Fishing Reports index> November 2006

Fishing Report for the Nelson Lakes

Everything is up and running for the local rivers with a good start to the season in spite of threatening rain and bouts of high wind. The cobwebs were well and truly dusted off with blustery conditions making tight loops and nice casting almost impossible in some areas. The first week of the season was not quite that bad and there were many good days on the rivers. Action on dries made for some fun early season angling and surprised many.

Recent rain, heavy in some areas, has increased the water flows and muddied some of the larger river systems but the rain was well received over all and water flows should stabilize in the near future. Good fishing has been had in some of the headwater streams.
Trout all seem to be in good condition with good weights and numbers recorded so far. Fishing in backcountry streams has been very productive with good numbers regularly to the net. There seem to be fewer early season anglers about but the ones who have braved patchy weather have all been productive and enjoyed the solitude of the waterways.

There has been much talk of a mouse year and there seems to be some evidence this may be happening although it is still too early to tell how significant any extra rodents will be to the size of the trout this season. More rodents are about but so far no one is talking plague proportions. It still amazes us that the brown trout can pack so many rats and mice into their stomachs and still rise to a size 16 dry fly.

Enjoy the summer.

Tight lines
Brent Hyde

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