1 September - 2015 IN THIS ISSUE Page 1

September - 2015
IN THIS ISSUE
Page 1 Page 2 Page 4 Page 9 Page 10 Page 11 Page 11 Page 12 Page 14 Page 15 Page 17 Page 18 Page 22 Page 23 -
Presidents Report
Fishing Report
What’s Happening – Club Nights / Club Trips / Events
Mohaka Rafting Trip
Tuition Trip For Novice Anglers
Kai Iwi Lakes - Rodd And Gunn Trophy
Fly Tying: Wee Wets With Dave McLellan
Casting Tuition
Recipe Of The Month
Lower Waikato River Trout Fishing Competition
Fishing Licence Overhaul Provides Anglers With Plenty Of Choice
Turangi Travelogue
Editor’s Note
General Club Information Plus Committee Members Contact Details
PRESIDENT’S REPORT
I was chatting the other day to a new convert to fly-fishing who had originally come from
Rotorua. He asked me if I had ever fished the Ohau channel which was close to where he
grew up. I said I had fished the channel from the old motor camp side for thirty years or
more and as I reminisced the memories came flooding back!
Some years ago (probably twenty at least), a good friend and I spent a cold and wet
winter’s weekend at the camp mainly targeting the spawning fish in the shallows on the
far (true right) bank just below the weir entrance from Lake Rotorua. Because of the
width of the channel at that point, long casts were required to get anywhere near the fish
and more often than not the entire fly line was cast plus a few metres of backing. We
enjoyed moderate success but the combination of physical exertion, wind and rain took
their toll and the casting technique began to suffer. Fortunately for me but unfortunately
for my buddy he tired first which saw his hitherto excellent back-cast start to drop
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ominously lower and lower. That was the beginning of a spectacular show for the
reasonably large number of fellow anglers and other spectators gathered along the bank.
That last, low back-cast just happened to coincide with a group of black swans which,
instead of doing their usual thing of paddling up the channel dodging fly lines had
decided to take the long way round and walk through the camp ground.
My concentration was interrupted by a yell from my buddy who I assumed had hooked
up. A quick glance and I could see that he was into something pretty big, trouble was that
he wasn’t facing the channel and whatever he had on was stripping line at a fierce rate
and heading off between two caravans! His back-cast had spiraled around the long, erect
neck of a now, very angry male swan which simply refused to do the sensible thing and
stand still but instead was doing it’s best to get airborne!
From time to time my mate was able to retrieve line before the swan headed off on
another head-shaking run, much of the show being captured on cameras and videos by
the growing audience who were also offering all sorts of helpful advice like “shoot the
bugger!” and “talk quietly to it!” As so often happens when you’re playing the “catch of
a lifetime”, the leader broke and with one final screeching honk, the swan ambled off to
join his family on the edge of the lake, no doubt to tell them all about his encounter with
the angler who fishes backwards!
On a subsequent trip about a month later, we were fishing the edge of Lake Rotoiti at a
spot known as the “transformer” where, because of the high water level, we were
standing on the edge of the road casting between the willows along the edge. Large fish
were occasionally “swirling” on the surface and another nearby angler was in the process
of sending out a huge cast when a passing logging truck coincided perfectly with his back
cast. He very quickly discovered that there is only one winner between 30 tonnes of high
speed logs and a 20lb nylon leader. In fact, within just a few seconds, he was left standing
with an empty reel and luckily, an unbroken rod!
Just like crossing the road, when casting a line, look both ways!
Dave Symes
President
FISHING REPORT
Auckland / Waikato
Cold, wet, and miserable. Plus, high flows and dirty water, oh and lets not forget strong
winds. Constant periods of heavy rain and generally bad weather have made an
expedition to the Coromandel a complete lottery. However, it is whitebait season now so
if you get down there try two things; 1) swing a smelt pattern across and down through
the bigger pools on a floating or a sink tip line. 2) if nymphing use flies with a bit of
‘bling’. Early in the season and with dirtier water using nymphs with a bit of flash and
hot spots can really pay dividends.
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Kai Iwi Lakes are fishing well with some great fish being taken. Also, some nice 2 –
2.5pd Rainbows have been taken in Lake Pupuke over the last month, and in these colder
conditions they are cruising the shallow water so are well within reach of the shore based
angler.
Rotorua
Does anyone out there know of a regular report on the fishing in the Rotorua area? I can’t
find anything at all anymore.
