April 2014 newsletter

Morning Glory Lake Brunner

President’s Flyline LinkLooking back as the season moves into its latter stages, I think it has been one ofthe toughest seasons that I have fished for many years. Early season floods and alot of crappy, windy weather certainly made conditions more difficult than usualduring the first four months. There have been times when the fishing has firedbriefly with some nice fish caught, but on the whole I’d have to say that it hasbeen pretty challenging, interspersed with only short periods of good fishing. Thecondition of the trout has mostly been excellent, but really large trout have beenfew and hard to find.Much needed rain mid-March brought a brief respite from seriously low waterlevels and thankfully dropped water temperatures back into what I would call theproductive fish catching range, between 13°- 18°C. This perked up the fishing fora short time at least and the trout responded with enthusiasm on the Motueka Rvin particular. I have seen some moderately good hatches of small mayflies, somegood caddis hatches and had some reasonable success fishing Passionvine Hopperimitations there, although not to the level experienced in other recent seasons.The brief fresh in the Motueka also did a good job of cleaning up the didymo andother algae that had proliferated there during the extended hot spell.Although the Pelorus River doesn’t fish as well as it once did, again in large partto a succession of damaging floods, there are still some excellent trout to becaught over there. On a recent day out on the Pelorus a friend and I caught acouple of decent browns, saw several others and also encountered a significantconcentration of small rainbows in one stretch, ranging in size from 10-20cm,which bodes well for future fishing as they mature. Even though fish numbers arenot anywhere near as high as twenty years ago, there have been encouragingreports of some good quality rainbows from 1.5 – 2.5kg being caught in the Rai /Pelorus system this season.At our last monthly meeting, Lawson Davey from Nelson-Marlborough Fish andGame updated us on recent drift dive results, which in the main wereencouraging, with average numbers of fish present in most waters. Some relevantcharts from Lawson’s presentation are included later in the newsletter and asalways we are very grateful to Fish and Game for providing us with such valuableup-to-date information.The exception was the Buller Rv which again showed very low numbers and itseems that the future of this once great fishery remains bleak. In my mind, thisonce icon Nelson-Marlborough river, needs some immediate and significantresearch done on it to try and determine why the fishery has deteriorated to thelevel it has and what practical steps might be taken to try and resurrect it. Thereis a suggestion that the incursion of didymo has been the main culprit, but havingfished the Buller consistently over the last 36 years, a decline in both fish sizeand numbers was evident to me even prior to the arrival of didymo. In othermajor fisheries like the Waitaki and Waiau (Southland) Rivers further south,

which have even more significant didymo incursions, trout numbers and qualitydo not seem to have been substantially adversely affected. Maybe this is becausethey have a good population of rainbow trout and the Buller River is a browntrout fishery, but I think that whatever is going on in the Buller urgently needsserious investigation.It is great to see a number of new members over recent months and I hope theyfind some good contacts within the club to expand their fishing knowledge of theNelson-Marlborough district.Here’s hoping the final month of the season is mostly settled and that the troutfeed freely and take flies happily.TightlinesTony Entwistle, President Tony E with eight and a half pound Pelorus brownieCover Photo: Lake Brunner as its best …… early morning fogAt his fiancee’s home, the young man met his prospective father-in-law for thefirst time. Soon it became apparent that the older man was keen on troutfishing, a pastime of which the young man knew little. On being invited to jointhe other on his private stretch of water, the young man said ―Yes, I’d be happyto give it a go. Can I borrow your rod? The older man’s face turned puce and hiseyes popped. ―Lend you my rod! he barked. ― I’d rather lend you my bloodytoothbrush! 4

Club ContactsExecutive:President: Tony Entwistle 5444565 [email protected] President: Ray Day 5441245 [email protected]: Bruce McLean 5480066 [email protected]: Ray Day 5441245 [email protected] Editor and Webmaster: Graham Carter 07 8551833 [email protected] 021 02600437Committee Scott Ingram 5441605 [email protected] Peter Lawler 5489753 [email protected] Maree Peter 522 4166 [email protected] Mathew Williams 5445996 [email protected] James Jemson 7443123 [email protected] Don Clementson 5448867 [email protected] and Greet New Members Ray Day and Pete LawlerFishing trips James Macdonald [email protected] 03 5403520Fly Tying Convenor Tony EntwistleClub Librarian Lois Rutherfurd 022 6010642Trophy Master Lois Rutherfurd [email protected] Sponsorship & Newsletter Advertising Ray DayClub Speakers: Tony EntwistleClub Night Tea/Coffee: Lester HigginsNewsletter Distribution: Dennis EalamLife Members: 2007 John Willis 2012 Graham CarterPast Presidents: 06-08 Lester Higgins 08-09 Ross Walker04-06 Richard Boyden 11-13 Ray Day 13- 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 5440066 if unsure. Any views or opinions expressed in this newsletter are not necessarily those of the committee, club or editor. Website: www.thenelsontroutfishingclub.com

