Weather dampens fishing

Last week I was somewhat optimistic about the fishing for the holiday weekend, but one night's rainfall put a damper on things (pun intended).

However, there were still places to fish with a good chance of catching some fish.

The same applies this weekend, although there may be even less choice. The weather forecast is good and rivers and streams are steadily dropping, but with some at flood height it would be overly optimistic to think that those waters would be fishable.

As usual, the smaller streams look like being the best bet, and those in South Otago are worth keeping an eye on. The larger rivers are a wipe-out. The Clutha, Mataura and Taieri are all very high.

The alternative is to fish lakes and dams, and there is plenty of scope on the Maniototo, where several dams are worth fishing, and the tussock lakes will be improving as the temperature rises. A couple of dams that I think are under-utilised are Butchers and Conroys, both of which are close to Alexandra. I have fished both several times with good results. Butchers Dam is the only water where I have landed four species on the fly - brown and rainbow trout, perch and koura. The latter latch on to the fly with their claws and hang on, even when lifted out of the water. Midge, early and late are good imitations to use and a damsel fly nymph during the day, or even a Mrs Simpson, which is a koura imitation is worth a try.

Last Friday I fished the Tokomairiro and although it was a cool, damp day with the river peat-stained, it was still an enjoyable day's fishing.

This little stream has a good mayfly population and duns trickled off most of the day and from late morning there were clouds of spinners on the water. There were few rises, but enough to help home in on fish. I caught a fish early on, it rose a couple of times and a nymph fished through the general area produced the goods.

It was a while before I landed another which was quickly followed by a third.

After lunch, I was fishing near the road and a couple of fellows approached me and said that the river would be discoloured in half an hour, as they were going to pull a tree out of the river by the bridge further upstream. I joked that it only gave me half an hour to catch all the fish between me and the bridge. I had plenty of time as I only saw one fish, which quickly disappeared as the coloured water came down.

I reasoned it would take the coloured water some time to work its way downstream, so I walked back to my starting point and started to fish up again. It was a good move, as I caught more the second time through, as much of the colour dropped out of the water. On a philosophical note, when I was driving home I noticed a road sign which said: Glenore Cemetery. No Exit.

- By Mike Weddell.