Alan

Close to it Rex, lol

This is the weekend so everyone's busy.

Most like to post on bosses time

Decided that it is smart to put several say 3 bits of bait on the hook instead of one bigger bit. Obvious really, as they now have to come back for a second time and a third time, getting so annoyed they make a mistake and get hooked.. Isnt it funny how you dont do obvious things, until you are old and doddery like me. 

I have another thread about recoating my boat floor. Turned out I needed to replace the panels over underfloor spaces., as were made of plywood and this has split. I found stuff called Multiboard, thats plastic, and waterproof so doesnt absorb water so doesnt need painting. Strong enough for the boat floor. Brilliant eh.

The gizzard is part of the gut, It's what they use to crush up the seeds that are stored in their crop and it then carries in through their digestive system.

I think Ive now come to quite a few conclusions - 

1. Going on charters instead of my own boat. Sounds less energy sapping, but it actually isnt!! Beccause - the charters from here (Gulf Harbour) go for 8 hours. Thats far too long for me. Also theres nowhere to sit while fishing, which saps more energy. I suppose I could simply lie down in the cabin - yes might give that a go. Hard to do though as they might be having the best fishing while Im asleep. 

2. Chicken gizzards for bait, is awesome - very hard for fish to pull off, so the work in re-baiting is way down, Also - snapper like gizzards. And its much cheaper than fish bait!!!

3. I have changed from anchoring with berley, to drifting. Its good, hasnt caused fewer keepers I dont think.. No energy required to pull up berley pot twice. Fewer tiddlers gathering in a horde under the boat, eating bait flat out. And save $18 a trip in berley. 

Last time - caught 7 keepers in 3 hours, drifting, and tiddlers were mostly absent. Of course you have to find where they are.

4. Ive changed from a longish and flexible rod to a short stiff rod. Its easier to pull up, so uses less energy!!

Hows that - amazing what you can achieve when you put your mind to it. 

But my last trip to the Waipunga was one of those days. My mate and I crossed the Mohaka at the Waipunga mouth early one morning. I had heard there was good fishing a long way up - water that was never touched - except by chopper from Poronui. I had fished Poronui and was told that was where they took people who had no clue of fly fishing. Flop a line over the edge in to pool and wait. So, our plan was to push on well up in to that water. We were up for big expeditions. 12 hr days and very difficult terrain were regular events.

So we were in the process of crossing the Mohaka and putting a few clothes back on at the Waipunga mouth and a chopper flew low overhead. I told my mate - no prob, that will be Poronui. They will be heading well up. By the time we get there they will be well gone.

We went around about 2 bends in the river, and there they were - dropped right in front of us. The guide was up a rise on the edge, spotting for the american angler casting in to a pool.  We had fished this river for years and weren't about to put up with this. I also knew Poronui had the exclusive rights to the river (paid the landowner). But having fished it for years before Poronui came along, I still considered it public property - altho technically it wasn't.

I figured the guide wouldn't want a spat in front of the high paying customer.  I told him he must have seen us - he flew low over us. We were here first. We would walk on up for the next 45 minutes and not touch any water, and they could follow behind. Which we did. It suited us anyway - because we planned to go far up. At the end of the day we wander back down and come across them again. They had caught the odd fish, but nothing special. It just so happened that very spot was where my mate had landed a 6 lber, which he chose to keep. He dug in the sand at the anglers feet, and pulled out a big fat trout, and we wandered off home.

Alan 

Sitting in the boat is much easier.

Is interesting to note two contributors in a row mention the Waipunga.

I lived in Taupo for 18 years & fished it quite a bit, most often with John Parsons.

I only knew of half a dozen people who fished it & can say I never saw another angler.

Was a sweet wee river to fish & the rainbows were pretty feisty.

One noteable catch had a native bat in it's stomach.