Bruce McLean - September 15 newsletter new

Tongariro Prize, by David Scranney

Club ContactsExecutive:President: Maree Peter 5224166 [email protected] President: Tony Entwistle 5444565 [email protected]: Bruce McLean 5480066 [email protected]: Ray Day 5441245 [email protected] Editor and Webmaster: Graham Carter 07 8551833 [email protected] 021 02600437CommitteeRichard Breakspear 5419050 [email protected] Lawler 5489753 [email protected] Williams 5445996 [email protected] Jemson 7443123 [email protected] Richards 0274349165 [email protected] Stevenson 5469632 [email protected] and Greet New Members Ray Day and Pete LawlerFishing trips James Macdonald [email protected] 03 5403520Fly Tying Convenor no appointmentClub Librarian Cameron Reid 547 1197 [email protected] Master Richard Boyden 544 8028 [email protected] Sponsorship & Newsletter Advertising Ray DayClub Speakers: Committee membersClub Night Tea/Coffee: Maree PeterNewsletter Distribution: Brian Richards [email protected] 0274349165Life Members: 2007 John Willis 2012 Graham CarterPast Presidents: 06-08 Lester Higgins 08-09 Ross Walker04-06 Richard Boyden 11-13 Ray Day 13-15 Tony Entwistle09-11 Dennis Ealam THE NELSON TROUT FISHING CLUBMeets once a month at: Fish and Game Offices, 66 Champion Road, Richmond. Normally the 3rd Wednesday of the month 7.00pm. Please phone 5224166 if unsure. Any views or opinions expressed in this newsletter are not necessarily those of the committee, club or editor. www.thenelsontroutfishingclub.com

President’s FlylineOur AGM and quiz night is done and dusted and we’ve nailed the best auction we’ve everhad. The calendar for September is full of activities for club members to join in with …and thankfully our club continues to roll along. As days lengthen and water temperaturesstart climbing back into a more civilized zone, there are also increasing opportunities forus all to get back out on the rivers and enjoy a fish ... it’s what we do!While we were unable to elect a new President or Secretary at our recent AGM, we didinject some new blood onto the committee. Congratulations to Brian Richards, RichardBreakspear and Michael Stevenson for stepping up and we look forward to working withyou. In the interim Maree Peter has gamely put her name forward and taken over the roleof President … our first Madame President … many thanks Maree! This is a major gesturefor the club, as Maree also has a significant workload with her business, Ellis St AutoRepairs. The committee will put in a big effort to assist her … entirely just because of thegiant shaping axe Maree used to keep order at her first exec meeting either! No doubtMaree will be asking club members to go the extra mile on occasions too. Bruce McLeanhas continued in the role of our Secretary in the meantime and we should not take forgranted the special effort Bruce is making on our behalf by staying on in the interim. IfBruce can make this sacrifice, hopefully someone else will ultimately heed the call for anew Secretary and embrace the role.My time as president then is over and I’d like to thank my committee members during thelast couple of years. It’s always a team effort and the progress we made as a club isattributable to everyone playing a role and taking on a share of responsibilities. It was afun ride. As I plan to be away for a substantial part of the coming fishing season … fishingfor myself … I’d urge you all not to take your committee for granted and look at how youcan contribute to your club. Even if it is only making sure you support club nights and thevarious events the committee organizes on your behalf … participation is the key. If youwant something done … tell your committee what you need and then offer to help see thejob through.Last month a small group of us made a pilgrimage to Turangi to fish the famed TongariroRiver and other Taupo streams. Suffice to say it was an amazing trip with a head-shakingvolume of fish caught. The reality of fishing trips doesn’t always match up to theexpectations, but this time…just magic! Thanks to Alan Ballard, Don Clementson, ChrisClenshaw and Dave Scranney for your wonderful company. James Macdonald has againbeen working on an interesting programme of club trips for this coming season, so whenhe advises his list take a good look and see where you might be able to join in.Our organized trips don’t preclude members from arranging their own trips either, (day orlonger), by ringing around other members, or advertising their aspirations via the club’sFacebook page, or by contacting the secretary and asking him to put a note out tomembers. Here’s looking forward to a great summer of fishing.Tightlines,Tony EntwistleCover Photo: 5.5lb Rainbow. A successful outcome for Allan Ballard on theTongariro River, by David Scranney. 4

