Fishing The Fly Scotland
Index => Main Discussion Area => Topic started by: Steven Sinclair on 19/03/2013 at 01:35
-
As some of you already know for the last year or so I have been having some great fun catching these on the fly :cool:
(http://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/gallery/950_19_03_13_1_13_58.jpeg) (http://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/index.php?action=gallery;sa=view&id=393)
(http://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/gallery/950_19_03_13_1_15_04.jpeg) (http://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/index.php?action=gallery;sa=view&id=394)
(http://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/gallery/950_19_03_13_1_17_18.jpeg) (http://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/index.php?action=gallery;sa=view&id=395)
But anyone who knows me, will realise just how badly I am missing my Trout Fishing at home in Scotland :cry
So with this in mind, I somehow managed to convince my wife that our Honeymoon should be spent in New Zealand! :z16 As per usual I have left everything until the last minute and it suddenly dawned on me last week whilst booking the flights that I had next to no trout fishing gear with me in Malaysia! Since we are flying there March 30th Panic suddenly struck in and a quick phone call to my Dad (Edfish on the forum) was in order.
By the end of the phone call I suddenly realised that the fishing gear for this trip has almost entirely been assembled from the Forum!
The current list of gear traveling with me so far is this:
Freshwater
Sage TCX 9' 6# (bought by my Dad from Sandy)
Greys 9' 6# (back-up rod stolen from my mother last time home)
Tibor reel (again from Sandy)
Abel 5 (Loaded with a sink tip - hoping to use this for streamers)
Barrio GT90 (bought from Mike)
Saltwater
Helios 9' 9# Tipflex (purchased from Ben)
Abel Super 10 (gifted by Dad at xmas)
Greys 9' 10# (back-up rod)
various 9# & 10# Lines including some from Ben/Sandy
With three of Dad's trout boxes and my box of Saltwater/Snakehead flies I'm more than halfway there! :z14 :z14 :z14 Though I did notice on the delivery invoice for the trout flies these were only insured for 100 quid - wonder if I could just send the money back and keep the flies :z5
So basically thanks to Ben, Sandy, Mike and my Dad I have enough of the main things to get me going! This is one of the really cool things I like about this forum! I Will be picking up additional terminal tackle etc both here in Malaysia and when I arrive in NZ.
So since I feel this is somewhat of a Forum sponsored trip. Any advice from the guys who have fished down there in the past (MIKE!) would be greatly received! I'll even throw in the promise of writing a proper fishing report for once!
To say I am excited about the trip is a serious understatement! Both my Dad and I have wanted to fish New Zealand for as long as I can remember! It sucks that my Dad won't be there with me but I just see this as a reccie mission before we can make it down there together!
:z18
Steven.
-
North or South Island?
I can point you towards some good people to speak too on the north, and they will probably provide gear too.
I haven't fished the South, we came home before i got the chance :cry
Try starting here
http://www.nzfishing.com/
Sandy
-
Sandy,
We've pretty much settled on spending our time in the North Island as with only 12 days i imagine it would be a mad rush to try and cover both.
How did you get on when you were down there? Did you find it much more difficult than our fishing at home? (in thinking primarily the don here)
Yeah any contacts you have would be great as specific information on rivers etc seems quite hush hush (which I agree with) but a couple of pointers could come in handy!
I was toying with the idea of hiring a guide for the day, to learn the ropes so to speak. But at 400 quid a day I can't really justify it(well the wife can't)
From what I've read the two 6#'s should cover me for most trout fishing scenarios, unless I am missing something?
Cheers,
Steven.
-
6's should be fine.
I'd seriously look at a guide and making a day of it, We used Brett at this site http://www.cpf.net.nz/
And we went on a 4x4 trip in the backcountry around lake Taupo. The fishing was amazing. Worth every penny.
Way better than anything i experienced anywhere :z16. His Quad bike trips are supposed to be great as well.
He also provide all decent gear,waders etc so you don't need to carry anything :z16 this is a bonus as the Kiwis are real strict on what they will allow you to take with you, and how clean it is, can be a real ball ache.
My report on it is still on the forum here http://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=3483.0
That was my birthday, 2 years ago :shock just feels like the other week, i Soooooooooooo want to go back :cry
I think you will find plenty fishing available off your own back, but if you want to make the most of it, get a guide who knows where to take you and have an Awesome experience. :z18
Sandy
-
Great stuff Steven, I'm jealous of course :wink, have a great time :z16
:z18
Jim
-
Enjoy Steven :z16
Sandy's info and help will be much more valuable than mine ..... don't forget that I left NZ as a teenager :z4
Best wishes
Mike
-
On a boat :z7
-
On a boat :z7
Very true :cool:
-
Was that with sails or steam?