Taupo Region
Fishing out on the great lake has been good this last week or so with quite a few hardy
souls getting up at the crack of dawn to enjoy some early season harling. Good numbers
and quality fish are showing up at around the 5-7 meter mark in the mornings, Green
Orbit, Rabbits, Parsons Glory and Ginger Mick have all been successful flies this week.
Trolling has been quite mixed with the ever changing winds at the moment but those
prepared to keep moving and chopping and changing fishing depths have been rewarded
with some good fishing.
A mixed bag quality wise but no more than expected for this time of year. The local fly
fishing just continues to astound us this year with significant runs still coming through, if
you consider that the runs started as early as April this year and are still going strong as
we head into September /October it has been quite amazing.
Quite a few spent and darker fish will now start to appear as the spawned fish start to
return back to the lake.
Many of us will now be planning our trips for the start of the new season. I hope we don’t
get to much in the way of prolonged rain fall between now and October as the rivers
should be in tip top order for October 1st, be aware that some waters don’t open until
December 1st it’s up to you to check the regulations on the area you intend to fish.
Gary Lyttle – Fly And Gun Hunting And Fishing Taupo – 9/09/2015
Fishy Tales
If you do have a report, success story, or anecdote to share then just send it to
[email protected] . Happy Fishing and Tight Lines – Freddy Da Fish.
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Yours truly hard into a feisty Taupo tributary Rainbow. Photo courtesy of Chris Frew.
2015 – 2016 SUBS NOW DUE
Dear Members,
It's that time of year again when we seek your continued support and ask that you renew
your membership of the North Shore Flyfishers Inc (the Club) for another year. We
would love to see you back for the 2015/16 season.
At $60 an adult member and $90 for a family, we believe our subs provide great value
for money. We strive to provide the best guest speakers and activities at Club nights,
offer fly casting tuition over the summer months and fly tying tuition over the winter
months, and as many of you have experienced, excellent club trips away to a variety of
destinations with a great bunch of people.
Your support is vital to ensure that the Club grows and flourishes in future years. We are
always open to your suggestions as to how we can improve: who you would like us to
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follow up as potential speakers; what merchandise you would like; and what additional
club trips/destinations and activities we can put on for you.
To achieve the above we need the following from you: your ideas; your validation of the
club by encouraging friends and family to join as new members; and finally, your money
via prompt payment of your 2015/16 subs.
If you are one of those who have already paid your 2015/16 subs please disregard this
request for payment. To everyone else please pay your subs by one of the following
methods:

Internet banking
The bank account details are as follows: North Shore Flyfishers Incorporated, ASB Bank
account # 12 3209 0190179 00 (Please include your name and "subs" in the reference
particulars);


Cheque mailed to North Shore Flyfishers Inc, Po Box 31387, Milford, Auckland
0741; or
Directly to me at Club night on Tuesday 21st July.
The 2015/16 subscriptions are as follows: Adult membership $60, Junior (under 18 years)
$30, and Family (up to 2 adults and 2 children) $90.
A big thank you in advance for your prompt payment.
John Cuthbertson - NSFF | Treasurer - Mobile: +64 21 810 458 |
Email: [email protected]
QUOTABLE QUOTES
A beautiful pattern poorly tied does not make for a beautiful fly. But an ugly pattern
brilliantly tied might, because it embodies hope
Erin Block
LAST CLUB NIGHT
Last month we had Simon Stewart talking to us about the Taupo Fishery. It was a very
informative and enjoyable evening. Thank you once again Simon.
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NEXT CLUB NIGHT – Tuesday 15th – 7.30pm
This month we are not having a speaker but rather we are having a Bring and Buy and a
social night. So if you have any old or unused fishing gear that you would like to sell,
you are looking for a bargain, or just want to talk fishing then come on down. This is sure
to be a good night, and we hope to see you all there.
INFORMATION SHARING
As well as having a guest speaker on Club Nights we would like give an opportunity for
some of our own Club Members to share knowledge on any fly fishing subjects.
Member Speakers
Besides having a major Speaker on Club Nights we would like to have some of our own
Club Members to speak on any fly fishing subject for 10 – 15 minutes or so.
Some subjects could be:
Local fishing spots.
National / Taupo fishing regulations.
Riparian rights, access.
Clothing and equipment ideas / tips.
Saltwater fishing, what rods / flies.
So, Members please get out there and do some research to enlighten us all.
TIPS AND TRICKS
The committee can arrange club members to offer advice for subjects requested by
members – also as a 10 minute introduction prior to the Club Night speaker. If there is an
issue that you want information on, or a tip or trick you need to know about; then contact
any Committee Member with the detail. We will arrange for someone to respond at a club
night with the answer or advice.
