Check out my listing
Friday, August 20, 2010
hand tied tapered leaders for sale
Why pay $8 each - get three hand tied tapered leaders for $5. 7ft long from 30 to 9 pound line- simply attached tippet with a blood knot. An ideal tapered leader system fro lure fishing and for upstream indicator fishing.
Searun time
There is nothing more thrilling than hooking into an energetic searun. The Rakaia Rivermouth has been fishing well over the last two months when the river clears between freshes.
Good sized searuns sighted in Kaiapoi
There are a few bait running in Kaiapoi- Fishinga size 8 woolly bugger at dusk has been effective over the last few weeks with the odd trout up to 5 pounds.
Lake Rotoroa - Nelson Lakes- fishing well
Hi all- browns are now active around lake edge. Average 2 pounds but fish up to 5 pounds- more so at dusk. Fish a weighted woolly bugger off the wharf- or nearby for best results.
Ten top tips for a successful trout fishing season.
Peter Langlands
1.Many of our rivers have low numbers of trout and are not suited to the beginner angler. Find out locally about a river that has moderate numbers of small to average sized fish and spend some time building up your confidence there. You need to get a good number of strikes to improve this “reflex skill”.
2.Try using black dry flies, or dull coloured dries and avoid using flies with bright colours or white on them, as when the water has been fished through trout, especially browns, shy away from bright colours. The same can also be said of nymphs. Keep them dull and naturally coloured, especially when targeting larger browns.
3.Keep your clothing naturally coloured. In particular avoid white coloured hats and bright coloured clothing. Also avoid using your hands to point out a trout, as the sudden white flash of your hands will scare the fish. For this reason I like to wear a pair of dull green fingerless gloves. Keep movements to the absolute minimum when stream side.
4. Following on, often the most unnecessary movement occurs when people reach towards the leader, to pull the end of the fly line through the rings. This action causes a lot of disturbance and movement, often scaring trout. Therefore it is important to remove loop connections, and instead have a slim-lined knot connection that will slide through the rings of the rod, and allows the leader to be cast out, rather than manually pulled out. The unnecessary movement of your hands, and the rod, when pulling the fly line through will often spook trout on smaller rivers.
5. Make a point of placing a collar of soft-hackle on your flies. The feather will move naturally in the water imitating the legs and wing case (of emerging insects) and is often a trigger causing trout to take the fly.
6. Often when blind fishing on rivers it pays to cover the water and not spend too long in one spot. Often the first few casts give you the best chances of catching a trout. After the initial casts the trout become spooked and are less likely to take a fly. So move on to “fresh” water.
7. Often foam lines are good markers for the feeding lanes that trout have in the river, so concentrate on these locations to both spot trout, and also to blind fish your flies through. Often crippled emergers and other insects, such as willow grubs, will be concentrated in the foam lines.
8. When nymphing many anglers miss catching fish through simply not striking quick enough. My saying is when it comes to nymphing- “is to hesitate, is to be too late”. After a while you will almost strike on instinct. You often don’t have that much to lose by being “trigger happy”, compared to those fish you will miss through a delayed strike response.
9. Also don’t rely on your indicator to register when a trout has taken your nymph. Often trout will swim downstream, with the drifting nymph, so the indicator will not move, when the trout takes. If you see the trout’s white mouth flash, or a sudden turn, then strike.
10.Don’t be hesitant about changing the depths of your nymphs. Often it pays to set the nymphs to drift just above the bottom. An added advantage of constantly retying your line is that the knots stay fresh. It is important to re-tie on your beadhead nymph after each fish, as often the knot will become worn, either through contact with the stones, or the trout’s mouth.
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Colerdige doll flies for sale- still two weeks to go for winter season
Lumi- doll flies #8 x 6
- Start price: $10.00
No reserve - Closes: Mon 23 Aug, 12:35 pm
- Listing #: 311018634
Seller's options - only you can see this section
A top producer at lake Coleridge for night fishing. flies tied on quality hooks by Peter Langlands. Buy now to fish before the end of the winter season on 31 August !!-
Fly-fishing tuition available
On a one to one basis or for two people. Streamside instruction on casting and stream craft for $25 per hour . get tuned up for the up-coming season.
If interested please contact me - langlands@xtra.co.nz
Sunday, August 15, 2010
Tony Ormans- Fishing small streams for sale.