-
Was that with sails or steam?
Not quite Eddie :z4
(http://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/gallery/2_19_03_13_7_36_27.jpeg) (http://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/index.php?action=gallery;sa=view&id=397)
-
:z4 :z4 :z4
-
Just over a month on the Northern Star to get half way round the world, I wonder what that would cost nowadays! :z8
Best wishes
Mike
-
Just over a month on the Northern Star to get half way round the world, I wonder what that would cost nowadays! :z8
Best wishes
Mike
About $100-$130 a day on a freighter Mike
http://www.tourism.net.nz/new-zealand/tours/boat-and-sailing-tours/international/freighter-travel
:z18
Jim
-
No jet lag Jim, but a bit pricey :z4
Cheers
Mike
-
6's should be fine.
I'd seriously look at a guide and making a day of it, We used Brett at this site http://www.cpf.net.nz/
And we went on a 4x4 trip in the backcountry around lake Taupo. The fishing was amazing. Worth every penny.
Way better than anything i experienced anywhere :z16. His Quad bike trips are supposed to be great as well.
He also provide all decent gear,waders etc so you don't need to carry anything :z16 this is a bonus as the Kiwis are real strict on what they will allow you to take with you, and how clean it is, can be a real ball ache.
My report on it is still on the forum here http://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=3483.0
That was my birthday, 2 years ago :shock just feels like the other week, i Soooooooooooo want to go back :cry
I think you will find plenty fishing available off your own back, but if you want to make the most of it, get a guide who knows where to take you and have an Awesome experience. :z18
Sandy
As always thanks for the info Sandy it's HIGHLY appreciated.
I have emailed Brett to check his availability and if he is free then that's who be going with! His prices online are also around $200 cheaper than any others I had been looking at :z16
I did read online about how seriously they take their Didymo problem, which can only be a good thing really, but I hear what your saying it is going to become quite a chore cleaning gear between rivers etc but I imagine it will be more than worth the hassle!
I'm not going to be taking waders, I figure I'll give the Kiwi Wet wading a blast :cool: It will likely be freezing but I cant see it being much worse than dry wading the Dee in February :z8
From what I can ascertain all our small river patterns should fish well, with presentation being far more important than the fly choice. I spent an hour or so last night in the garden practising b&a casts etc to try and get back into the swing of small stream fishing, but seeing as I grew up trout fishing the cowie and carron in Stonehaven most of it fell straight back into place. :z12
I'm also going to take my Gopro out with me this weekend (chasing Peacock Bass in my Kayak) and try to get more up to speed with using the camera before I head down there.
I'm hoping to have a decent report with Video by the end of the trip. :cool:
:z18
Steven.
-
Steven
Brett is very good, so fingers crossed.
I wouldn't have classed any of the rivers as small stream fishing.
I did well because of distance casting, a lot of my fish were taken on size 14/16 tungsten headed nymphs fished NZ style under a dry. Brett kept us right. It was different to the don but more fun, probably because the average fish were about 18" rather than 8"
I'd practice long range presentation :z16
The cleaning thing is an issue at immigration in the airport, they even made us unpack the cases so they could see our hiking gear in case we were bringing soil in. If you take fishing gear expect the 3rd degree :z5
As you say Respect to them for it, but it is a pain.
Sandy
-
Got some great news Sandy!
Brett got back to me this morning (kl time) and advised that he is free for the duration of my trip! :z16
Just got to sit down with the mrs tonight and decide what we are doing and when. For me I think I will give the quad biking trip a go and take it from there.
As strange as this may sound I am actually quite happy to hear the distance accuracy thing! It's what I have mostly been concentrating on for the past year here in Malaysia when chasing Snakehead. Will take the Sage out again tonight and have a play around with it. Had to swap over to my tropical lines last night though as the GT90 feels really limp in this climate (as is to be expected really).
Looking forward to this even more now that a plan seems to be coming together! He did say that the Lake itself has been fishing well lately which may be a good shout for one day as it means that Emma can come along and be in with just as much of a chance as I do. Mind you I must admit the one go I have had at harling on the Tay did absolutely nothing for me so i'm not 100% on that yet.
R.e the gear issue I hear you! Very frustrating indeed but needs must I suppose! I've already taken all the fly reels apart and given them what I would consider a good clean (we shall wait and see if their interpretation is different) and wiped down all the lines. I hadn't actually thought about my hiking boots etc, will have to go and get all that sorted this week. Her's are brand new but my Scarpa's are currently in a fair old state!