CLUB TRIPS 2015
February –Ngongotaha River and Rotorua Lakes
March – Lake Otamangakau
May – Ngongotaha River and Rotorua Lakes
August – Tongariro and Tauranga Taupo
October – Kai Iwi Lakes
October – Lake Aniwhenua and surrounding Rivers, Phil Gates
November – Lake Otamangakau
November – Tuition weekend
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The NSF committee arrange various Club Trips over the year to different parts of the
country. If you would like to be involved, or have an idea for a trip please let one of your
committee know.
This stunning panoramic shot really captures the Turangi Club Trip. Sunny and bright
one moment and 10 minutes later another heavy shower on its way in, and cold. But
always with the prospect of a fat silver bullet taking your fly! Photo courtesy of Xin Wu.
FLYFISHING MEETUP
The interweb is a great thing….. Meetup is a service which hosts groups of people, a little
like Facebook. Recently a NZ Flyfishing Meetup group was formed in Auckland with the
following aim:
“for Fly Fishers all over the country to arrange fishing trips or other events to some of
our greatest and also less known rivers and lakes!
These could be for just two or 10+ people and whether you want to stay local or head to
a new area and fish with their locals anything goes!
This season coming up is sure to be a great one its time to get out and make the most of
what NZ has to offer!
NSFF does not belong to this group, it is for individuals; however several members have
been invited to join. If you are interested in finding out more, go to
http://www.meetup.com/NZFlyFishing/
WHY WE FISH
If I'm not going to catch anything, then I’d rather not catch anything on flies
Bob Lawless
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FISHING BUDDIES SOUGHT
The intention is to display a list of names of Club Members that are keen on finding a
‘buddy’ to go fishing with, either on a regular basis or just for a day. In essence it’s a flyfishing dating service…
Name
Ron Blair
Charles Wilma
Les Rose
Daryl Sinclair
Graham Carter
Lloyd Altham
Availability
Contact Details
Anytime, now has a brand new 14.4
Marco with 60hp e_tec Evenrude for
serious fishing Salt or Fresh
[email protected]
Anytime but would prefer
home 09 963 2020
Mid-week
mobile 021 067 3253
[email protected]
Retired and is happy to take another home 09 4183634
person fishing during the week.
Has a small 2 person boat.
Anytime he can get a pass.
[email protected]
Lives in Hamilton, keen on
021 026 00437
weekday / mid-week trips.
07 855 1833
Has 12' Pontoon boat /15 HP Honda. Mob. 021 0295 9167
Available most time, but prefer
Home 09 420 3120
weekdays.
[email protected]
So, if you are keen to find someone to share the cost and the fun of a fishing expedition
with, then send in your details and we will get it all started. Send details to
[email protected]
JOKE OF THE MONTH
An old man in his final breaths called in his family and said, I must apologize to you all.
I suppose I haven't been the perfect father and husband.
I shamefully admit that I spent as much of my life as I could on the water.
I was rarely at home during the fishing seasons and I'll admit that I spent too much time
at the tackle shop, and way too much money on rods, lines and reels.
He paused there to rest for a minute, then continued, I've been a terrible father and I
hope you all forgive me.
Then he paused again and looked around.
He closed his eyes, smiled and said in a half whisper to himself....
But on the other hand....
I have caught a helluva lot of bloody good fish.
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MOHAKA RAFTING TRIP, EARLY 2016
At the time of writing, three members have expressed interest in this trip (four if I opt to
go.) We need eight to keep the costs as low as possible and to be able to advance plans
with Mountain Valley Lodge. Email me at [email protected] or see me next club night.
Dennis.
Harry and I stayed at Mountain Valley Lodge on the Mohaka a couple of months ago
now. We talked to the rafting guides who had organised the trip last January and they
would be very pleased to see us back in the summer. The lodge owner was not as
enthusiastic as he is promoting the place as a wedding venue. Consequently he did not
want to offer any specific dates that we could consider (should the requisite 8 anglers be
found.)
The committee endeavours to set trip dates so that there is at least two weeks interval
between trips. Over the new moon period 12 – 14 February there will be a visit to the
Ngongataha and Rotorua lakes. A trip to the Big O is set for 11 – 13 March, the same
moon phase. The river section of the Rodd & Gunn Trophy will probably be held in
between in late February.
This leaves a couple of date options for a Mohaka trip: end of January or late March. The
latter would probably suit Mountain Valley better. On the other hand, the January period
might suit us as fine weather is more certain.