Follow trade me link- I can highly recommend this book for the start of the upcoming season.
whitebait now running- searuns won't be far behind
Hi all- whitebait have started running in the Avon with some whitebaiters getting up to 200 grams on opening day. Once the water warms up near the end of the month we should have some good sea run trout in the estuary and at the Rakaia Lagoon. I am working on a new range of whitebait flies at the moment - if interested in viewing send me an email-
langlands@xtra.co.nz
Watch out for those swirling searunners
Sunday, August 8, 2010
Trout flies available
If anyone requires any trout flies or advice for the upcoming 7 weeks prior to the opening of the main season contact me-
Peter langlands
langlands@xtra.co.nz
338 5373
Prime Lake Coleridge rainbow caught on doll fly
Fish caught in august 2010. Thanks to Adrian bell for the photograph.
Effective nymphing tips- a primer for the upcoming season
Effective nymphing techniques
Peter Langlands
When it comes to river fishing there is no doubt that overall nymphing is the most effective method. In reality terrestrials and dries make up less than 5% of the trout’s diet, so effectively mastering a wide range of nymphing techniques will increase your catch rate.
Fundamentally it is very simple in many cases. You have to have your nymphs at the depth the trout are feeding at. While trout will swing horizontally some distance, at least a metre, to take a nymph, they are less likely to rise up vertically in the water column. Unless there is an emergence occurring- at which times soft hackles are highly effective. The second fundamental is that the nymphs have to be travelling at the same speed ass the river. Drag is often a death nail.
It is amazing how many times a slight alteration in the depth the nymphs are set at will make a difference. From my experience, from over seven years of guiding, making the nymphs sink deeper makes the difference. You can repeatedly cast over the trout with no response, until extra depth is achieved. Often you will get a strike on the first drift, once the nymphs have been set at the depth the trout are feeding at.
Often the challenge is getting the nymphs down deep enough. Whether you have a short lead in on the drift, or the water is turbulent, trout especially, after some angling pressure will sit deeper down in the pools.
On way is to use tungsten beads, along with a nymph, which is well weighted with lead and only has minimal dressing. These three factors combine to give a nymph with a super fast sink rate. In extreme cases I also add a tungsten sleeve, these nymphs are truly depth plungers.
Often commercial tied flies are too heavily dressed and not weighted enough. The nymphs I use do not have the same visual appeal to us, but they do to the fish, and function to get down to the right depth.
In many cases it is standard to use a “ large bomb” with a dropper, yet often after some angling pressure the bomb will alert wary fish. Also a large bomb may cause your nymphs to drift slower than the rivers flow. Often I like to use a tandem rig but with two smaller sized nymphs, say a size 14 and a size 16. By tying the nymphs with the three factors mentioned above, slim design, tungsten bead/ sleeve and lead, the smaller sized nymphs, when fished with a light tippet, will cut down into the strike zone. Also each of the nymphs is less likely to alert wary trout. These nymph designs, which my brother and me nicknamed “Slim Jims”, have been devastatingly effective, especially when fishing to browns that have had some angling pressure, and which shy away from larger nymphs.
Keeping the nymphs as non-descript as possible, with brown or green tone also is often an advantage. Also I like to use black or silver beads, as trout that have had some angling pressure will often shy away from gold beads.
Another important aspect of nymph design is to have a strong emphasis on segmentation. For this reason I often tie mayfly nymphs (one of the main species of insect taken by trout) with a white thread body, over, which I rib with finely, stretched audio tap. Using this material, which is practically free and very durable, is satisfying, and deadly.
One particular nymph, which I have found highly effective, is a horn-cased caddis tied with a body of audiotape, and a black bead at the front. With practically no dressing this nymph sinks very quickly.
While as described above I like to only use minimal dressing on my nymphs, just a small amount of soft hackle tied in behind the bead will greatly add to the look of the nymph from the trout’s perspective.
If tying larger nymphs to fish in extremely deep, or turbulent water, then again keep the dressing on the nymph to a minimum. The copper body Tongariro bomb is the epitome of this design. For this reason I rarely put bulky tails on my primary nymph, as this will markedly increase the amount of drag, and compromise sink rate.
