(Terrible photo I know – but left my camera at home – and my phone camera is, well you can see.)

Posted by Tony Bishop in Fishing Travel, fly fishing, my fishing trips, New Zealand Fishing

Taupo and big browns, here I come.

Am leaving in the morning before the first sparrow un-tucks it’s head from under it’s wing and completes it’s ablutions for Taupo, (central North Island NZ).

With Autumn now fully entrenched it is around this time big brown trout start to move into the rivers that flow into Lake Taupo. Big fish, but not easy to catch, still, I like the challenge.

Will also be trying and reviewing two new Sage 5wt, 10’ rods.

Watch for more.

Posted by Tony Bishop in fly fishing gear, my fishing trips, New Zealand Fishing

Smartphone swell and weather for New Zealand

Be safe this summer and weather prepared with the new SwellMap mobile site.

 

New Zealand is a unique place for weather – the variability and complexity we experience daily means that our population is very aware of the weather outcomes. Everyone knows that the weather can be very different only 20 km down the road, and that’s why SwellMap provides forecasts at a resolution of 6 to 18 km. This allows us to predict the weather at many of the smaller towns in New Zealand, as well as splitting our bigger cities into smaller weather (and activity) areas.

SwellMap, New Zealand’s premier marine forecast site has a new mobile site. Designed with a smaller data feed and faster download time, boating and fishing enthusiasts can check the weather on the go on their smart phone. SwellMap provides colour coded weather map forecasts at a resolution of 6 to 18 km: sea temperatures, tides, wind, wave height, period and precipitation are all at your fingertips. Plan your outdoor fishing and boating trips safely to avoid strong head winds, heavy seas and rig up with appropriate gear. Simply login with swellmap.com on your mobile and you will be directed to the mobile version. Double tap on screen to zoom into maps.

About SwellMap:

SwellMap system has been developed by MetOcean Solutions Ltd, a science-based consultancy who provide high quality weather data to the offshore and marine industry in New Zealand and overseas.

SwellMap uses the latest atmospheric and oceanographic numerical models, and a large computing facility, to produce forecasts which are updated 4 times per day.

Posted by Tony Bishop in Fishing Safety, Fishing Travel, New Zealand Fishing

Muddy Waters – Of Mud, Mothers, Eels and the Boy

Reading the story in my last post about a big eel attacking a trout here in New Zealand reminded me that the first story I ever wrote for New Zealand Fishing News magazine was about eels.

It was written about 22 years ago – don’t time fly! It was pretty well received way back then, so maybe it is time for a re-run. Have a read here

Posted by Tony Bishop in fishing humour, New Zealand Fishing

A little video on New Zealand

Put together by Chris Benny Imaging, this video goes just a little way to explaining why I love living here, and just how great it was to come home after nearly a month travelling, literally, around the world.

Posted by Tony Bishop in Fishing Videos, New Zealand Fishing