So with that introduction, who would be interested in signing up the Mohaka? We need 8
people – 4 on each raft – to keep costs as low as possible. For those unfamiliar with the
set-up, the past three trips have involved anglers travelling down on the Friday, spending
Saturday and Sunday on the river – camping overnight – and returning to Auckland on
the Monday. The cost would be in the $400 – 450 range. This covers food, lodging, 2
rafting guides, camping gear, etc.
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And having said that, we could also explore doing the 20 or so km of river in one day if
that was preferred by the majority.
Names to me at [email protected]. Places will be allocated in order of registration,
even though the trip is not yet confirmed. Some people unfortunately missed out last year!
Dennis Smith
TUITION TRIP FOR NOVICE ANGLERS
SOUGHT
-
EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST
In the past the club has periodically offered a two day course on “Approaching a Stream”
for novice anglers. We can organize this again for early December provided at least five
members wish to attend. It includes an overnight stay at the River Lodge in the
Karangahake Gorge, and to secure this accommodation (as by December, the holiday
period is starting to accelerate) we need to know promptly whether there is sufficient
interest.
Tutors will be experienced anglers from the club. On the Saturday, after an initial
discussion on gear, those taking part will go off to various sections of the Ohinemuri in
groups comprising one tutor and two or three course participants.
Course content
The course will broadly cover the following:
A run through of rod and tackle requirements, setting up the line, knots and rig.
A basic understanding of what flies represent what food.
Reading the river, identifying the likely water in which the trout will be lying and
choosing the appropriate rig, plus useful tips and techniques regarding casting, mending
and retrieving line to ensure that the fly is presented as naturally as possible.
Working your way through a pool methodically.
Striking, playing and landing the trout including handling and release.
Basic fishing etiquette.
On the Sunday, participants have the opportunity to put some of what they have learnt
into practice, on the Ohinemuri or Waitawheta Rivers.
This short course is intended to assist members with limited angling experience by
improving their chances of catching trout. The course will not provide casting tuition and
is not intended as a guided tour of where to fish the Ohinemuri.
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Cost and enrolment
The cost of the course will be about $100. This includes one night’s accommodation at
the Lodge, a contribution towards tutors’ costs and a shared dinner (BBQ or similar) on
the Saturday night. Transport and additional food requirements to be met by the
individual participants. Transport can be informally coordinated if required.
The course is open to paid-up members of the club. Places will be allocated on a first
come (with payment) first served basis. We cannot obviously rule out the chance of a
serious flood on the river on the chosen dates and if that should occur and the course was
to be cancelled for that reason, participants would be liable for their share of the
accommodation cost.
The trip will be co-ordinated by Faith Moon. Please contact her by e-mail
([email protected]) if you would like to attend.
KAI IWI LAKES
A reminder that this trip is the stillwater section of the Rodd & Gunn Trophy, and that the
competition day will be Saturday, 17th October. A reminder also that some large fish
have been caught there in the last few months.
At the moment, four members (PG, RR, TJ and DS) are booked to stay in Taharoa
Cottage on the Friday and Saturday nights. Several more beds are available there.
One member (WD) has advised that he will be camping at the lake, and two (DF and JD)
plan to make a day trip out of it. I would be grateful to hear from the others who are
coming so I can organise score cards, etc.
Dennis Smith [email protected]
FLY TYING: WEE WETS WITH DAVE McLELLAN
As you are probably aware, David McLellan is an experienced exponent of fishing with
wee wets. This is a traditional way of river fishing (pre-dating dry flies as we know them
today and nymphing) in which one or two small flies are cast across the current and
allowed to swing downstream. The flies imitate either invertebrates rising to the surface
or tiny bait fish. Casting is easy because there is not the aerodynamic resistance
associated with dry flies or indicators. The method allows a lot of water to be covered
and fish virtually catch themselves. It is best suited to wide, relatively shallow rivers,
such as the Tukituki and many in the South Island. The club’s DVD collection includes
one showing David putting this into practice on the Tukituki.
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David has offered to give some advice on tying wee wets starting on the 20 October
club night at 6.30 pm. He will put together a pack of the required materials for each
person, so all you need to bring is a vice, etc. To facilitate this he needs to know numbers:
if you are interested please register with Dennis Smith [email protected] . Note that on
the 20th, casting recommences as indicated elsewhere in this newsletter, and the fly tying
sessions being overseen by Yoshi will stop until next winter.