TALES FROM THE TONGARIROClub Trip August 7-16- Alan Ballard Alan's all concentration in the Reed Pool, Dave Scranney photoIn early August two intrepid parties of anglers traveled to Turangi to fish thehallowed waters of the Tongariro River. Alan Ballard, Chris Clenshaw, DaveScranney, Don Clementson and Tony Entwistle were set to fish all week and werejoined by Tony’s son Nick from Renwick on the first weekend. Our expert driversbattled snow showers on the Desert Road at night but we arrived in Turangiwithout incident. Next morning the cars were covered with 2cm of wet snow andthe Desert Road was closed.Be forewarned … fishing licences are no longer sold over the counter anywhere inTurangi. They must be purchased online now, preferably before you leave home(unless you have a smart phone) … and some of us were lucky that the local iSitecould help us out with their computer facilities.As has become tradition, we stayed at TALTAC (Tongariro and Lake Taupo AnglersClub) which provides wonderful facilities including a large kitchen, lounge, 1 or 2person bedrooms, drying room for wet waders, fish processing shed, fish smoking

facilities, freezers and amazing showers … everything for a comfortable stay andonly 5 minutes walk to the Tongariro River. Evenings were loud and convivial.Nick, a winemaker at Wairau River Wines in Marlborough, supplied generousquantities of his wine … probably the last time I’ll sample a $50 bottle of PinotNoir!And the fishing … well it proved to be fantastic. Most of the team fishedtraditional Tongariro nymph systems … large indicator, 12-15 ft leader, heavy #10bomb with either a small #14 or #16 nymph or glo-bug tied off a short dropperfrom the bend of the bomb. Alan and Dave used mainly sinking lines which areeasier to cast and proved equally successful. Favourite flies for nymphingincluded Copper Don, Pheasant Tail, Green Caddis, Prince Nymph, Hare andCopper and of course glo-bugs in a range of colours. Successful wet flies weregreen and orange hairy dog, orange rabbit, woolly buggers, green caddis and glo-bugs in sizes from #6 - #14.Fish size and condition were back to the ‘good old days’ having been below par inrecent years. Average size was 3.5 lb with 4 – 6 lb not unusual. With estimates ofover 300 trout landed for the week and many others lost, it was declared a verysuccessful and enjoyable trip. Fishing the Duchess, Tony Entwistle photo

A Great Day on the Tongariro- Chris ClenshawI arrived at one of my favourite spots about 9.30am (gentleman’s hours) to findthree Whio (blue ducks) diving in the middle of the best run. Would they disturbthe fish? Time would tell. Armed with my 11ft, 8 weight switch rod and shooting-head floating line I could cast the heavy ‘bomb’ at the end of my 12 ft leader just about anywhere I wished on the river. The bomb was a Peter Carty hairy leg nymph suspended 18 inches above a small orange glo-bug. The best holding area was on the far side of the river, a section of slower current beyond the mainstream. I stripped off about 60 ft of line and cast to the top of the run. Mend! Mend! Mend!Chris Clenshaw with a nice one for the smoker,Don Clemenston photoHolding the rod as high as I could to prevent the line dragging in the fastmainstream current, I watched the enormous indicator (locally referred to as acanary) drift down the run. Any drag would mean no take.As the indicator sailed down the run for the 3rd or 4th time it suddenlydisappeared … I struck and was into my first fish of the day. Now the challengereally began as the river was full of snags … big rocks, branches, whole trees andrapids. 7

The name of the game is to steer the fish into the calmer water as soon aspossible which is easier said than done! However after a few minutes of torridfighting a lovely fresh run rainbow of about 3lb was dragged up on the smallbeach … a great start to the day.As the day progressed I realized that this was to be one out of the box, one ofthose days when the fish didn’t stop running. I lost many of the fish I hookedeither to a snag or if they were a bit bigger, running down the rapids where Icouldn’t follow or hold them. By late afternoon activity slowed to a trickle butby then I had lost count of the number of fish I had landed and lost … it musthave been in excess of thirty with just about every perfectly drag free castproducing a take.I have been fishing the Big ‘T’ for almost 20 years now and have had somememorable days, but this day however was the crème-de-la-crème. All the fishwere fresh run with about 70% being hens and the biggest around 4lbs.What a day !!!GloBug Magic, DaveScranney photo Fresh run Chrome, Dave Scranney photo

Above: Safely landed, Dave Scranney photo and below: Small stream success, Tony Entwistle photo

Above: Success in the Reed Pool for Alan Ballard, Dave Scranney photo andbelow: Success on the streamer, Dave Scranney photo

