Spinning for trout
Printed From: The Fishing Website
Category: Freshwater Fishing
Forum Name: Freshwater Fission
Forum Description: The place to discuss all matters related to freshwater fishing!
URL: https://www.fishing.net.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=10773
Printed Date: 15 Jun 2026 at 1:45pm
Topic: Spinning for trout
Posted By: Tim O'Flynn
Subject: Spinning for trout
Date Posted: 24 Sep 2005 at 6:45am
|
Hi all, Is there anybody out there who can give me some info on spinning for trout in NZ or is spinning frowned upon down there? I don't fly-fish,and I'm not really that keen on using worms or live baits to catch them, but if it's a case of I having to use them I will. From what I've been able to glean from some of the sites dedicated to trout fishing in NZ you're all mad fly-fishos. Any info at all would be appreciated. Regards Tim O'Flynn |
Replies:
Posted By: Bender
Date Posted: 24 Sep 2005 at 7:30am
|
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? ------------- Nobody has ever come up with a great idea after a second bottle of water. |
Posted By: Stormbringer
Date Posted: 24 Sep 2005 at 8:05am
| Hey Tim, I do a lot of spinning for trout when your over here I'll give you some pointers and even take you out to the local river and show ya how good our trout fishery is :) Wellington's Hutt river has some of the highest trout per mile than any other river in NZ |
Posted By: Tim O'Flynn
Date Posted: 24 Sep 2005 at 8:17am
|
Hi Bender, Thanks for the info. And to you as well, Stormbringer. The next thing I'd like to discuss is licences. Do I need one for each river or district,or can I get one that would cover both the North and South Islands? And of course how much do they or it will cost in NZD. Many thanks. Regards Tim O'Flynn |
Posted By: Capt Asparagus
Date Posted: 24 Sep 2005 at 9:46am
|
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. ------------- It is only my overwhelming natural humility that mars my perfection. Captain Asparagus, Superhero, Adventurer. |
Posted By: Tim O'Flynn
Date Posted: 24 Sep 2005 at 10:37am
|
Hi Cap, Thanks for the info, but I'm not quite clear on what you've told me about the cost of day/week licences. Did you mean that a day/week licence would cost 412 NZD or what??? Another thing I'm not sure about is what you said in regard to no spinning being allowed in the rivers around rotorua and taupo. did you mean the rivers flowing out of or into the lakes or what? and did you also mean that you couldn't spin within 300yards of a river mouth that flows into the sea or did you mean 300 yards from where the river flows out of a lake? Regards Tim O'Flynn |
Posted By: bushkid
Date Posted: 24 Sep 2005 at 1:17pm
| The Captain is a little out with the cost of the licences, they are around about $70 each for full the season. that is unless there is a special one for tourist which I don't think there is. |
Posted By: lalandi
Date Posted: 24 Sep 2005 at 1:27pm
|
The Capt just forgot to hit the shift key...$80 and $12. Not allowed to spin within 300m of stream mouths entering/draining the lakes... spin fishing is most certainly allowed at river mouths entering the sea. Spinning has an undeserved reputation in NZ... I enjoy the odd flick with a spinner now and again too. ------------- So you're a feminist... How cute |
Posted By: Capt Asparagus
Date Posted: 24 Sep 2005 at 1:45pm
|
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. ------------- It is only my overwhelming natural humility that mars my perfection. Captain Asparagus, Superhero, Adventurer. |
Posted By: Tim O'Flynn
Date Posted: 24 Sep 2005 at 11:45pm
|
Hi all, Thanks for clearing up the misunderstandings in regard to the cost of the various licences, and to where you can and cannot spin for trout. I'm still somewhat vague on where you can actually spin for trout, but I'd say a few questions as to where I can or cannot spin once I get to NZ will soon sort that out. Hey Stu, that's a nice looking Rainbow in the photograph! I wouldn't mind hitting into a couple around that size or even bigger when I get to NZ. In fact would anybody feel like showing a visiting 'paddy' what the trout fishing's like when I get down to NZ? You can PM me at [email protected] if you feel so inclined. Regards Tim O'Flynn |
Posted By: Sire
Date Posted: 10 Mar 2006 at 6:56pm
|
I was spinfishing on the Ohinemuri River today when I met another fishermen (fly). He was at the arse end of a pool trying to hook a rainbow that was sitting under a tree limb. We greeted each other and I noticed the way he was looking at my spinning setup (and was quite interested wif my spool of 6lb firewire that he could just barely see) we had a bit of a chat about the river's fishing today, then he asked me 'why I bother wif spinning?' I replied that it is just as productive if your technique is correct, and he shunned the idea. He told me about his prey in the distance and beckoned me to try and hook him. One careful flick wif the spotted minnow rapala countdown and mr. rainbow though he was chasing a bullie. I like using veltics/mepps spinners, mini rapala lures, and nymphs under a float; I actually really dislike the toby, zed, rema spinner blades. Go team spin! Sire. |
Posted By: Bigfishbob
Date Posted: 13 Mar 2006 at 3:47pm
|
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! |
Posted By: ThomasW
Date Posted: 13 Mar 2006 at 5:20pm
| I was out spin fishing for trout in the middle wairau river, and caught a nice big 3.5kg fish on a https://troutresource.com/best_trout_spinners/" rel="nofollow - spinblade (also got 4 fingerlings which I released, had around 5 other strikes but they got off). I thought the large fish was a trout, but I had a bit of doubt. After showing it to a couple of experienced fishers, it turned out to be a salmon :) |
Posted By: bushkid
Date Posted: 13 Mar 2006 at 7:43pm
| Militaris.. where did you get that name bro? anyway thats pretty wicked about the salmon in the wairau. I used to fish it when I lived in the nelson area. used to stalk it for trout but had seen a few large fish that had to be salmon esp up around the raimbow river area. there are very few caught there each season so you are one of the lucky ones. good stuff. |
Posted By: ThomasW
Date Posted: 13 Mar 2006 at 10:09pm
|
Yeah, I have heard that only around 5-20 salmon are caught every year. The water is slightly to warm for them to flourish I believe. The surprising thing is, that it was only the second large fresh water fish I ever caught. Several years back fish and game did a helicopter search and I beleive they counted something around 70 salmon. I got my name just by ummmm, I think I was trying to think up a name for a forum several years back, wanted something which did not look cheesy, stupid or generic and ended up with something strange. It is also a specie of Sea Slug. So it suits almost any forum. http://www.seaslugforum.net/factsheet.cfm?base=phidmili |
Posted By: Pole Dancer
Date Posted: 14 Mar 2006 at 8:57am
|
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 http://www.dryflynz.com">http://www.dryflynz.comhttp://www.dryflynz.com"> ------------- http://www.clarkreid.co.nz" rel="nofollow - www.clarkreid.co.nz FFF Certified Casting Instructor / Umpqua Designer Tier 
|