The last Club Trip to Turangi was certainly a bit chilly, Russell’s car with a light coating
of Snow that fell on the Saturday night.
CASTING TUITION
Daylight saving arrives on 27 September and casting tuition will re-commence at the
Club Night of 20 October and continue prior to all Club Nights until the March 2016
club night. Meet on the lawn outside the Cruising Club at 6.30pm if you want some
guidance on any aspect of your technique. Bring your own rod, set up with some form of
safe fly.
In addition to the Club Night assistance, and subject to a sufficient response from
members, a series of three 2½ hour clinics will be held on Sunday morning, 1, 8 and 22
November, commencing 10 am at Sylvan Park Reserve – the grassed area immediately
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on the right as you drive in. (The 2nd and/or 3rd sessions may be held on the other side of
the lake adjacent to the rowing club where water access is easier.)
The clinics will be run by Yoshi Nakagawa of Totally Fly and will primarily be aimed at
those new to fly casting. The course will cover basic overhead casting, shooting line,
double-hauling, roll casting and how to adjust casting technique to compensate for wind
and obstacles. There will be a charge of $75 payable to Yoshi through the club. Each
participant will get the DVD Manic Guide to Fly Casting.
There will be single clinic at a later date for more advanced casters who nonetheless feel
their casting would benefit from some expert advice.
Register with Duncan Frew [email protected].
Pay in advance to ASB Bank North Shore Flyfishers Incorporated
00 and enter flycasting in the reference box.
12-3209-0190179-
Cam Martin with a nice fresh Turangi Rainbow that he smoked up for his dinner.
Two hours from swimming in the stream to swimming in smokey salt and brown sugar. It
was delicious!
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RECIPE OF THE MONTH
This following recipe is from the Jamie Oliver website www.jamieoliver.com, and it
looks delicious. His site is full of excellent ideas and well worth a visit! I go there
whenever looking for a new idea at home.
New Potatoes And Trout
Ingredients
-leaf parsley, leaves picked and roughly chopped
elicia's capers, drained
(go fishing!)
Method
Place your potatoes in a pan of cold
water, bring to the boil and simmer
until cooked. Drain and allow to
cool.
In a bowl, mix the crème fraîche
with the lemon zest and juice. Add
the potatoes, onion, parsley and
capers, then snip your cress into the
bowl. Season with salt and pepper
and mix well.
Divide between four serving bowls
and flake the smoked trout over the
top.
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LOWER WAIKATO RIVER TROUT FISHING COMPETITION
After a break for 2014, the Lower Waikato River trout contest will be held for the 6th
time, from Saturday 10th October to Sunday 18th October 2015 (9 day contest, 2
weekends included). So put the dates in your diary and on the calendar, it’s going to be
great! Details below are a guide, we can’t take entries yet as new season fishing licences
aren’t out.
The area of the contest is again the main stem only of the Waikato River from below
Karapiro Dam to the Waikato Heads. Predominantly a spinning/trolling area, terminal
tackle in order of success 2013 were Storm soft baits, flies (with split shot), worm baits,
and lastly spinners. Top weight brown trout 2013 (Caught by junior Flynn Rendall by
trolling) was 2.78kg, best condition factor (Rainbow caught by Rob Warne) 51.79.
We have two main divisions for prizes - Adults $40 entry and Juniors 17 years and under
$15 entry, the split was 30 adults and 49 juniors for 2013. Entry into the teams section is
only $20 per team of 4, and we also continue the women’s section this year. We make
sure there are plenty of spot prizes for all.
Over $6,000 in fishing packages, with a total 26 prize categories. All prizes sporting
packages unless stated.
1x Grand prize: Weekend for 2 at Waihi Beach Top Ten Resort- plus salt-fishing charter
ex Bowentown Wharf TBC- value $1,000
For the fish closest to average competition weight in adults /ladies.
Junior competition average weight trout- $200 prize package
Best adults condition factor trout- $500 Reel Fishin' voucher provided by Sweetmans' and
Taupiri Tavern- redeemable for any product in store!
Best Junior condition factor trout- $250 Reel Fishin' voucher provided by contest
organisers- redeemable for any product in store!
Adult’s heaviest brown trout:
$350 1st, $250 2nd, $100 3rd.
Adult’s heaviest rainbow trout:
$200.
Junior’s heaviest brown trout:
$250 1st, $150 2nd, $100 3rd.
Junior’s heaviest rainbow trout:
$100.
Ladies heaviest trout:
$200.
Ladies best condition factor trout: $100.