I think the biggest issue will be the cleaning of everything between rivers once in country. I read somewhere that Didymo treatment packs are available so i'll have to get that sorted out sharpish.
Where did you stay when you visited Brett? He has offered me his cabin/summer house for $100 a night so I think we will stay there for a couple of nights but definitely want to be hiring a camper van and tour around the Island (with the rod set up in the back at all times just in case :wink)
Thanks again for all your help!
:z18
Steven.
-
Hi Steven
That's really cool, Bretts a really nice guy and a good angler.
We were staying in Taupo right on the lake in the motel. It was really nice.
Brett lives on the west of the lake further from the town, but it is rather lovely.
He'll keep you on the fish as well.
Our original plan was for quad bikes, but Dan was too big to be a passenger and too young to drive.
But it sounded like the best trip. Mind you our backcounty fishing was just awesome so no regrets at all.
The lake is MASSIVE , not really my thing but the rivers are fabulous.
I'm looking forward to hearing all about.
Have a blast and pass my regards on to Brett, though I doubt he remember Dan and I, it was 2 years ago.
Cheers
Sandy
-
So Steven
How did you get on :z8
I trust the wife is still talking to you :z7
Cheers
Sandy
-
Sandy,
Apologies for the delayed report, im out fishing right now as i happens. Ill sort out the report at work tomorrow.
Let's just say it was the trip of a lifetime (and she is somehow still speaking to me).
(http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/05/02/anuragyz.jpg)
Not sure if the pic above will work, never tried to upload from my phone before.
Cheers,
Steven.
-
Cool
Looking forward to that :z18
Sandy
-
Sandy,
I am looking forward to getting my tackle back.
Eddie. :z8
-
In that picture Eddie, he looks just like you :z7
You reckon you'll get the stuff back :z4 :z4
Sandy
-
I am not sure but Steven claimed it was in the air somewhere on Monday, I am guessing the plane flies more slowly on the way back, Hopefully I will see some of it soon, however it is a good thing that I have spent some time at the vice recently, at least I have some flies to throw at the Don tomorrow.
Eddie. :z4
-
Tightlines tomorrow :z16
Sandy
-
Sandy as promised (eventually),
We contacted Kiwi Guide Brett Cameron upon Sandy's recommendation :z14 and booked a days guided trout fishing on a small back country feeder stream of Lake Taupo with the added excitement of a Quad Bike ride in and out.
Brett came and met us at our campsite at first light with the 4x4 and quads in tow. We headed out of Taupo and drove for circa 45 minutes, parked up and offloaded the quads, that's when the fun began!
Brett had asked me on the drive up as to whether or not I had ridden a quad in the past. I had foolishly mentioned that I had ridden friends racing quads in the past and that the trail shouldn't be too much of an issue, trouble is none of my friends were from Kiwi Ex-Farming stock so hadn't grown up riding quads their entire lives! So we jumped on board and I had the Mrs on the back. Brett had said just to let him know if I was struggling to keep up and he would hold back. I had decided that wasn't going to be happening, so after another 45 minutes of flat out, and I REALLY do mean flat out trail riding we somehow made it to the river in one piece.
(http://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/gallery/950_03_05_13_2_51_03.jpeg) (http://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/index.php?action=gallery;sa=view&id=660)
When we arrived at the river, Brett noticed that they had released additional water from a Dam upstream do help deal with the major drought they had been experiencing all summer, this was a double edged sword as although this meant that the river was at a nice height for fishing, it has also added a milky hue to the water, which would make spotting fish very difficult. With this in mind the decision was made to fish blind with a duo nymph rig and just work our way upstream covering any likely holding spots.
Within the first ten minutes I had hooked and landed my first trout. Brett laughed at the fact I had managed to travel all the way to New Zealand and land the smallest trout he had ever seen in the river (1/2 lb) and assured me that they could only get bigger! Sure enough 5 minutes later I landed a rainbow of 3/4 lb, he was right about the getting bigger part but I was starting to feel a bit deflated after hearing all these stories of real rod benders!
I needn't have worried though as the next 8 fish for the day all went past 3 lbs!
