A long while ago I was listening to a podcast with April Vokey and Peter Hayes. Peter was talking about some fishing situations, and the phrase “it depends”. He said something along the lines of every fly fishing question can be answered by starting with, well, it depends! And how bloody right he is.
Last season I had a fantastic client on a small Otago tributary river, during the peak summer months where dry fly terrestrial activity is at its best. The fish were holding high in the water column and taking full advantage of the abundant food sources. After locating a fish holding at the head of a long pool, I changed the rig up slightly to suit the shot. I tied on a blowfly on the point fly, and my client said, oh so they will come up and eat the blowfly? Well, it depends, I said.. After a quick chat regarding drag and fly placement he sent the shot in. The fly was presented in the way the fish expected to see it, and without the fish knowing we did it. The fish came up and ate the blowfly!
So, the fishing right now in New Zealand is very different to those long hot summer days on our favorite rivers. Here are a couple of winter strategies that we often employ, with some it depends scenarios!
1. Getting deep. Often getting our flies down is a must, fish do hold in deeper water during the winter months. Intermediates, full sink lines, and heavy streamers into the strike zone. Well, it depends. Often I have targeted fish cruising in the shallowest of water, and hard to the bank. They can also lock onto midge and buzzers during the coldest months in the right water, and will feed right in the surface film.
2. Cover water to locate fish. Winter water often has large patches of dead water, and with fish holding in different water columns and locations you really need to search them out. Well it depends. If you have found food, structure, and signs of fish, then don’t just give it a few casts then move on! Fish thoroughly and methodically, sometimes migratory fish won’t eat on the first pass of the fly (feeding isn’t first on their to do list), so keep at it.
3. Streamers and eggs are go to’s. Well, it depends. In the right water there are plenty of other naturals available, whether it be caddis, midge, shrimp/ bait fish, or even mayflies. Have a look!
Speaking of flies, I recently had some show up in the mail from Martin Langlands, and have already put some of them to good use! If you are looking for some quality seasonal, fish catching, cutting edge flies, then I can fully recommend Martin. You can buy them here and contact him here for additional requests.
Plenty of winter opportunities available if you would like a day out - please get in contact and I will make it happen. Trips/ guiding/ tuition can be tailored for exactly what you want, or would like to learn. Plenty of spaces available for next season as well, visit the contact page on my website or email me thomas.j.mcauliffe@gmail.com
Cheers! Tom
