....... to the July 2008 edition of Reel Life.

Amongst this month’s highlights are the Chief Executive’s response to the National Policy Statement on Freshwater and  a new page where freshwater angling clubs can publish their newsletters on the Fish & Game site.

We have also recently undergone a major upgrade of that part of the F&G website devoted to young people. Get your kids to have a good look; there’s Creature Features, examples of what youngsters are doing around the country and a huge library of links to websites around the world with some great features for kids. This is an excellent resource if you want your children to grow up with a healthy interest in our natural environment, so next time it is raining, let them have an our on your computer!

Now, around the regions....

Auckland / Waikato keep us up-to-date with their winter activities, with news on the Awakino subdivision and recent fish releases around the region.

A busy Eastern region update us on winter shoreline fishing,  winter opportunities on some of the region's small lakes,  a great start to the kids fishing programme and the latest from the Te Wairoa Trap.

Lake Tutira in Hawke’s Bay is continuing to fish well for winter anglers; F&G staff will shortly be carrying out creel surveys there to get a better understanding of the dynamics of the fishery.

Conscious of rising fuel costs, Taranaki pass on some useful advice on local fishing opportunities, focussing on Lake Wiritoa as an overlooked but excellent place to go for a fish.

Into the South Island....

Low angler pressure and an abundance of waters mean there are some great mid-winter fishing opportunities on the West Coast. Worth a visit!

North Canterbury provides a full and detailed round-up of what F&G staff have been up to recently, including the latest on resource consents, trout releases and salmon monitoring.

The Central South Island region provides a wealth of news and information, including the gen on  winter fishing in local rivers, the latest on the Waikakahi Stream restoration, a general news round-up and a piece about Australian trout anglers (must be missing Robbie Deans down there!)

Winter liberations of surplus stocks of takeable sized fish in Otago mean there are some great mid-winter fishing opportunities in the region.

In Southland, whilst preparing for the upcoming whitebait season, local F&G staff are undertaking the usual winter tasks, such as sign replacement and fish spawning surveys.

A few of our hardy guides are out and about braving the winter weather (the others are holidaying in warmer climes) and their reports can be seen on the menu to the left.

Regular columnist Hugh Creasy once again transports us to his delightful world in At the end are the rainbows.

Finally, after a trip to the UK, the Idle Thoughts of an Idle Editor has a chance to check out British trout fishing at both ends of the spectrum.

Winter well!

Jerry

Jerry Flay, Editor, Reel Life
reellife@inbox.net.nz