Team section: Best average weight trout for group total:
$500 (4x $125).
Team section: 2nd average weight trout for group total:
$200 (4x $50).
Mystery weight & novelty prizes $1,600 (10x $100 tackle
packs, plus numerous spot draws).
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A 1st day competition practical trout workshop may be held at a location around Huntly
on Saturday October 10th, where experts will provide practical advice on methods &
tackle selection on the river. In the afternoon we are also planning a smoking cook-off
with prizes to find the best method for smoking trout, details to be advised.
To enter (closer to the event once new licences are available): call at Sweetmans Reel
Fishin’ Huntly and enter in person, or ring 0800 80 80 81 to enter with Visa card
payment. Online entry forms soon at the websites shown below. http://www.reelfishin.com/ http://huntly.co.nz/ http://crossrhodesband.com/brown-trout
Sweetmans Reel Fishin’ (P.O. BOX 158) 12 Main St Huntly North or ph. 0800 80 80 81.
All contestants must have NZ Fish & Game current Licences for 2015/16 and abide by
their rules regarding methods & tackle used. All legal fishing methods welcome; trolling,
flyfishing, spinning & bait-fishing.
Note: Juniors under 12 (as of 1/10/15) still need licences, but they are free.
Contest fishing hours; from dawn on Saturday 10th October to 2pm Sunday 18th
October.
Weigh ins:
Sweetmans Reel Fishin’, 12 Main St, Huntly North: 8:30am- 5pm for Monday to Friday,
and 9am- midday on Saturdays.
Hunting & Fishing, Te Rapa, Hamilton: 8:30am- 5pm Monday to Friday, and 9am3:30pm Saturdays.
Sportsworld Cambridge: 8:30am- 5.30pm Monday to Friday, and 8.30am- 2:30pm
Saturdays.
Taupiri Tavern, the Crescent, Taupiri: 7pm-10pm first 8 days of contest, and 11am to 2
pm Sunday final day.
Note: final weigh-in time is 2pm sharp on the Sunday.
Prize giving & barbeque will be held at Taupiri Tavern on Sunday 18th October at 4 pm.
Every contestant is urged to attend for the many spot prizes as well.
Committee Contacts:
Peter Sweetman07 828 7462
John Charteris027 7101 429
Michael Lynch027 621 4207
Bob Gamble07 824 6842
William Van Zyl07 828 6555
Run as a local community event with Huntly & Taupiri business support.
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FISHING LICENCE OVERHAUL PROVIDES ANGLERS WITH PLENTY OF
CHOICE
TVNZ – 15/08/2015
Fish & Game New Zealand says a new licensing system will provide anglers with
flexibility.
The biggest overhaul of the licensing system for some time comes after extensive
research into the needs of recreational fishers. Source: iStock
Four new types of fishing licence - the Loyal Senior Licence, Local Area Licence, Short
Break Licence and Long Break Licence - for the new fishing season beginning October 1,
go on sale from August 20.
Fish & Game chief executive Bryce Johnson said it's the biggest overhaul of the licensing
system for some time and comes after extensive research into the needs of recreational
fishers.
"Our research has shown that anglers want a lot more choice so they can buy a licence
that best fits their personal circumstances, their lifestyle and age and stage," he said.
Last year a new Non-Resident Licence was introduced for overseas visitors which
brought New Zealand in line with other countries.
With the introduction of four new types of licence, there are nine different licence
categories.
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A whole season licence, priced at $124, remains Fish & Game's premium product,
offering a full year's fishing anywhere in the country, except Taupo which has a separate
licence administered by the Department of Conservation.
The Loyal Senior Licence, priced at $105, gives something back to long-time older
anglers. Licence holders need to be over 65 and have held an adult Whole Season
Licence for at least the last five seasons in a row.
The Local Area Licence, priced at $99, is for those who live in a particular region, who
only fish their favoured home patch and have no intention of fishing in other parts of the
country.
The Short Break Licence, priced at $45, provides a three-day licence for little more than
the price of two days. The Long Break Licence, priced at $87, runs over nine days.
TURANGI TRAVELOGUE
Bula! More about that later…
One of the benefits of booking a holiday in advance is the months of delicious
anticipation. And so it was that I emailed Betty at the Sportsman’s Lodge back in January
for the Turangi trip in August. It sure helps you get through those days when work is a
real struggle.
