South Canterbury Report

Graeme Marshall

A reminder from Jerry Flay, Reel Life Editor, that my report was due jolted me into the realisation that I hadn’t taken the fly rod for a walk for at least a week. With the season racing to a close on April 30 it was definitely time to do some thing about it. A glance out the window gave no indications of the predicted nor’wester so the trusty 5 weight Sage, reel, and vest were tossed into the back of the 4WD. Within a couple of minutes I was on the riverbed at a popular access point, not surprised to find myself alone. After all it was 11.00am on a Monday morning.

I tackled up with a moderately long leader, in excess of 4 metres, tapered down to 5X or about 4lb breaking strain. A single #16 tungsten beadhead which was vaguely representative of a sandy cased caddis went on the end. A tuft of natural wool plucked from the fence adjoining my property was just the ticket for the indicator.

As I started working up the run I noted how difficult the light is for spotting at this time of year. The water looked perfect though and I concentrated hard on the section towards the nice riffle at the top. I was not disappointed. Within minutes the indicator disappeared and a terrific looking brown in full spawning livery jumped a full metre out of the water. It gave me a great tussle before I slid it ashore – a fight of fully 15 minutes. I had an order for a fish for “Peking Trout” so I tapped the very fat jack of 2kg on the head. An autopsy revealed miniscule mayfly nymphs but plenty of caddis pupa too.

The next fish came from just a metre further up right in the fast water. This one was smaller but livelier and soon came to the net – a fish of 1.2kg. It was quickly released. I touched another in the same place and then it was up to the next run. I spotted the next fish and took it on the second drift with a backhand cast. Inexplicably it came off after one run. The tippet had parted well up from the nymph – a wind knot? I think so.

Not to worry. A flash of silver up under the willows signalled the next take. This one too came straight off but the nymph was still intact. Can’t win ‘em all. The fish of the day came from shallow, fast water – a beautifully marked and conditioned hen of 2kg. I was able to use forceps to slip the nymph out and nudge it back into the river. Two more brief hook-ups followed and then it was 1.00pm. Time to go. The season was finishing just as it had begun seven months earlier.

This has been typical of the action in the Opihi this season, surely testament to the excellent water flow in this system, augmented by the Opuha Dam.

Footnote: Didymo has just been confirmed in the Opuha and seems certain to affect the Opihi in time.

Graeme Marshall is an independent fishing guide; his reports are not officially representative of Fish & Game NZ