Now that we have looked at nymph designs to sink quickly and allow you to get your nymphs in the strike zone the second factor to achieving a good sink rate on your nymphs is the drift.
I often like to fish nymphs on a short line, with the rod held high, and frequent mends made. By keeping the rod high, when fishing pools, you minimise the chance of drag on the line. Also by minimising the amount of line on the water you decrease the chance of your fly line getting dragged under the surface, which is also often a source of drag.
Also by keeping your rod high you can often, on smaller rivers fish to trout on the far bank, and it is amazing how often with a short drift, with heavy nymphs, and your rod held high that you can effectively fish to trout on the far side of the river.
Mending the line not only decreases the chance of drag on the line but an upstream mend will also increase the time that you nymphs have to sink in the water column. Often micro drag is an issue when fishing to larger, educated trout, and it is critically important that your flies are moving at exactly the same speed as the river.
It is also important to be able to track your line’s movement, so that you can anticipate the drift, make appropriate mends, and most importantly of all avoid having too much slack line on the water. For this reason fly line colour is important. I have no doubt that overall the best fly line is a dull olive green one which is easier enough for the angler to see, but subtle enough not to alert wary trout.
Also as often trout will only momentarily hold station it is important to be able to quickly select the right nymph, in weight, so take the time in the comfort of your home to organise your nymphs systematically by weight in your fly box.
Tight lines and happy nymphing this summer.
Monday, August 2, 2010
August fishing options
Lakes Pearson and Lyndon are well worth a look in August. Latter in the month I am also keen to check out the Lower Wairau River in Marlborough- very much an overlooked angling option at this time of year.
Sunday, August 1, 2010
Winter trout fishing in South Island- options
Winter season ( May to September ) lake fishing options in the South Island
Peter Langlands
The “Winter Season” , commences in May and continues until 30th of September. The season offers a wide range of lakes to fish which is often a relaxing experience, to be enjoyed in relative solitude. Often trout, especially rainbows will be in prime condition in the winter also. As each year goes by I , along with other anglers, learn more about the options that are available. Lets look at some options and some techniques to try. With some knowledge you can enjoy trout fishing in the South Island year round. I love the mix of fishing lakes in the winter season (may to September) and then switching and paying closer attention to the rivers in the main season ( October until April). It also sharpens up your game to keep actively fishing through the year.
Lake Sumner is open all year round. The lake is worth checking out in August and September as the brown trout are still active around the lake’s edges then. Settled spring weather also allows you to sight fish the lakes’ margins on a sunny day. Use small flies on light tippet to deceive the trout by day. Fishing a lure on the lake’s edges can also be highly rewarding at dusk, as trout come into the shallows chasing bullies and dragonfly nymphs. Sumner has a good population of brown trout in the 1-1.5 kilogram range. Trolling, or spin fishing from a boat, is also rewarding. Use light line and life-like spinners, such as “Rapalas” to catch trout in Sumner’s crystal clear waters. If shore-based then use a long cast spin fishing outfit as trout can be edge shy at times, and you will want to reach the drop-off., where most of the fish will be cruising.
Lake Coleridge is one of my favourite winter fishing locations. Opening on the first Saturday of June (and unlike the other lakes mentioned in this article, closing on 31 August), Coleridge offers the chance to catch large rainbow trout. The rainbows move into the shallows around the lake’s edge at dusk. They will readily hit woolly buggers and doll flies. The flats around the Harper and Ryton River mouths are favoured places, but fish can be caught along all of the lake’s margins. Darkest nights are best for lure fishing. If the wind blows, and believe me sometimes it blows with all “God’s fury” , then a sinking line will help get your lures into the strike zone. Some large browns can be sighted cruising on the lake’s margins through the winter months. Land-locked salmon are often caught in good numbers and make superb eating. These fish shoal, so once one is caught, it pays to focus on that spot for a while. At times lead lines are needed to get your lures into the strike zone.
Lake Benmore is a fantastic angling resource for Canterbury anglers. The lake is open all year round. The shallow and weedy Ahuriri Arm of the lake is a favoured angling location. The rainbows are in prime condition there over the winter and early spring months. Trolling is the most consistent method for catching the rainbows. The smaller sized Tasmanian Devils and King Cobras in green and yellow colours are my favoured tackle there. Slow trolling speeds ( at walking pace), with the lure just above the weed bed , get the best results. Benmore fishes well through the entire winter season. The Haldon Arm is also worth checking out, although the water is deeper here and a lead line, or down-rigger, may be required to get your lures into the strike zone. The discoloured water in the Haldon Arm makes larger lures more effective in this part of the lake.
