Tim,
I have done heaps of spinning and I must say I far prefer it to fly fishing. I love to get up into the forest around Murapara in the central North Island and walk up the Rangitikei river spinning along the trout access breaks. I love the simplicity of spinning. I don't think it is as productive as fly fishing in the rivers but seems to work well on the lakes.
Spinning is not frowned upon as far as I'm concerned and who gives a toss anyway. Fly fishermen can be a bit anal retentive (harumph harumph no glo bugs please and how dare you take a fish home to use as snapper bait).
You are not allowed to use worms and other forms of live bait at all in NZ. Re fly fishing, I think the cerebral challenge of fly fishing and the challenges of perfecting technique really appeal to kiwis - its the same mental stimulation as something like golf ... achieving the perfect game or perfect cast happens just often enough to keep you wanting more.
My 2 cents worth.
PS: Did you know that trout makes cracking good bait for salt water snapper?
Spinning is allowed pretty much everywhere, but in the north island lakes in rotorua and taupo, no spinning is allowed in the rivers or withing 300yards of any stream mouth. That is to stop any conflicts with the fly brigade I suspect.
You have 2 licences in NZ, one for all the country except Taupo, and one for (naturally) Taupo. However, the different regions have diff rules, so it is always wise to get some info of what you can or cannot do or gear you cannot use etc. For instance, in the mid-upper north island, no treble hooks, but from mid north island down, they are OK.
Cost of the licences, ummm.... not sure. I think about 480 or so for a season licence for all NZ, and the same for the Taupo only one. You can however buy day or 1 week licences if you wish, but several day licences at 412 or whatever each, and you are better off getting the season licence.
You can use live baits in the waikato/BoP, but not in rotorua/ Taupo.
But! Spinning is very productive, and is a lot easier to do on a lot of the smaller, more bush-crowded streams we have here in NZ. Have fun!
cheers, Stu.
Well spotted Lalandi, yes, sorry about that, swap the $ sign for the number 4. Oops.
Spinning in the sea is fine, no licences needed at all, spin anywhere with anything, no worries. The only restrictions regarding rivers etc are when trout fishing (or salmon), there is no licence at al on any form of salt water fishing.
rivers flowing OUT of lakes are still subject to spin fishing restrictions in some places, such as where the Waikato leaves lake taupo, or the outlet at Lake Tarawera, or the Ohau channel between rotorua and rotoiti.
This does not apply in many places however, In the waikato river system, once out of the taupo area, you can spin fish in any and all the rivers nd river mouths flowing into the hydro-lakes along there.
this was taken from the mouth of the Little Waipa stream on lake karapiro. you can, if you so desire, also use baits there, as well as flies.
cheers, Stu.
yeah was out Spinning on the upper waipa north of Otorahanga on saturday afternoon. Didn't land any. But it was the first time I've ever spinfished a stream/river for trout (usually flyfish), and I've gotta say that even though my casting accuracy left a lot to be desired, it was still alot less stressful not worrying about hitting trees behind me as well as those in front of me!
Yeah I'm a spinner!
Spinning is a totally legitimate way of catching trout, as is using bait in allowed areas. Don't let any anal snob tell you otherwise! In fact, not wanting to offend anyone, but I do find the "My technique is better than your technique" discussions all a bit anal whether being espoused by flyfishermen or spin fishermen. All methods have their place and time to be the most effective and the only real benchmark you should put on any technique is how much YOU enjoy it. That's the whole point in my way of thinking... Do what you enjoy!
The others have told you about license details and the only advice I would add, given it's been a few years since I used a spinning outfit other than with poppers to aggravate Kingfish... is to cast upstream more than down. On most smaller streams especially an approach walking upstream and casting upstream can be much more effective than the usual technique of walking down. That works well on the bigger rivers, but not so well on smaller streams. It can also pay to have a few flies and a plastic bubble to cast using the same outfit for when the fish are not getting aggitated by your spinner.
One word of caution... you need a license to fish for any acclimatised fish no matter where you are targetting them. If you are fishing a river mouth at the ocean and catching Kahawai you don't need a license, but if you catch a trout you must have a license in order to keep the fish and if Fish and Game deem and can prove you are "targetting" acclimatised fish (Trout or salmon) they may procecute you. Better to throw $70 (About 35 pounds) at a whole season license and knock yourself out.
Tight Lines
Clark
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