The TaupoFishery BouncesBack- Tony EntwistleFor more than twentyyears I had made anannual winterpilgrimage to Turangi,to walk in the footstepsof Zane Grey andexperience an amazingfishery where fresh-runrainbows from LakeTaupo ran up thevarious tributarystreams to spawn.However, now it had First one for Dave, Dave Scranney photobeen several years sinceI had made the trip tothe Tongariro River asthe fishery had fallenon hard times … fishsize and numbers hadplummeted and ithardly warranted theexpense to make thetrip north.The word this winter was that the Tongariro had bounced back and was fishingwell, with good numbers of quality fish being caught throughout the river.I was encouraged to make the trip north again, with the nervous proviso fromfriend Peter Carty that we might just have left our sortie a week or two, toolate.When the Tongariro is fishing well the trick is actually finding a suitable place tofish amongst the crowds on the river, as anglers come out of the ‘woodwork’from everywhere. TALTAC was almost fully booked for the time we were there,as were most of the motels in town. It’s no place for shrinking violets and theconcept of having the river to oneself is totally nonsensical. The great thingthough is that there always seems to be a gap and even when you find yourselffishing alongside other anglers, everyone has an excellent chance of catchingfish. 11

When the river is ‘hot’ it is commonplace to look both upstream and down andsee another angler hooked into a fish somewhere … the productivity of thefishery is simply incredible.First morning was brutally cold … snow was right down into the village and rainslanted in on a chill southeast breeze, sneaking down the river. We had visions offlooded waters after the turbulent weather the previous night but, although theTongariro was up and coloured, it still looked eminently fishable.I wanted to show Nick the Tongariro National Trout Centre as it was his first tripto Turangi. The Centre is an amazing educational facility with a museum on thehistory of the Taupo fishery. There are excellent displays of old equipment andAV presentations on the fishery and the role of fisheries managers. Unfortunatelythe Centre wasn’t open, so we headed to the trout viewing chamber insteadwhere numbers of large spawning rainbows whet our appetites for the fishing tocome. We moved up the river towards one of my favourite pools, ‘The Duchess’,so named after the Duchess of York (Queen Mother) camped there and fished it in1927. Jack Rainbow, Dave Scranney photo 12

We started in the fast run below the Duchess where another angler was justleaving, having landed and killed his bag limit of three fresh-run trout. Theomens were good! Adapting to casting a #7 or #8 weight rod and a big bomb witha glo-bug trailing behind it, isn’t an instant deal and Nick had some seriousadjustments to make to his ‘South Island backcountry technique’. Presentationgoes out the window and the trick is to load-off the water on the first front castto heave the heavy nymph further out into the current.Over time Nick started to make the necessary changes which were furthercomplicated by the ever changing direction of the breeze … his wrist was gettinga fair old workout. I managed to land one trout and missed another while Nick missed a couple of strikes. The anglers who had been fishing the Duchess vacated their positions so we moved into the pool and I was instantly rewarded with another nice fish, taken deep in the trough where the two principal currents met. Nick was soon into another fish but found landing the ‘hot’ Tongariro rainbows another challenge.Nicks first Tongariro trout, Tony Entwistle photo

As the afternoon progressed we were joined by Don Clementson and DaveScranney who hadn’t had much luck downstream, however they were soon intofish when we pointed out the lies where we’d been hooking fish.We ended the day cold and wet, but with a few fish under our belt. However,Nick, despite hooking several, was still a Tongariro virgin … even when there areplenty of fish about, lady luck still plays a role.There was another overnight snow fall and as we headed off down to the lowerriver next morning, the snow was again right down on the hills behind Turangi.We eventually found a way out onto the remnants of a pool that had treated uskindly on previous visits some years before, (and which was to be the scene ofsome fabulous fishing for our team over the ensuing days). After a couple ofmissed strikes and a dropped fish, Nick finally broke his duck and landed his firstTongariro rainbow, which was quickly followed by another. His relief waspalpable … his excitement infectious. We then proceeded to hook and land manymore fish and the trend was set for what would eventually turn into an amazinglyproductive week. Nick had to leave us the next morning to head back for work,but there was time enough to pull a few fish out of the HinemaiaiaRiver on our way to Taupo airport. Leaper for Don in the Kamahi, Dave Scranney photoAlong with the others in our group I saw and experienced some totally mind-blowing fishing over the ensuing days on the Tongariro (and a couple of othertributary streams) … numbers of trout hooked and landed that simply can’t beexperienced in our local fisheries, albeit that I would never trade fishing them

