With all waters now open in the Upper Clutha and Southern lakes fisheries, there are bountiful opportunities for all methods of angling. The main highlights to keep in mind for the months of November and December are the water levels, temperatures and the onset of the dry fly fishing. Whether we like it or not the weather is the main factor that governs where and how we are going to fish on any given day. It’s therefore important to have several plans in mind before you head out for the day. It can be hard to change your mindset after arriving at your venue of choice and finding conditions unsuitable. If you already have plan ‘B’ floating around in the ‘old grey matter’ then you can quickly make the decision and move on. Successful fishing is about making the right choices at the right time. Right from the planning of where you are going to fish, down to what you are going to fish with. You can take a lot of pressure off yourself and ensure an enjoyable day if you properly manage your decision-making in respect to the things we are able to control. It’s difficult enough to fool the trout into accepting our flies without complicating the issue. Look at the "big" picture as to why the fish may not be taking your offerings and check you have made the right cast with the right fly to a sighted fish. If you cannot find fish, it’s unlikely that there aren’t any present, but quite likely that they are just not feeding. Why are they not feeding? Is there anything as an angler I can do to change the situation? If there is, do it. If not, consider where else you maybe able to find conditions more conducive to catching fish. If you cannot sight fish in the shallows and margins it would be safe to assume they are in deeper water. How do you fish the deeper water? Or can you fish the deeper water? Are the fish holding under the banks? Where could I find the one or two fish that could make the day? With such thoughts in mind there are, locally, a couple of factors to consider for November and December. These are the traditionally windy months and the dominate wind is NW. And that's not a breeze, but often a 25-40km gale. These are hopeless conditions for the Wilkin, Young, Dingleburn, Hunter, Makarora and Matukituki. The reason to avoid these rivers is that this wind makes an upstream presentation of a nymph or dry fly next to impossible. Not so bad however, and indeed an advantage to the ‘sink tip and full sinking down and across’ angler. So carry at least one, but preferably 2 spare spools for the rod, so you can adapt to the situation. Also have a plan for where you may find shelter on the river under such circumstances. The section of the Makarora from Boiler to Cameron Flat is one place that has plenty of shelter from the NW. Timaru Creek, and to a lesser degree, the Dingleburn also provide options in the NW. The Hawea and Lindis, Nevis and Head of Lake Dunstan are also options. All rivers are in perfect condition and will be at there best in the lead up to the New Year. It should be noted that the bulk of the winter snows have already melted. This may well lead to a serious water shortage by January 2002. We are receiving passing fronts and minimum rain falls to date. The rivers are full but unlikely to be able to maintain their current levels. The best fishing will be the next 6-8 weeks. ‘Touch wood’ we have another year without a major flood advent. Timaru Creek is flowing and clear with good numbers of Rainbows moving back towards Lake Hawea. The fish are not difficult to catch and ‘easy’ is often used to describe this fishery. It does provide an ideal environment to perfect nymphing techniques. A perfect drift will catch fish, nothing else. Also of importance is the need to get your nymph right on the bottom and into the mouth of the fish. Heavy nymphs and continued adjustment of indicator length are critical. The Dingleburn is also "full" of fish and they will not be any easier to catch than right now. The Young, Wilkin and Makarora are at full flow with the present run off of snow melt and require some care and planning to fish safely and successfully. The Lindis is also in great form and should be fished now before the summer irrigation draw off reduces flows. The section from SH8 to the Ardgour Rd Bridge will be completely de-watered by January so fish it now and consider the fate of the trout as the summer arrives. The Nevis will not in my opinion be at its best until mid December. I expect it to fish better than last season, when it seemed to be in recovery from the ‘99 floods'. The Motutapu has not held a fish since the ‘99 flood and I'm suspecting it to be the same again this season. I would be delighted to find fish in residence, as it is a very handy fishery close to town and with considerable willows to shelter an angler from the NW winds. The Matukituki will once again benefit with the recruitment of fish that would have otherwise run the Motutapu, and should provide some very good fish. The Matukituki will carry a lot of glacial colour as the summer heat melts the Rob Roy Glacier. I would suggest fishing early in the day as the melt colour is less of a restriction in the morning after a cool alpine evening. The Hunter will be it’s normal excellent self. Lake Hawea is still very low and as a result the delta of the Hunter should be an exceptional fishery, as long as water levels are down. The Hawea River has been low for 3 months and is likely to stay that way until levels in Lake Hawea rise. The Hawea has medium to low numbers of Rainbows and few Browns to reward only the most persistent angler. The Clutha, from the outlet to Albertown bridge is full of fish. Fish and Game drift dived this section pre season and counted over 2000 fish in 4kms of river! Should catch something there, especially at night on the caddis hatch. Lake Wanaka is at normal levels and will fish well to all methods. The margins will support more food as water temps rise a little over summer. Lake Dunstan is again going to be the most consistent of the local lakes. Reports are also good for the Greenstone and Caple Rivers. The Lochy is still under restricted fishing as Fish and Game attempt to restore the fishing in the upper part of the valley. Natural recruitment is not something that will happen in a hurry but in the long term will benefit the river and anglers. So make the most of what will be the best of the fishing, over the next couple of months. The best thing to happen soon will be the arrival of the Manuka Beetles around mid November. This is a major advent as it means we can change from nymph techniques to dry’s and droppers, and pure dry fly fishing. If we get heavy falls of beetles it is better to look for fish in the shallow margins and fish wet beetles. The fish find it easier to gather several beetles on a slow cruise than in the current lines and eyes of the pools, picking off single beetles. Size 12’s for the heavier water, 14 for the slower river sections and 16-18 on the lake margins. It’s going to be a great couple of months. Enjoy.

 

From Gerald & Sue Telford Fishing and Hunting Services

Report type: Freshwater

Report date: 05 November 01

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