The legendary Hope River

Hope River Profile Peter Langlands 11 March 2004 The Hope River is one of the most consistent producers of large brown trout in the North Canterbury Region. The rivers’ size offers good protection for the brown trout. Indeed the river is large enough to take anglers on either side of its course. One of the tricks to fishing the Hope is to realise that the river suddenly becomes smaller above the Hope River Bridge. Above the bridge the river braches into the Lewis and Hope and divides almost 50 / 50 into each river accordingly. So do not be imitated the bulk of water flowing down the Hope at the main bridge. Also just above the bridge the flow hits in against a cliff and discolours the Hope’s waters, again giving anglers a misleading impression and mistakenly thinking that clear angling opportunities are not available upstream. The Hopes’ waters often run clear above the Lewis confluence, a factor that allows the browns, which are visual feeders, to consistently reach large sizes. I fish the Hope when the recorded main flow is up to 120 cumecs. Also while the Hope does fresh, and does so frequently, it also clears up quickly and in the first day or so after clearing after a fresh the river provides great angling. Despite its open shingle riverbed in many places, the Hope is remarkably stable allowing the river to support a healthy insect population. Mayflies and a range of caddis nymphs form the bulk of the trout’s diet. Being part of a large river system, the Waiau system, the Hope has a constant movement of trout in it. The greater Waiau catchment has a reputation for some of the largest browns in the South Island and the Hope is certainly part of this picture. In late summer and autumn large searun browns move up the river along with chinnok salmon in April. This constant movement of fish, with many of the searuns defending prime lies, allows the trout to reach respectable sizes. Many guides from Nelson, West Coast and Canterbury, along with local anglers, target the Hope as a consistent producer of large browns. The large browns will feed on salmon smolt according to former South Island Fishing guide David Moate. Swinging heavily weighted lures such as woolly buggers becomes an effective tactic in high water conditions. The keen trout angler should also have a spinning rod (telescopic) along with a few small brown and rainbow trout smolt imitation Rapalas- that are especially effective in discoloured water. Fish them on at least six-pound line, due to the size of the trout in the Hope. The trout feed freely after the river freshes and often fishing it when slightly discoloured produces results. When the river has remained low and clear for long periods the trout can become hard to catch. The trick then is to then make the first cast count, and to make sure that your presentation is drag free, as the large browns are highly sensitive to line drag. Often a dragging fly will spook the trout, which are highly alert to any un-natural movement in their environment. Using small nymphs also gives you an edge in low water conditions. On one “mouse year” a guide got his client onto a 12 pound brown on a size 18 pheasant tail nymph! High water quality also means that the river has a lot of free swimming mayflies, the nymphs of which are imitated by small slender nymphs tied with golden pheasant ear tuff fibres used as tails. Keep your nymphs drably coloured to deceive the highly discerning trout in the Hope. Tungsten bead-heads are favoured to get down quick in the Hope's flow and many people favour black beadheads. Small, naturally coloured and nondescript nymphs often work well on these trout, which often shy away from more brightly coloured flies. Yet flashbacks can work well along with large black beadheads when the rivers’ waters are discoloured. The trout in the Hope also rise freely to dries over much of the angling season. Early in the season mayfly patterns work well, with a large Kakahi Queen or Adams being effective. Shy away from regal dries such as the Royal Wulff as trout often shy away from such patterns. A flash of the white wing on a dry fly will often spook cautious trout. In summer large cicadas flies work well. I use a large black indicator fly, which also doubles as a cicada imitation. Also over the summer the trout feed on green beetles and a wide range of terrestrials (such as wasps). On “hard trout” sitting on the edge a soft hackle nymph on a short dropper under a dry or a Carty’s spider fly also works well. The Hope River is easily accessed, with a Department of Conservation walking track, all the way along the rivers’ true left bank. DOC huts are also available adjoining the Hope for anglers to use. The whole river can be walked in three days and is ideal for a high country campout. A four-wheel drive track goes a considerable way up from Glynn Wye Station on the Hope Rivers’ true right bank and offers good access (obtain permission from the local framer). In recent years the Hope has become a popular destination for anglers using helicopters for access. While out of the price range of many people this option is worthwhile for people with a short amount of time available. If you are fishing on the river make sure that any choppers flying up the river can see you. Either wave or get out a bright towel. The choppers should leave you at least three kilometres of river upstream from were they sight you. Being a large river, with two fishable banks, often something can be worked out when you encounter other anglers. The Hope fishes well throughout the whole season from October to April. In February and March the trout are often well educated, so use light tippets and small flies with a delicate drag free presentation. Having clear waters the Hope is one of the best rivers in the South Island for sight fishing to large brown trout. Yet over the busy months of February and March aim to fish the river immediately after a fresh as the educated trout are more catchable then. October and November are great months for angling on the Hope before the angling pressure increases, especially from guides and overseas tourists. An early morning start can also secure you a good “beat” on the Hope. In April groups of large searun trout re-colonise the river and offers you a crack at fresh run fish, with some of the largest trout of the season caught in this twilight month. April is a great time for local anglers to fish the river in relative solitude. The Hope River is a place of giant brown trout in years when there are plaques of mice in the adjoining beech forest. The mice feast on seeds from the beech forest, which are produced, on average, every five years. Fish from 8-15 pounds are frequently caught on the mouse years. Yet even during an average (non- mouse year) the browns average six pounds, with double figure fish being consistently caught throughout the season.