for ‘quids’. As it turned out we had timed it absolutely perfectly, the Taupofishery was well and truly back to its former reputation, and we all agreed that ithad been a truly wonderful trip. However the highlight undoubtedly for me, wasto fish with my son on a fishery that was new to him, watch him make thenecessary adaptations to technique and be there when he caught his firstTongariro trout … priceless. More luck for Nick Entwistle, Tony Entwistle photoTongariro August 2015- David ScranneyFor the past 8 years I have managed for all but one year, to persuade my wifeand two kids to spend a week in the Taupo area between autumn and spring. Itypically sell the trip as a family reunion to meet with one of my sisters, herhusband and three girls. This usually is enough to convince my wife to endure thelong drive North with impatient junior school age kids.It is always fantastic seeing family and observing my kids strengthen bonds withtheir kin, but with the proximity to the lake and rivers of the region, fishing isnever far from my mind! Fishing more often than not though plays second fiddle… short raids to the Tongariro, early sessions before breakfast at the Kuratau

bar, teaching my nieces and kids to fish at Kuratau Lake. Yes I catch fish, but itleaves you with a feeling of going to a great restaurant and only being able to eatthe appetizer. Perfect Hen, Dave Scranney photoSo when an opportunity arose for nine days uninterrupted fishing on theTongariro with experienced fellow anglers from NTC - how could I resist.Convincing my better half was actually really easy and so the anticipation beganwith tying flies and sorting kit, all in preparation to eat a full course meal of flyfishing each day for nine days!From the outset of getting into the car with Don, Nick and Tony, through tomeeting up with Chris and Al and the many friendly fellow anglers at TALTAC, itwas a definite buzz in the company of fellow anglers, especially as everyone Imet were certifiable mad-keen fly fishers. There was the common enthusiasm forthe art, everyone sharing knowledge and funny stories. In addition, there was apalpable camaraderie, NTC members touching base again with old friends,checking in on their news and comparing Tongariro fishing seasons.I also think for me I enjoyed feeling part of a brotherhood rather than aneccentric fisherman who chooses to make catching fish difficult and oddly keepsa collection of dead animal parts for tying to hooks. 16

Superb conditioned hen, Tony Entwistle photoNick Entwistle is a wine maker. True to form Nick brought with him a wideselection of very good quality wines – enough to last the week. Over the first fewdays when Nick was with us it is fair to say I learnt more about wine in those daysthan in my years to date. This also included a whistle stop tour of the Wairauwinery. The wine was good too especially after a day up to your middle in theriver.The Tongariro fishery is unique in New Zealand and it was awesome to see thevitality of the steelhead run in full swing. You didn’t have to wait long to seesome lucky bugger into a fish … rods were arching up and down the river formuch of the day. The fish were in superb condition; all things of beauty …riverine jewels, from plump silver bullet hens fat with ova, to vibrant jacks witholive backs, dark smudged bellies and rose cheeks accompanying their hookedkypes. The dilemma was … catch another one or take photos!The fish would have averaged from 3 to 4lbs with a few bigger fish. Al caught ajack of 6lbs (near enough) which was the biggest I saw for the week.All fish fought hard, many leaping several times and running you to the backing.While fishing isn’t a numbers game the NTC members would have caught tripledigits of rainbows with only one brown caught by Chris.

Top: Tongariro Twosome, Dave Scranney photo; and below: Tony hooks up in theKamahi, Dave Scranney photo.

I really appreciated the opportunity fish for sufficient days to get to know theriver and learn from other the other club members, gaining on-the-waterexperience. It was wonderful to fish without the distraction of having to besomewhere else or watch the clock.I was able to fish many pools and catch fish Spey casting with my double hander,up-stream nymphing, and wet lining. In summary from my perspective thefishing was terrific and up there with my best of memories. CLUB AUCTION PHOTOSIntent on the action Items galoreRay Day the Auctioneer & Cameron Reid The auction team at workthe Auction organizer on full swing 19

