Fishing Reports

Arriving at Hamurana one lunchtime last week, I walked into the middle of a heated discussion between anglers and a sole angler in a boat anchored off the mouth. The main part of the discussion was the legality of fishing from a boat within 200 metres of the stream mouth. The current book of regulations had been consulted and the sole angler was deemed to be in the wrong due to a misinterpretation of the regulation pertaining to boats and fishing at the mouth.

The regulation states that no angler may fish from an unanchored boat within 200 metres of the stream mouth which by default means that if the boat is anchored one can fish from it. Hamurana was a bit hit and miss during the day earlier in the week, especially as the lake temperature dropped and there was a pool of cold water covering a very large area off the mouth. A tungsten bead nymph coupled with a Giaconda or size 12 ginger mick has had some success with both rainbows and browns.

Others have done well on olive woolly buggers or silver dorothy flies, especially today (Thursday 26 Jan) as the lake has warmed enough again to bring the fish within range of anglers. Casting across the current, be it the cold water plume or wind driven water, and allowing this combination to drift will pick up fish and will also take fish as the line straightens and is retrieved. Most of the rainbows are in the mix of cold and warm water while the browns seem to be closer to the cold water from the springs.

Spin fishing has been more successful than fly fishing at times, though one has to be out in deeper water than is comfortable for most, especially if there is any wind. Thankfully the lake level continues to drop with the lack of rain. Spinners that have been successful are, silver or pink turbo flasher, zebra or copper dandy and several from the tasmanian lure collection, Numbers 81 (pink fish), 72 (elimenator) and number 60 (toffee apple).

The Ngongotaha Stream has a reasonably good population of 1.25 to 1.5 kg rainbows in it at the moment though they are playing hard to get. One angler discovered that they will take a hare and copper nymph that has been tied with red copper rather than the traditional copper coloured wire. Brown trout are also in fairly good numbers in the upper reaches of this stream as quite a few have been seen out in the open or in the deeper pools during the day.

The lower reaches continue to be quite silty and may discolour severely if the promised rain this weekend eventuates. There will be even more fish coming into this stream, and others, though most are likely to be brown trout. Fishing the mouth after dark should be productive, especially if one stays in close to the mouth when fishing.

Both brown and rainbow trout can be found in the area above and below the road bridge across the Waiteti Stream, with fresh fish coming through most days. The upper reaches have started to settle down after the massive flood of a few weeks ago and with a few new pools and the deepening of others, there are great places to catch good rainbows and browns. This area has high banks in most places so walking up or downstream in the water is the preferred method, though this does make the fish very spooky after the first few anglers have been through.

After dark or at first light is probably the best time to fish it, starting with a sinking line across and down followed by upstream nymphing once daylight has arrived. With the upper reaches being extremely clear, a fluorocarbon trace and a very low profile are essential.

With most of the lakes without an outlet still extremely high fishing from and anchored or drifting boat is the best method. One can jig, fly or spin fish over the weed beds, along the drop offs or channels if the lake has any. Lake Rerewhakaaitu is one such lake that is blessed with some great bathemetry that allows for many different styles of fishing. Apparently this lake has been fishing quite well, better than some of the larger lakes, at times as well and is worth spending some time on.