To the south Lakes Wanaka , Wakatipu and Te Anau are open all year round and offer good angling for browns, rainbows and land-locked salmon ( in Wanaka and Wakatipu). Fishing woolly buggers on a sinking line over steep drop-offs around the edges of these lakes is highly rewarding. Make sure you have a few heavily weighted Hamill’s Killers and Mrs Simpson’s also.
On the South Island’s West Coast there is a wide range of lakes open all year round. Lakes Paringa, Moeraki and Ianthe are my favoured lakes for large brown trout. Fish caught over the winter average from 1.5-2.5 kilograms. The browns are a beautiful golden colour. Lake Brunner fishes well in the spring with some excellent sight fishing available over sand patches around the lake’s shoreline. A small red-bodied Mrs Simpson is favoured when stalking trout from a dinghy. Also given the West Coast’s temperate climate the trout are often in good condition, and active, in the cooler months. Trolling with Rapala lures, especially in the smaller sizes, often brings rewards. Also drifting in a dinghy and casting woolly buggers into the shore is great fun. Also in the cooler months there are some good hatches of midges, offering the chance to fish to rising trout in the winter and spring. Contact Fish and Game, West Coast for detailed location information. The lakes are often uncrowded and it is often possible to have an entire lake to your self over the winter, even in the weekends , on the coast.
In the Nelson region lakes Rotorua and Rotoiti are open all year round and offer good lure fishing around the lake’s edges in winter and spring. Drifting in a boat and either casting lures or small, naturally coloured spinners, is an effective way of catching trout and allows you to cover the water. In Golden Bay, the Cobb Reservoir is open all year round and has a good population of modest sized rainbows. The journey there is adventure enough , and will provide enough excitement, even if you don’t catch any trout ! A great family location for an out of the way picnic also.
Boating on the South Island lakes is a very relaxing experience in the winter season and a great time to take the family out fishing. There is nothing like smoking up a fresh trout on the shore on a winter’s evening or brewing up an espresso coffee over a gas element. Make sure to take the hip flask also !
Peter Langlands
The “Winter Season” , commences in May and continues until 30th of September. The season offers a wide range of lakes to fish which is often a relaxing experience, to be enjoyed in relative solitude. Often trout, especially rainbows will be in prime condition in the winter also. As each year goes by I , along with other anglers, learn more about the options that are available. Lets look at some options and some techniques to try. With some knowledge you can enjoy trout fishing in the South Island year round. I love the mix of fishing lakes in the winter season (may to September) and then switching and paying closer attention to the rivers in the main season ( October until April). It also sharpens up your game to keep actively fishing through the year.
Lake Sumner is open all year round. The lake is worth checking out in August and September as the brown trout are still active around the lake’s edges then. Settled spring weather also allows you to sight fish the lakes’ margins on a sunny day. Use small flies on light tippet to deceive the trout by day. Fishing a lure on the lake’s edges can also be highly rewarding at dusk, as trout come into the shallows chasing bullies and dragonfly nymphs. Sumner has a good population of brown trout in the 1-1.5 kilogram range. Trolling, or spin fishing from a boat, is also rewarding. Use light line and life-like spinners, such as “Rapalas” to catch trout in Sumner’s crystal clear waters. If shore-based then use a long cast spin fishing outfit as trout can be edge shy at times, and you will want to reach the drop-off., where most of the fish will be cruising.
Lake Coleridge is one of my favourite winter fishing locations. Opening on the first Saturday of June (and unlike the other lakes mentioned in this article, closing on 31 August), Coleridge offers the chance to catch large rainbow trout. The rainbows move into the shallows around the lake’s edge at dusk. They will readily hit woolly buggers and doll flies. The flats around the Harper and Ryton River mouths are favoured places, but fish can be caught along all of the lake’s margins. Darkest nights are best for lure fishing. If the wind blows, and believe me sometimes it blows with all “God’s fury” , then a sinking line will help get your lures into the strike zone. Some large browns can be sighted cruising on the lake’s margins through the winter months. Land-locked salmon are often caught in good numbers and make superb eating. These fish shoal, so once one is caught, it pays to focus on that spot for a while. At times lead lines are needed to get your lures into the strike zone.
