Fishing Reports index > March 2008

West Coast Fishing Report

We are now into March and another rewarding salmon season is well under way. From my home near Shantytown I have a choice of two rivers within a few minutes’ drive. Indeed both trout and salmon anglers in the central population centres of the West Coast are spoilt for choice.
January saw several reports of large Salmon being caught in the Grey and Taramakau Rivers .At least two of these fish were caught in the Grey River by junior anglers. I assume that these young folk were simply out fishing and pretty surprised to land fish over 20lb. It will certainly be something they will never forget. Well done to anyone who takes a kid fishing.

This season it has been pleasing to see a wide cross section of people getting extra value from their fishing licence by salmon fishing. Daylight saving provides a great opportunity for an after work ‘dabble’ and seasoned anglers’ special spots have been under threat! There have, of course, been a few tales of the one that got away. One story I heard on the river bank goes something like this: Husband / Fishing Coach and wife arrive at the river. Husband begins fishing and wife selects a spot a safe distance from husband. The Coach sneers, “you won’t catch anything there, that spot is useless!” Of course, within a short time, wife has hooked a very large fish. But all is not well. The Coach has not explained the intricacies of the eggbeater clutch system. The rod bends over double and snaps like a dry stick. Coach now proceeds to outline his partner’s various short comings with a string of well known fishing terms. All is not lost though as next day they are both still trying and the Coach has been seen fishing the useless spot.

A good tip for next year’s Salmon fishing is to get out and about on or near to West Coast Wild Foods weekend. It seems to be a really productive time for catching this most excellent of wild foods.

As the 2008 Salmon fishing season draws to an end, thoughts turn to late autumn and winter fishing possibilities.

“Heaven is under our feet
As well as over our heads.”
(Henry David Thoreau)

See you Down the River some time.

Charles Teasdale

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