Fishing Reports index> January 2007

Queenstown and Surrounds Fishing Report

From Chris Dore

Well, the Southern freshwater fishing season is going well with lots of huge trout being landed from all over the show!
Its definitely a mouse year, with fish from the Waiau especially showing the spoils of a great feeding season. A friend of mine has been landing fish of regularly 5 - 8lb where normally these would average a couple of pounds less, and whilst the river between the lakes is showing signs of intensive didymo blooms, all is still very fishable.

Novembers rain has well and truly scoured many of our rivers of didymo, and at the time of writing, the Mararoa, Oreti and lower Waiau are really turning it on for anglers, showing all signs of their former glory.

Needless to say, for the months coming I will be focusing on our beech lined rivers and lakes, for these are where the mouse feeders are to be found.
The hours of darkness are my chosen time to prey, for mice are nocturnal, and many of the larger trout will forage through the shallower margins under the concealment of darkness.

You could try the mavoras, waiau, diamond lake and maybe the caples. All are known to hold a number of good fish, and with the extra protein banquet on offer at present, fish should be in top condition! All are very accessible, and offer exhilarating fly fishing in truly stunning surrounds.

Whilst there are a few super duper mouse imitations on the market, I do not bother with these, instead using a large royal wulff, or a large woolly bugger stripped in on an intermediate line. Look for shallow flats close to deeper water and fish slow. Night fishing during a mouse year can be electric!

Closer to Queenie, the western shores of Lake Wakatipu are fishing well for boaties, and do not think its all just trolling.
Those drifting the overhanging scrub, and throwing an appropriate dry fly into the banks are puling up large numbers of free rising, terrestrial munching fish.
Patterns such as umpquas Blairs Terrestrial and the good old wulff are hitting them at present, but it is always wise to carry a few monsums bullies and Mrs Simpson’s, in case the fish just aren’t playing ball.

For me, I am just about to head to Middlemarch where the sexylops.com fly fishing conclave is kicking off. 50 odd fishos from around the globe are converging upon this quaint central Otago town for a weekend of fly fishing, casting, and a sneak preview of Oceania productions latest DVD, released soon. With identities such as Paul Arden, Peter Morse, Stuart Tripney and Bob Wyatt, its a weekend not to be missed.
This is set to become an annual event, so keep your ears out for next Jan’s clave. Lots of fun, with a little instruction in-between.

Tight lines.

Chris

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