As I write this, we are now in the first few days of May, which means our regular season has come to a close in New Zealand's South Island. That doesn't mean that we can't fish anymore, actually far from it! The ‘rainbow rivers’ are open for another month due to their later spawning behaviors than the browns, and many tidal sections of rivers are open all year as well as some lagoons, dams, and our large Southern Lakes. In other words there is plenty on offer!
Ive had lots of time fishing since the last blog, in fact I probably haven't missed a week on the water. One of the highlights was getting back into the Fiordland wilderness with Robbie, Mark, and Dave. The sandflies were numerous and exciting, and the weather was absolutely perfect - 5 days of blue top conditions, which is all but a rarity in the Fiordland mountains. And, a worthy mention, I caught my personal best wild rainbow. 9lbs of mussel that I struggled to get into the net during an intensive fight. In the falling light as the sun dropped below the mountain peaks, I sighted her in the tail of a pool and up she come for the blowfly. Seeing most of your fly line off the reel and peeling downstream into the depths of an emerald pool while suddenly she jumps, slowly ripping the fly line back up the water column with some delay is something I will never tire of. That fish, and Robbie’s big brown are moments we have relived many times since then.
The guiding front has been predictably slow. That’s OK though, hopefully this coming season will improve. I did recently run a beginners casting clinic for 8 ladies for the Otago Anglers Association, we had a blast. None of them had picked up a fly rod before, and after 2hours they were all throwing nice loops - false casting, pick up lay down, rolls off each shoulder, shooting & retreving line, as well as learning a bunch of other important stuff to get them on the water themselves. Well done guys!! You have many light bulb moments ahead of you on your fly fishing path. Over the winter season I am offering one on one or group fly casting lessons, as well as guiding options on the likes of the clutha and the lakes. Its a great time to be on the water. Please drop me a line at thomas.j.mcauliffe@gmail.com for more information on these & to lock in some fishing or casting. The fishing days are shorter during winter, and I will be offering a special rate for you.
Cheers, Tom