Bags (part 1)
One of the hassles with overseas fishing holidays is transporting gear, with the primary
issues being length and weight. Of course none of my standard airline luggage will fit my
fly rods. A few years back I purchased a purpose-built fishing travel bag which would
comfortably store several 3 or 4 piece rod tubes plus assorted gear and clothes. It is a
great unwieldy thing which is forever pushing the boundaries of airline weight limits. Not
to mention the excessive cost of these bags... There must be a better option I thought.
So I decided to investigate bags
from sports with gear of a similar
length, i.e. think cricket, hockey and
baseball. To cut a long story short,
for $70 AUD I am now the proud
owner of a Louisville Slugger
baseball bag complete with wheels.
It fits my rods and other gear and,
importantly, weighs next to nothing
when empty. Sure beats paying
$300+ bucks for a 5 kilo bag from a fly fishing store. (And no, the rods don’t stick out the
end!)
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Schedule
Flights between Aus and NZ are pretty good these days with a range of airlines and
associated specials. My plan was to catch an early flight, arrive about midday, grab a hire
car and have a leisurely and pleasant drive down the highway - punctuated by an espresso
at the Alley Cats cafe in Tirau (introduced to me by Charles a couple of years back). The
best laid plans of mice and men...
My alarm went off at 4am for the 4.30 taxi pickup, to get to Tullamarine at 5am for a
7am flight. However at airport check-in I was informed the flight was running three hours
late – that’s 3 + 2 = 5 hours to wait. Damn! Thank goodness I had a book with me. I put
their $15 conciliatory breakfast voucher to good use and we eventually departed at
10.45am.
Inflight Entertainment
As I wasn't sure whether the flight included inflight entertainment (other than attractive
flight attendants…), I'd planned ahead and downloaded Quentin Tarantino's classic 'Pulp
Fiction' onto my iPad. I'd seen it years ago but it was great to watch it again. Urma
Thurman, John Travolta, Samuel Jackson, Bruce Willis etc. As it turned out the flight
did have movies but at $10 a pop I thought it was highway robbery. What happened to
the good old days when those things were free?
Bags (part 2)
You know that sickly feeling you get as you watch the bags go round and round the
carousel and yours doesn't appear? It happened to me in Singapore in January and looked
like happening again in AKL. My fellow passengers came and went and still no sign of
the ‘Louisville Slugger'. By this stage I was feeling really, really annoyed. As I stood
fuming in the lost baggage queue, Mr. Baggage Handler Man came to my rescue and
located Slugger in the oversize bag section. It wasn't oversize, it wasn't checked in as
oversize so it really shouldn't have been there. Anyway I was VERY HAPPY to have
found it! I didn’t kiss the man but I could have…
Customs (and waders)
Knowing how 'crisp' the Turangi climate can be, I decided to hire some neoprene waders
from The Sporting Life (via Betty) and leave my expensive breathables at home. It was
an excellent decision as 3/4 of my torso remained toasty warm all week (and they fitted
better than I hear Ron Blair’s did!). It also meant I could fly through customs. Being
waved through customs when you have a bag full of fishing gear is a wonderful thing.
Auckland traffic
My delayed flight had a snow-balling effect and this meant my car wasn't ready when I
was. By 5.15 I was on the road - tired, stuck in traffic, it was getting dark, starting to rain
and with a 4.5 hour drive in front of me. This was not what I had planned! It took me 45
minutes to reach the motorway – one thing I don't miss about Auckland is its traffic. Of
course the Alley Cats café was closed but Tirau fish and chips plus caffeine-laden Coke
was just the ticket and I arrived safely at The Sportsman's Lodge at 10pm. It had been a
long day... I'd ‘radioed’ ahead and the lovely Betty had left a sign on the office door with
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my name and room number. I felt like I’d arrived home when I entered my room to find
the heater on and my waders waiting.
Turangi
Wednesday dawned and the fish were placed on hold whilst I purchased food and
assorted provisions. I grabbed a morning espresso from Amanda’s coffee cart adjacent to
the Bridge Pool and checked out the view from the bridge. Sure enough the iconic
Tongariro was in good form and a fish was being played from the true right bank. It's
nice to see some things don't change. The river was at an attractive level and looking
quite clear – little did I know that was about to change…
After gearing up at the Lodge, I headed for ‘the Braids’ car park to try my luck. As a
fishing river I think the Tongariro takes a little getting used to. On my first visit I found it
very challenging (casting big bombs, big indicators etc), on my second visit I was coming
to grips with the process, and now on my third visit I was somewhat optimistic. And my
feelings were proven correct when my first 'freshie' was landed from the Swirl Pool (or
thereabouts) after 5 minutes. A few more fish followed and I returned to the comforts of
the lodge feeling very satisfied with myself.
