Fishing Reports index > September 2008

Trout chasin’ with Chris Dore

Opening Prospects - Just where to, come October?
 

Well there sure is a lot of snow up on them thar hills – and it allllll has to run off into the rivers yet.

This alone will probably dictate as to where much of my angling efforts will be concentrated this October, for a river chilled and coloured by snow melt can prove rather hard to fish. However, trout will be pushed out towards the edges, in an attempt to avoid the full force of the icy flows and are accessible to the angler here. You will often see the tongue of grey as the milky snow melt washes downstream. Take note of the clearer areas of water on melt affected streams – for this is where you will often find fish.

In cooler temperatures trout wont feed much, so you will have to give them something worthwhile to hit. Streamers fished upstream and stripped back down work a treat on larger waters such as the Oreti in October, as levels are raised and clarity affected by the snow melting off Mt Nicolas.

Last year it took until mid November before we could see the streambed of the Mataura around Athol, and yet with a couple of larger nymphs trout could still be caught in the most adverse of flows. Again, a big, dark woolly bugger, or rabbit pattern also produced the goods.

Myself, I will look towards those waters whose catchments lie away from the mountains. Smaller, lowland, and hill country tributaries of the Mataura and the like, and in particular spring fed streams which will be less affected by the melting snow and springtime runoff, and temperatures in stream will be more conducive to trout feeding behaviour.

These streams need not be large at all – heck, some can easily be jumped across and be maybe 50 m in length, but if they provide the stability and cover for the trout, and of course a steady supply of food, they are worth targeting.

Accurate casting and patience will prevail on said waters, for there may be only a tiny hole amongst the reeds into which you must place your fly.

Phesant Tails, Hares ears and caddis nymphs in the size 12 – 16 range will turn up trumps early season, and if on the surface, trout will accept parachute adams and other emerger ties in similar sizes. Be sure to carry a few larger dobsonfly / creeper nymphs for the larger, more bouldery streams, for these make an irresistible mouthful as they wash from their benthic homes in fresh conditions.

Get out there and enjoy October – the rivers may not at first appear to be in their prime, but with a little exploration and perseverance, there are plenty of smaller, more fishable streams to be found when the major rivers are in flood.

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

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