Fishing News index> September 2007

Early season fishing on the ‘Coast
By Chris Tonkin - Manager

Many rely on the sight of daffodils and lambs as the first indicators of spring, but anglers familiar with the Coast environment will relate more to the sight of a whitebaiter slowly pacing the banks on the lower reaches of a river. Head down, arms behind the back not daring not to make a sudden movement. This person is not on the brink of a breakdown or taking time to reflect. He is more likely searching for the subtle signs of the river awakening after a long winter.

The tidal zone can be an exciting place to be for ‘Coast anglers during the first few months of the season. Apart from whitebait – which are obviously the main drawcard for visitors at this time – around high tide rivers will typically be teeming with juvenile life forms. Bullies, torrent fish, flounder, eels smelt and stargazers – all represent tempting food options for predatory trout, and observant anglers stand to benefit.

Micro chemical analysis of trout in ‘Coast waters indicate they move vast distances within river systems, and even between river systems throughout their lives, with some spending large portions fully at sea. In spring and early summer trout of all age classes can be found frequenting estuarine areas, from fat maiden fish around the kilo mark to strong and feisty sea-runners. The tidal zone is also a favoured feeding area for trout recovering from the rigours of spawning. While these fish may still be a little lean in September, by November trout inhabiting larger rivers will be nosing upstream to summer habitat in fully restored condition.

Uninitiated anglers often overlook smaller waters during the frenetic spring period, but any small stream flowing directly to sea is worth spending time on, especially if there is an associated lagoon or estuary.
During daylight hours fishing opportunity in tidal waters is often pretty much confined to a few hours either side of high water, but after dark such places come alive. The sight and sound of big trout half out of the water in pursuit of whitebait and smelt is a truly memorable angling experience.

In shallow estuarine waters where trout are visible fly fishers might like to try either a dry or slow sinking line with a whitebait imitation such as a grey ghost, jack sprat or similar streamer pattern. The trick is to land your fly almost directly on the nose of a feeding trout. At night a darker lure such as the dark hope, parson’s glory or red shadow should do the trick. Spin fishers have the option of using these lures fished off a bubble, but where there is current a live whitebait or smelt fished off a stationary sinker and a metre or so of trace can be absolutely deadly.

From early September until around Christmas anybody armed with a middle of the range spinning rig and a 3-4kg line can fish any lower river section down to the mouth with complete confidence that eventually he/she will catch a trout. Be it one of the big sea-runners or a fat maiden fish, in springtime the chances are that sooner or later a trout will take anything resembling a small bait-fish.

This year September river temperatures have been colder than usual – by the third week in the month there have still been no major whitebait runs – and by the way things are shaping  conditions should be bang on for trout fishing by opening day on 1st October.

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