OUR CLUB AUCTIONBy Maree PeterReport from the Nelson Trout Fishing Club Auction night 19th August. This yearsAuction was well attended with over 100 items being auctioned.Well the night set off to a good start with the first 3 people who arrived bringinga friend as they were asked to do, I am just unsure if your wife is classed as afriend, but I was proven wrong with Mrs Day putting in some serious bids as wasPam McLean, I am sure their husbands, if not surprised, were still pleased withthe purchases their respective wives had made on the night.Don Clementson had some issues being outbid a couple of times while try to buyone of several water bottles, but I am sure he was well rewarded at the end ofthe night by the secret buyer.Tony and Don had a bidding war over a lovely Scott fly rod, but Tony was going tohave that rod no matter what. Don's bidding efforts couldn't match Tony'sdetermination, so it was a very happy Past President who walked away with, ashe called it “the buy of the night” with what was an expensive rod going for areasonable price .Hats off to Cam for his efforts to the organizing of our latest auction, it's amazingwith all the items to be sorted, numbered and transported to the venue only onelot was left at home – so, he's collecting items already for next year, he must bein for the long haul.Between his duties of organizing the order of sale and the recording of buyersand the prices they paid, placing outside bids, buying a couple of items forhimself he had the time to successfully bid on some new clothes for his girls.From what Peter Lawler bought he is obviously tying his own flies, but is nowgagging on the amount of fly tying gear he actually bought.Maree did not spend her weeks wages this year at the auction but has a goodselection of books to add to last year’s collection for the waiting room at herwork at Ellis Street Auto Repairs.With Auctioneer Ray doing a great job waving his hammer around all night he hadissues with loosing his voice toward the end of the Auction. But with help fromthe thoughtful Peter Williams in watering him down he was able to last out andtake the final bid of the auction.The auction was one of the better ones we have had the final figures are still tocome. 20

The new committee, Back from left: Richard Breakspear; Pete Lawler; Tony EntwistleJames Jemson; Ray Day; Brian Richards; Mat Williams; Front: Bruce McLean; MareePeter (President).

The new Committee, from left: Maree Peter; top right: Brian Richards;centre: Bruce McLean; 2nd left: James Jemson; 2nd right: Mat Williams; 3rdleft: Pete Lawler; 3rd right: Michael Stevenson; centre: Richard Breakspear;bottom left: Ray Day; bottom right: Tony Entwistle.

BRAG PAGETop left: A perfect fly on a miserable day, by Pete Lawler; top right: ATongariro bag, by David Scranney; mid left: Dream time fishing. NorthernTerritory Australia, by Pam McLean; mid right: Hooked up and a long run tothe next pool, by Pete Lawler; bottom left: Just call us a couple, by BrianRichards; bottom right: That's what it's about, the joy of fishing, by BrianRichards. 23

BRAG PAGETop left: Congratulations David your first trout on a fly, by David Cartwright;top right: For this young lad the grin say's it all, by Pete Lawler; bottom left:Great Tongariro colours, by David Scranney; bottom right: What's that, couldit really be a trout, by David Cartwright. 24

CLUB INFORMATIONFly Tying Nights: Club Subscriptions:Every first Tuesday of the month Family - $40/$50 with or withoutMembers who are interested in fly hardcopy newslettertying or learning to tie flies arewelcome to come along to the Fish and Adult - $40.00 with or withoutGame Clubrooms and get in some hardcopy newsletterpractice. Junior (13-16) freeChange of Address Out of District - $20.00Please let the secretary know any published NB: Club year runs from 1 July tochanges to your postal or email 30 June at 7.30 pmaddresses phone number, so you willcontinue to receive the newsletter. Magazine Articles and Photos All articles and photos will beClub Library and need to be to the editor by theThere is a Club Library which is second Sunday of every month. Itemsavailable on Club Meeting nights. can be emailed toIt holds a range of good books and [email protected] covering fly tying to fly fishingtechniques. To borrow from the library Advertisingis free to all members. All advertising enquiries or suggestions should be forwarded toIdeas for Club Nights or Trips the Treasurer.If you have any suggestions for speakersor other activities for Club Nights Trophy Application Formscontact a committee member. Application Forms are available from the Trophy Convener or on theAll Sub payments received before 12pm Club Website.30th September will go in the drawto have a free fishing licence. Club Merchandise For Sale( paid for by the club) Car Transfers $3.00 Club Badges $10.00 See the Treasurer at MeetingsUseful links about the river flows in the Upper South Island.http://www.tdc.govt.nz/index.php?RiverflowMapsandPlotshttp://www.marlborough.govt.nz/enviromonitoring/riversmap.cfmhttp://www.wcrc.govt.nz/river_level_rainfall/24_hour/ 25

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All mechanical Repairs All service by qualified Technicians New tyres W.O.F for cars, trailers, motorbikes, tractors, dumpers Restoration work undertaken - Courtesy car available Also selling Retro Tin Signs Ellis Street Auto Repairs104A Ellis Street Brightwater 03 5424035