Fishing Reports index >June 2007

Trout Chasing

Not a lot is happening of late on the local fishing scene. The browns are well and truly up the rivers and the rainbows are yet to show at the river mouths in any great number.

Still, there are opportunities out there for those who seek them, and a sinking line and suitable streamer can still pull up the odd good fish.

Just last week I took a drive down to Wye Creek, a local hotspot 15 minutes drive from downtown Queenstown.

It was a sunny afternoon following a night of heavy rain, and the stream was pumping out into the lake creating a boisterous rip. Favourite conditions of mine.

Nothing was visible across the shallows to the south of the stream mouth and with a constant Northerly pushing a decent swell inshore I chose to run a type 2 sinking line with a large woolly bugger streamer. Attached to the streamer via a short trace was a small bead head, there to collect those shy follows.

One of the most common mistakes I see are anglers wading straight into the rip and flinging their flies off into the distance. A sure way to put down a number of fish.

Many fish, especially in low light conditions will sit surprisingly close in to shore, sheltering across the shallows of the rip in the lee of a suitable rock.

Always start out wide, pitching your first cast parallel to the beach, towards the stream mouth, allowing your fly to swing around towards the drop off.

Each consecutive cast should be made closer to the drop off, covering a wide arc of water along the seam.

Only after the shallows are thoroughly covered should you move in towards the stream mouth and focus on the drop off.

Fish slow, and concentrate on getting deep. Fish will often lie in wait just over the lip.

Anyways, back to the day in question. After covering the shallows with my streamer for no joy, and persevering for some time in the rip itself, I then again focussed on the shallow bay to the south.

Walking carefully along the beach, probing the water with a small bully pattern my eyes caught on a large shape moving slowly from right to left.

It was a fish, and a huge one at that!

A quick snake roll repositioned my line within a flash, and the immediate follow up roll cast saw my Monsums plop into the water a few yards ahead of this beast.

Nice and quick, effective with no obtrusive false casting. Just the way I like.

Allowing my fly to sink I read the fish’s approach. When it came within a metre or so of my fly, a few small twitches saw it change direction and accelerate towards my enticement.

A couple of quick slashes but no bumps felt.

This continued for quite some time, and despite slowing and at times halting my retrieve (a tactic which often results in a strike) the fish just kept following my streamer in towards the beach…. To within a few feet of my now crouched position.

The fish froze as it saw (sensed?) my shrinking form before turning and mooching its way out to the drop off, not to be seen again.

I have no doubts this fish was well into double figures – a big old brown, possibly making his way from the Queenstown bay sanctuary towards maybe the Lochy mouth. A chance discussion with a local fishing buddy revealed his encounter with what must have been the same fish a few days later, same location, same area of the bay.

The big uns are out there, and I can think of worse ways to spend a Saturday afternoon.

On a sadder note, I noticed sufficient colonies of Didymo establishing itself on larger rocks in the shallows at Wye creek, no doubt thriving on the oxygen provided by the constantly windswept conditions. Some rocks were covered, some showed juvenile formations of the beast.

With didymo making its way down the lake, I fear it wont be long before some unsuspecting angler tramps it up the lochy, after disembarking from his / her boat, or maybe having a quick flick at the river mouth before making their way upstream in season.

The Wakatipu Anglers Club have established a cleaning station behind the Frankton Mobile Station free for all to use.

Please make the effort to clean check and dry at the end of each fishing day, or when moving between waters.

In particular, boat users should scrub or spray the hull with an approved formula, especially when moving to other lakes.

Didymo has proven it can establish in Stillwater environment. With so many pristine lakes in the Central Otago region, and many more to the north it is imperative we all take vigilant measures. Lets try and restrict its spread. Better late than never!

Clean Check Dry

Tight lines

Chris Dore

FFF Certified Casting Instructor

M. 027 693 3027

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

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