Fishing News index > February 2006

Rivers are pretty low at the moment and perhaps the best place to fish is the Mataura. Both the upper and lower Matarua and the Waikaia are fishing very well with small flies being required. During the day nymphs used in the riffles provide the best sport but in the evening, going on to dark, dry flies will produce any number of trout.

Anglers will need two dry flies, a Dad’s favourite or an Adams both size 16, and possibly also a CDC or willow grub imitation, 16 or 18, which are sort of dry and wet. Willow grubs are difficult to imitate so a small hair and copper nymph with out any weight should do the trick, especially fished in riffles.

There are some very large trout in the western parts of the region this summer, being fattened on mice, of which there are still plenty about. You need to fish at night to be most successful with these. Trout over 5 kg are not uncommon, but you have to be dedicated and persistent and skilful. But then nothing that is good was ever meant to be easy.

Lake trolling is producing some large browns and rainbows in both Te Anau and Manapouri, perhaps also fattened on mice.