Lake Benmore is a fantastic angling resource for Canterbury anglers. The lake is open all year round. The shallow and weedy Ahuriri Arm of the lake is a favoured angling location. The rainbows are in prime condition there over the winter and early spring months. Trolling is the most consistent method for catching the rainbows. The smaller sized Tasmanian Devils and King Cobras in green and yellow colours are my favoured tackle there. Slow trolling speeds ( at walking pace), with the lure just above the weed bed , get the best results. Benmore fishes well through the entire winter season. The Haldon Arm is also worth checking out, although the water is deeper here and a lead line, or down-rigger, may be required to get your lures into the strike zone. The discoloured water in the Haldon Arm makes larger lures more effective in this part of the lake.
To the south Lakes Wanaka , Wakatipu and Te Anau are open all year round and offer good angling for browns, rainbows and land-locked salmon ( in Wanaka and Wakatipu). Fishing woolly buggers on a sinking line over steep drop-offs around the edges of these lakes is highly rewarding. Make sure you have a few heavily weighted Hamill’s Killers and Mrs Simpson’s also.
On the South Island’s West Coast there is a wide range of lakes open all year round. Lakes Paringa, Moeraki and Ianthe are my favoured lakes for large brown trout. Fish caught over the winter average from 1.5-2.5 kilograms. The browns are a beautiful golden colour. Lake Brunner fishes well in the spring with some excellent sight fishing available over sand patches around the lake’s shoreline. A small red-bodied Mrs Simpson is favoured when stalking trout from a dinghy. Also given the West Coast’s temperate climate the trout are often in good condition, and active, in the cooler months. Trolling with Rapala lures, especially in the smaller sizes, often brings rewards. Also drifting in a dinghy and casting woolly buggers into the shore is great fun. Also in the cooler months there are some good hatches of midges, offering the chance to fish to rising trout in the winter and spring. Contact Fish and Game, West Coast for detailed location information. The lakes are often uncrowded and it is often possible to have an entire lake to your self over the winter, even in the weekends , on the coast.
In the Nelson region lakes Rotorua and Rotoiti are open all year round and offer good lure fishing around the lake’s edges in winter and spring. Drifting in a boat and either casting lures or small, naturally coloured spinners, is an effective way of catching trout and allows you to cover the water. In Golden Bay, the Cobb Reservoir is open all year round and has a good population of modest sized rainbows. The journey there is adventure enough , and will provide enough excitement, even if you don’t catch any trout ! A great family location for an out of the way picnic also.
Boating on the South Island lakes is a very relaxing experience in the winter season and a great time to take the family out fishing. There is nothing like smoking up a fresh trout on the shore on a winter’s evening or brewing up an espresso coffee over a gas element. Make sure to take the hip flask also !
Winter trout fishing in South Island- options
Winter season ( May to September ) lake fishing options in the South Island
Peter Langlands
The “Winter Season” , commences in May and continues until 30th of September. The season offers a wide range of lakes to fish which is often a relaxing experience, to be enjoyed in relative solitude. Often trout, especially rainbows will be in prime condition in the winter also. As each year goes by I , along with other anglers, learn more about the options that are available. Lets look at some options and some techniques to try. With some knowledge you can enjoy trout fishing in the South Island year round. I love the mix of fishing lakes in the winter season (may to September) and then switching and paying closer attention to the rivers in the main season ( October until April). It also sharpens up your game to keep actively fishing through the year.
Lake Sumner is open all year round. The lake is worth checking out in August and September as the brown trout are still active around the lake’s edges then. Settled spring weather also allows you to sight fish the lakes’ margins on a sunny day. Use small flies on light tippet to deceive the trout by day. Fishing a lure on the lake’s edges can also be highly rewarding at dusk, as trout come into the shallows chasing bullies and dragonfly nymphs. Sumner has a good population of brown trout in the 1-1.5 kilogram range. Trolling, or spin fishing from a boat, is also rewarding. Use light line and life-like spinners, such as “Rapalas” to catch trout in Sumner’s crystal clear waters. If shore-based then use a long cast spin fishing outfit as trout can be edge shy at times, and you will want to reach the drop-off., where most of the fish will be cruising.
