Fishing Reports index > April 2008

Trout chasin’ with Chris Dore

Another winter ahead and a lot of great memories of the season past. I enjoy this time of the year. Cool mornings often give way to calm, sunny afternoons and the snow capped mountainous peaks are simply stunning!

Whilst there are many smaller stillwaters available within a short drive of Queenstown offering shallow water sight fishing opportunities, it is to the larger waters of Wakatipu itself where I concerntrate my angling intentions.
 
I tend to focus around the river and stream mouths, no mater the size. Local hotspots around Queenstown include Wye and Staircase creeks, 12-mile delta and the stream mouths along the Glenorchy road, as well as the better-known Greenstone, Dart, Rees, Von and lochy river mouths.

Gentleman’s hours are the norm, and thankfully good sport can be had throughout the warmer parts of the day at any of the aforementioned locations. However it is in the dead of night that the big boys play. Larger trout will often migrate up the river mouths in the first couple of hours after dark, particularly if there is a fresh in progress. Be careful when night fishing these locations, and scout your location during daylight hours, noting the position of large rocks, currents and the drop off!

And remember, whilst you can fish the inflowing water of these contributing rivers, an imaginary line directly across the river mouth signals the boundary for open water on all rivers and streams of the Wakatipu, except for the Dart and Rees. Consult your regulation guide and keep it legal!

Type 2 sinking lines and sink tip variations are the norm, for you must get your fly down to where the fish are holding. This is often just across the lip, that point along the drop off within the outflowing rip. Flywise, I prefer Mrs Simpsons, Woolly Buggars and smelt patterns such as the Grey Ghost, and a local tactic is often to attach a small Glo Bug behind your streamer via a short trace.
 
When day time fishing some of the shallower flats I will often opt for a clear intermediate line, or sinking Polytip and a pair of small nymphs. Slowly retrieving these above the weedbeds during sunlight hours in a slow, figure 8 manner will account for many cruisers, who move in across the drop off to feast on damselflies, snails and small bullies which become increasingly active as the midday sun warms the lake bed.

As for casting these sinking lines, consult last June / July's Reellife for my instruction on elliptical casting, an easy and deadly effective way of handling these large, often heavy streamers. Winter is the perfect time to brush up on your casting skills. Wether improving upon your foundation stroke or expanding your repitoire of slack line presentations, distance tactics or overall flycasting efficiency. With several FFF Certified Casting Instructors throughout New Zealand now, qualified instruction is accessible to all. Check out www.fedflyfishers.org to locate a qualified instructor in your area.

Chris Dore
FFF Certified Fly Casting Instructor.
Queenstown, NZ
027 693 3027

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

Back to Reel Life