Fishing Reports index > December 2007

Hawke’s Bay Fishing Report

From Grant Petherick

What a difference a few days has made.  Earlier this month I was anxiously watching the level of local rivers shrink to some of the lowest flows I can recall for this time of year.

Fishing had been good, particularly in the Ngaruroro and Tukituki, but had the lack of rain and hot weather continued,  water quality would surely have been very poor by the time Jan / Feb rolled around.

This latest fresh has hopefully rejuvenated the rivers and will be a bonus for those hoping to fish over the xmas / New Year period.

 Today, I spent the morning on the Mohaka which was up slightly and tea-coloured from the recent rain.  Despite this…..or perhaps because of this, the fish came freely to mayfly imitations fished as a double nymph rig or as a dropper under a large dry.

We caught several fish over 4 lbs and weighed two others that both exceeded 6lbs…….some of the nicest rainbows I have seen this year and far better than anything I have seen caught in the Tongariro lately.

I observed quite a few Manuka beetles today and heard a couple of cicadas chirping away. If the forecast fine weather does return  I expect to see more dry fly action during the day, and for a fly fisher,  that wouldn’t be a bad Christmas present.

If the cicada action does crank up any large dry will usually suffice…..two patterns  that float well and are great attractors are the Royal Wulff  and the Stimulator .
Good luck over the next few weeks.

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