Lake Coleridge is one of my favourite winter fishing locations. Opening on the first Saturday of June (and unlike the other lakes mentioned in this article, closing on 31 August), Coleridge offers the chance to catch large rainbow trout. The rainbows move into the shallows around the lake’s edge at dusk. They will readily hit woolly buggers and doll flies. The flats around the Harper and Ryton River mouths are favoured places, but fish can be caught along all of the lake’s margins. Darkest nights are best for lure fishing. If the wind blows, and believe me sometimes it blows with all “God’s fury” , then a sinking line will help get your lures into the strike zone. Some large browns can be sighted cruising on the lake’s margins through the winter months. Land-locked salmon are often caught in good numbers and make superb eating. These fish shoal, so once one is caught, it pays to focus on that spot for a while. At times lead lines are needed to get your lures into the strike zone.
Lake Benmore is a fantastic angling resource for Canterbury anglers. The lake is open all year round. The shallow and weedy Ahuriri Arm of the lake is a favoured angling location. The rainbows are in prime condition there over the winter and early spring months. Trolling is the most consistent method for catching the rainbows. The smaller sized Tasmanian Devils and King Cobras in green and yellow colours are my favoured tackle there. Slow trolling speeds ( at walking pace), with the lure just above the weed bed , get the best results. Benmore fishes well through the entire winter season. The Haldon Arm is also worth checking out, although the water is deeper here and a lead line, or down-rigger, may be required to get your lures into the strike zone. The discoloured water in the Haldon Arm makes larger lures more effective in this part of the lake.
To the south Lakes Wanaka , Wakatipu and Te Anau are open all year round and offer good angling for browns, rainbows and land-locked salmon ( in Wanaka and Wakatipu). Fishing woolly buggers on a sinking line over steep drop-offs around the edges of these lakes is highly rewarding. Make sure you have a few heavily weighted Hamill’s Killers and Mrs Simpson’s also.
On the South Island’s West Coast there is a wide range of lakes open all year round. Lakes Paringa, Moeraki and Ianthe are my favoured lakes for large brown trout. Fish caught over the winter average from 1.5-2.5 kilograms. The browns are a beautiful golden colour. Lake Brunner fishes well in the spring with some excellent sight fishing available over sand patches around the lake’s shoreline. A small red-bodied Mrs Simpson is favoured when stalking trout from a dinghy. Also given the West Coast’s temperate climate the trout are often in good condition, and active, in the cooler months. Trolling with Rapala lures, especially in the smaller sizes, often brings rewards. Also drifting in a dinghy and casting woolly buggers into the shore is great fun. Also in the cooler months there are some good hatches of midges, offering the chance to fish to rising trout in the winter and spring. Contact Fish and Game, West Coast for detailed location information. The lakes are often uncrowded and it is often possible to have an entire lake to your self over the winter, even in the weekends , on the coast.
In the Nelson region lakes Rotorua and Rotoiti are open all year round and offer good lure fishing around the lake’s edges in winter and spring. Drifting in a boat and either casting lures or small, naturally coloured spinners, is an effective way of catching trout and allows you to cover the water. In Golden Bay, the Cobb Reservoir is open all year round and has a good population of modest sized rainbows. The journey there is adventure enough , and will provide enough excitement, even if you don’t catch any trout ! A great family location for an out of the way picnic also.
Boating on the South Island lakes is a very relaxing experience in the winter season and a great time to take the family out fishing. There is nothing like smoking up a fresh trout on the shore on a winter’s evening or brewing up an espresso coffee over a gas element. Make sure to take the hip flask also !
Peter Langlands
The “Winter Season” , commences in May and continues until 30th of September. The season offers a wide range of lakes to fish which is often a relaxing experience, to be enjoyed in relative solitude. Often trout, especially rainbows will be in prime condition in the winter also. As each year goes by I , along with other anglers, learn more about the options that are available. Lets look at some options and some techniques to try. With some knowledge you can enjoy trout fishing in the South Island year round. I love the mix of fishing lakes in the winter season (may to September) and then switching and paying closer attention to the rivers in the main season ( October until April). It also sharpens up your game to keep actively fishing through the year.