(http://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/gallery/950_03_05_13_2_59_05.jpeg) (http://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/index.php?action=gallery;sa=view&id=661)
(http://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/gallery/950_03_05_13_3_00_37.jpeg) (http://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/index.php?action=gallery;sa=view&id=662)
(http://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/gallery/950_03_05_13_3_02_37.jpeg) (http://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/index.php?action=gallery;sa=view&id=663)
(http://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/gallery/950_03_05_13_3_05_21.jpeg) (http://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/index.php?action=gallery;sa=view&id=664)
(http://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/gallery/950_03_05_13_3_15_55.jpeg) (http://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/index.php?action=gallery;sa=view&id=665)
Then there was my best part of the trip! I had been discussing with brett all day about our trout preferences, his most definitely Rainbow's whilst my own naturally being browns. I had been steadily catching rainbows and was by no means complaining but I just HAD to land a brown! Then as we turned a sharp bend we spotted a nice brown seemingly basking in less than 2 feet of water, now was my big chance! I'm not going to lie, the thought of covering a good sized trout in 2 feet of water at considerable range was certainly a bum twitching moment. I laid out what I thought to be the right length of line downstream and reeled in the surplus. With one false cast the team of nymphs dropped around 5 feet above the fish :z4 :z4 :z4 I thought to myself "Steven if the fish doesn't take don't be upset you have done everything you could have" I watched the hare and copper drop down in the water and the brownie lazily opened his mouth and BANG! FISH ON!!!!
Now I don't know about anybody else reading this but for me I can't imagine a better feeling in the world! I had sighted the fish, watched his behavior, worked out the correct length of line and covered him perfectly first cast! :cool: I have not and probably will not ever have a better fishing moment in my life!
and here was my reward!
(http://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/gallery/950_03_05_13_3_26_21.jpeg) (http://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/index.php?action=gallery;sa=view&id=666)
All in all it was the best days fishing I have ever had! Brett was an absolute gent who had a genuine passion for what he does backed up with a wealth of fishing knowledge! Mr Nelson I cannot thank you enough!
I hope anybody reading this has enjoyed my wee report and I would seriously advise anybody considering a trip to go for it!
:z18
Steven.
-
Really excellent report, your excitement and enjoyment comes across very well. Nice one , thanks :z16
-
Awesome report Steven
I can imagine being there too :z18 Magic.
Gorgeous brownie too :z14
Sandy
-
Thanks guys!
I was physically shaking after landing the brownie! It wasn't the biggest fish of the trip but for me was by far the most rewarding!
On the other hand though it was a BIG reminder of just how much I miss Scotland :cry I was out chasing Amazonian Catfish last night and although I landed 7 to 24 lbs I just kept thinking to myself I would much rather be on the Cowie at 2 am chasing seatrout in the dark! :z16
Every time I sit down at the vice to tie Surf Candy's and Gurgler's I end up walking away with a dozen F Flies and hares lugs.
Something has got to change...
:z18
Steven.
-
dead F*****g jealous. :z19
Looks like a real great trip you've had :z14
-
Stonkin' report Steven :z16
A great read.
Iain
-
Great stuff Steven looks like you had a grand time :z16
:z18
Jim
-
Looks awesome Steven. Does your wife have a similarly minded sister? ;) the wife would never have let me away with a fishing trip for our honeymoon!
Matt
-
Stevie,
great report and good to see that you are keeping up the family tradition of taking your wife fishing on your honeymoon, good lad.
On that note we need to organise the fishing for your sisters wedding in October.
Tight lines,
Dad. :z16 :z16 :z16 :z18
-
On that note we need to organise the fishing for your sisters wedding in October.
:z4 :z4 :z4
----------------------------------------------------------
Great stuff Steven, thanks for sharing! :z16
Cheers
Mike
-
:z4 :z4 :z4
----------------------------------------------------------
Great stuff Steven, thanks for sharing! :z16
Cheers
Mike
Thanks Mike! Glad you enjoyed the report!
With my Dad, my sisters fiancé and myself all being fly fishers who rarely get the chance to meet up for a cast, it would be rude not to sort something out for the wedding!
I got married on the banks of the Tay at Dunkeld (fished Islamouth the day before) and Stuart the future brother in law has also played the game by booking his on the banks of Loch Lomond.
Cheers,
Steven.
-
Gents,
I have just been informed by my work that I MUST go back to New Zealand again from the 4th til the 21st of December. :X2
I'll be down in New Plymouth and within 5 minutes drive of Trout fishing. Best get back to the vise! :cool:
Dad,
What did you do wrong to end up in Azerbaijan? :z4
:z18
Steven.
-
Dad,
What did you do wrong to end up in Azerbaijan? :z4
:z18
Steven.
Not sure, just lucky I guess.
Enjoy your trip, I am sure that it will be a blast.
Eddie :z18
-
It's a hard life Steven, but I guess somebody has to do it ..... Enjoy :z16
Cheers
Mike