Compliments of the new year, I hope you and Aunty are keeping well.  

This is only the second time trying soft baits exclusively and I am finding them more effective.  

Previously I would add a small rubbertail to a small hook on my 3 fly jig rig in place of a fly and found the rubber reasonably effective this way.

The little jig heads take an age to get down but the little rubber tail action seems to elicit a better response from the fish.  

There were 10 other boats fishing around me (with up to 4 anglers per boat) at times the other day using what appeared to be standard 3 fly rigs.

I think I witnessed 5 or 6 fish boated between them all which emphasized the effectiveness of soft baits.

The main bite for the day was supposed to be later in the afternoon but I was off the lake by then.

cheers

Ron

Are you using softbaits in preference these days?

There seem to be a lot more using them.

I've been a bit slack this season for one reason or another but intend getting back into it shortly.

Initially I could not find many fish but after a bit of a troll around I managed to find a reasonable spot.

Plenty of fish on the bottom at this location.

Managed a couple on flies at this location before I switched over to soft baits

Ali express had sent me some little rubbers and jig heads to try at a fraction of the cost of the ones from Mr H & F.

Plenty of fish to share around, the larger one went 9.1 lb.

 I had mostly been jigging them up on ginger mick flies but on Monday grey ghost or slimey ghost were the go to flies. 

I also tried out a 3 inch paddle tail softbait in pumpkin colour and it caught the biggest fish. 

Fish were either just under the smelt layer at 15 metres or down deeper in 25 to 30 metres. It was my first time softbaiting for trout and I will definitely be doing a bit more of it.  

Wake boarding boats were out having a good time making plenty of wake in close proximity to boats fishing. Fish are in good condition with the odd wild fish in poorer condition which I assume have come through from lake rotorua. 

Good fishing on Rotoiti Sunday 7th, water 20.4 degrees at 8.30am. Thermocline at ~12m and lots of hookups jigging and trolling.

Ruato/Hauparu/Gisbourne had lots of action in the thermocline  - and near the bottom once you found them. Hard fighting fish with lots of acrobatics, most about 50-53cm but also a few 30-40cm which were returned. Started 8.30am and finished by 12.30 with 9 hookups and 7 landed ,fish in great condition with most having a layer of belly fat. 

Probably best if I stick to bluenose fishing in the Tauranga harbour.