Lake Sumner is open all year round. The lake is worth checking out in August and September as the brown trout are still active around the lake’s edges then. Settled spring weather also allows you to sight fish the lakes’ margins on a sunny day. Use small flies on light tippet to deceive the trout by day. Fishing a lure on the lake’s edges can also be highly rewarding at dusk, as trout come into the shallows chasing bullies and dragonfly nymphs. Sumner has a good population of brown trout in the 1-1.5 kilogram range. Trolling, or spin fishing from a boat, is also rewarding. Use light line and life-like spinners, such as “Rapalas” to catch trout in Sumner’s crystal clear waters. If shore-based then use a long cast spin fishing outfit as trout can be edge shy at times, and you will want to reach the drop-off., where most of the fish will be cruising.
Lake Coleridge is one of my favourite winter fishing locations. Opening on the first Saturday of June (and unlike the other lakes mentioned in this article, closing on 31 August), Coleridge offers the chance to catch large rainbow trout. The rainbows move into the shallows around the lake’s edge at dusk. They will readily hit woolly buggers and doll flies. The flats around the Harper and Ryton River mouths are favoured places, but fish can be caught along all of the lake’s margins. Darkest nights are best for lure fishing. If the wind blows, and believe me sometimes it blows with all “God’s fury” , then a sinking line will help get your lures into the strike zone. Some large browns can be sighted cruising on the lake’s margins through the winter months. Land-locked salmon are often caught in good numbers and make superb eating. These fish shoal, so once one is caught, it pays to focus on that spot for a while. At times lead lines are needed to get your lures into the strike zone.
Lake Benmore is a fantastic angling resource for Canterbury anglers. The lake is open all year round. The shallow and weedy Ahuriri Arm of the lake is a favoured angling location. The rainbows are in prime condition there over the winter and early spring months. Trolling is the most consistent method for catching the rainbows. The smaller sized Tasmanian Devils and King Cobras in green and yellow colours are my favoured tackle there. Slow trolling speeds ( at walking pace), with the lure just above the weed bed , get the best results. Benmore fishes well through the entire winter season. The Haldon Arm is also worth checking out, although the water is deeper here and a lead line, or down-rigger, may be required to get your lures into the strike zone. The discoloured water in the Haldon Arm makes larger lures more effective in this part of the lake.
To the south Lakes Wanaka , Wakatipu and Te Anau are open all year round and offer good angling for browns, rainbows and land-locked salmon ( in Wanaka and Wakatipu). Fishing woolly buggers on a sinking line over steep drop-offs around the edges of these lakes is highly rewarding. Make sure you have a few heavily weighted Hamill’s Killers and Mrs Simpson’s also.
On the South Island’s West Coast there is a wide range of lakes open all year round. Lakes Paringa, Moeraki and Ianthe are my favoured lakes for large brown trout. Fish caught over the winter average from 1.5-2.5 kilograms. The browns are a beautiful golden colour. Lake Brunner fishes well in the spring with some excellent sight fishing available over sand patches around the lake’s shoreline. A small red-bodied Mrs Simpson is favoured when stalking trout from a dinghy. Also given the West Coast’s temperate climate the trout are often in good condition, and active, in the cooler months. Trolling with Rapala lures, especially in the smaller sizes, often brings rewards. Also drifting in a dinghy and casting woolly buggers into the shore is great fun. Also in the cooler months there are some good hatches of midges, offering the chance to fish to rising trout in the winter and spring. Contact Fish and Game, West Coast for detailed location information. The lakes are often uncrowded and it is often possible to have an entire lake to your self over the winter, even in the weekends , on the coast.
In the Nelson region lakes Rotorua and Rotoiti are open all year round and offer good lure fishing around the lake’s edges in winter and spring. Drifting in a boat and either casting lures or small, naturally coloured spinners, is an effective way of catching trout and allows you to cover the water. In Golden Bay, the Cobb Reservoir is open all year round and has a good population of modest sized rainbows. The journey there is adventure enough , and will provide enough excitement, even if you don’t catch any trout ! A great family location for an out of the way picnic also.
Boating on the South Island lakes is a very relaxing experience in the winter season and a great time to take the family out fishing. There is nothing like smoking up a fresh trout on the shore on a winter’s evening or brewing up an espresso coffee over a gas element. Make sure to take the hip flask also !
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