A fresh run Waitahanui rainbow, photographed by Andrew MacPherson
Plan B
The forecast rain duly arrived in the night – enough to wake me up, and on Thursday
morning the place was flooded. The Bridge Pool didn’t exist (unless you wanted to cast
from the shelter of the coffee cart) and there was no fishing to be had in the Tongariro.
No problem as I knew the Hinemaiaia was the place to go. Unfortunately every flyfisher
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between Turangi and Taupo had the same idea. As it turned out I was able to find my
own little stretch and coax a bunch of freshies to take my glo-bug. On the river I ran into
Tom, a very young looking Christchurch guide, who was also staying at the Lodge. He
was using ‘naturals’ and catching nothing so I informed him that glo-bugs were the go
and gave him a couple to get him started. There was no stopping him from that point
onwards…
Bula!
Later on Thursday the ‘boys’ started to arrive and it was nice to catch up with club
members again. I teamed up with Andrew and over the remaining days we successfully
fished the ‘Braids’, Hinemaiaia and Waitahanui. There were plenty of fish around and I
think most members had plenty of hook-ups. Andrew and I even ran into one of the local
characters ‘Didymo Dave’ and he was kind enough to ‘guide’ Andrew on to his first fish
for the day.
Due to the heavy rain channeling everyone to a smaller number of locations, meeting
other anglers was unavoidable. I am pleased to report that, without exception, they were
all very friendly and I enjoyed the camaraderie apparent in our chosen sport.
To say it was cold on the Saturday night is an understatement, and I was most reluctant to
hover around the BBQ even though it’s located only 5 feet from the kitchen door! (The
evening fare was excellent and a great job done by Maurice.) My reward for several days
of standing in the rain and witnessing snow was a few days defrosting, on Tropica Island
Resort, Malolo Island, Fiji. It was fantastic – but no fishing of course – as I had used up
all my brownie points with my detour to Turangi!
Malolo Island, Fiji
Roy Pollard
(NSFF Melbourne Chapter)
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EDITOR’S NOTE
The summertime dry and dropper twitch has begun. Only 3 weeks and all sorts of
Waikato and Coramandel river systems will open again after their winter spawning
season closures, and I for one can’t wait! The next few weeks will be spent in a flurry of
fly tying (lots of size 14 and 16 nymphs), replacing my old and battered 5wt fly line and
dusting off my wading boots.
Roll on summer!
FISHING FUNNIES
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(Opinions expressed in this Newsletter are those of the individual contributors and not neccessarillary those of North Shore Flyfishers Incorporated)
MEMBERS FEEDBACK
We, your committee, are always trying to give you what you want.
But are we??
In order for us to do our job properly we need to have your feedback, positive or
negative. For example, have you been on a club fishing trip? Did you enjoy yourself?
What would you change, if anything? Club nights – what would you like to see more of?
Less of? In short, talk to us.
The contact details of all your committee members are listed at the end of every
newsletter. So if you have something on your mind let us know.
Thank you - Your committee
NSFF CLUB MERCHANDISE
Cap – $15.00 Inclusive of GST
Green or Beige, one size fits all, with embroidered badge.
Embroidered Cloth Badge - $7.50 Inclusive of GST
Brushed Brass Metal Pin Badge - $12.50 Inclusive of GST
If anyone is interested in purchasing these products please either place an order at Club
Nights or at Hunts Sports.
Meetings held the 3rd Tuesday of each month at 7.30pm:
Milford Cruising Club, 24 Craig Road, Milford, North Shore City
NORTH SHORE FLYFISHERS EXECUTIVE
Club Patron - Ian Hunt
President - Dave Symes
486-6257 Takapuna [email protected]
Secretary - Roy Richardson
415-8950 Coatesville [email protected]
Treasurer - John Cuthbertson
413-6993 Greenhithe [email protected]
Magazine - Duncan Frew 021 648 956 Torbay
[email protected]
Committee - Ron Blair
09 834 8841 Te Atatu
[email protected]
Members
John Dernie
0272 288 616 Glenfield [email protected]
Trevor Jones
09 817 1026 Titirangi
[email protected]
Faith Moon
027 538 1040 Parnel
[email protected]
Mark Norton
09 410 7601
[email protected]
Maurice Parlane 021 650 692 Northcote [email protected]
Dennis Smith 376-3375
Herne Bay [email protected]
North Shore Flyfishers Incorporated: P.O. Box 31-387, Milford, North Shore City
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