Some mothers do have them ……… I had a \"different\" day on the Mot in early March. Autumn was on the way as indicated by the first snow on Mt. Arthur in Kahurangi Park. I arrived on the river before the sun did and at the first spot I went to (south ofWoodstock) several fish were rising quite enthusiastically. I spent ~3 hours

changing flies every 15 minutes or so, but couldn't get a take; I then tried a BlackGnat, casting from behind a rock, and - whammo - it took on the first cast - seeunder water photo; the fish weighed about 2.5 lbs.I then moved on further south and found two fish in a pool sipping insects off thesurface, quite vigorously, rising every 10-15 seconds. The fish at the bottom ofthe pool was relatively small, I would estimate 1-1.5 lbs; but the fish further upthe pool was larger; it, however, stopped feeding before I could really cover it. Imust have put ~10 different dries over the small fish during the next hour or so;but it wouldn't take except for one half-hearted chomp on an Elk Hair Caddis; Ididn't hook up. So I went for a stroll further up the river but came across a graveltruck driving across the river, so went back. The small fish was still feeding & thelarger one had also started feeding again. More flies over both fish; totallyignored. I went to change to another fly and found that the box was not in myvest pocket. Damn it - where did I put it? It wasn’t on the rock I had sat on whileuntangling my leader; I must have dropped it. It should float; it is supposed to bewaterproof (Scientific Anglers System X box). I leaned my rod against the rock &took off at a run along the gravel bar for ~500 metres down stream. I didn’t seeit anywhere; all I saw was a guide and 2 clients on the other side of the riverbringing a nice fish to the net.Somewhat dejectedly I walked slowly back to where I had left my rod, checkingthe river and the bank I was on; no sign of the box, which contained dry flies. SoI sat back down on the rock whereupon a Passion Vine Hopper alighted rightbeside me; so I thought \"Why not?\" and tied one on. First cast over the larger fishand it was on; a very healthy 4.5 pounder. I went to another pool for the eveningrise, which - when it happened at around 8:00pm - only lasted for five minutes,in which time I managed to hook a tiddler (~20 cm) on a Twilight Beauty. I don'tknow what triggered all the surface eating during the day; dropping pressure inthe AM?So much to learn, so little time........I decided to put an ad in the “Lost & Found” classifieds in the Nelson Mail, to runfor three days: “Dry Fly Box L☹ST - Transparent fly box lost in Motueka River.Reward if found”. On the evening of the third day, I received a phone call fromDavid Melville of Dovedale; while out walking the dog along the river, he hadfound the box 300 metres from where I had dropped it two days earlier. Hementioned this to his wife, Vicky, when he returned home and she rememberedthat she had seen the “Lost” notice. So the next day, David dropped by Ruby Baywith my box and I offered him the reward; he said that would not accept anymoney but we agreed that he and his wife would donate it to a charity. Theyselected the Motueka Riding for the Disabled.As the Bard of Avon wrote in the early 17th Century: “All’s Well That Ends Well”.It is wonderful when things work out; much thanks to the Nelson Mail and my newfriends in Dovedale. 7

This healthy 4.5lb First snow inrainbow trout was Kahurangicaught on a 2014Passion VineHopper Motueka 2.5lb brownie that took a Black Gnat

Club Trip to Lake Brunner, February 23 - 28, 2014 Mike’s boat - 4 PlayThe first club trip of 2014 was attended by club secretary Bruce McLean andpartner Pam, Robert Leslie and partner Jenny, Mike Standish-White, Peter Lawlerand James Macdonald. Jenny and Robert, who live in Fiji for part of the year andNelson for the rest, arrived on the Sunday and spent the next few days exploringthe area (e.g. Blackball, the Nelson Creek area, etc.) and fishing a number ofrivers/creeks and lake shores. Mike and James fished from Mike’s boat (4 Play) onMonday to Thursday. Pam and Bruce couldn’t make it to Brunner until theTuesday afternoon by which time the weather was improving, as predicted by theMet Service. That evening they caught up with Pete Lawler and it was decidedthat he would fish with them the next day. Pete took to his kayak for the lastday. Mike and James had a tough afternoon after arriving on Monday around noon. Overcast conditions plus significant wind led to a skunking. The next day was a little bit kinder from a meteorological perspective and it was decided to launch Mike’s Porta- Bote. Pete in his Prowler kayak

Mike unpacking the Porta-Bote Towing the Porta-BoteThe Porta-Bote (a foldable, dinghy-sized boat, suitable for 2 anglers) is made outof a “space-age engineered resin” and is extremely durable: for the past 25years, the JCI (Japanese Coast Guard) has tested Porta-Bote’s hull and hinges.Every time a shipment enters their country, the now famous “drop test” is used.They load over 600+ pounds (273kg) of concrete-filled bags into a folding Porta-bote and raise the boat ~23 feet (7m). Then it is dropped! Porta-Bote passesevery time with “flying colours”. It is easily transported on a roofrack and can beassembled in 5-10 minutes. It is also in the Guinness Book of World records forbeing the first and only boat in the world to be “sailed” on a lake at an altitude20,000ft (~ 6,100m), a stunt by the RAF mountain climbing team who carried onepart way up Mt. Everest. Pam, Bruce and Pete had their boat in the water by 08:30am. Sorting out who would fish from where on the boat had Pam opting to spin fish; she took the cushioned sitting position up forward and would cast to port out and over the deeper weed beds.Mike’s first fish of the trip (day 1)

That left Pete and later Bruce the stern area to freely fly cast to starboard intothe shallow edges. Within a few minutes Pam, spinning with a soft plastic washooked up to a fine trout. With Pam being up front playing her fish andBruce/Pete in the back trying to net her catch it was a little awkward but after acouple of anxious moments they had it onboard. Having earlier decided they needed a couple for the freezer it was quickly dispatched to the icebox. Mistake by Bruce! Remember Pam is still up forward and not really in a position to handle her beautiful trout for the customary First of many for Pete (day 2)photo shoot without the risk of losing it over the side. So, for all to read: “SorryPam, no photo that day” and your next opportunity didn’t happen until the nextmorning. With some skillful shallow water navigating, Pete was put onto severalfeeding trout of which he boated five and lost a couple. Later, with Pete driving,Bruce was able to boat one and lost a couple. A great first day’s fishing. Robertfished from the shore of Lake Brunner and the Arnold River (after avoiding theunwanted advances of a herd of cows). He also fished under the railway track -not a bad spot if you don’t mind coal trains rumbling overhead. Down nearMitchells (SW corner of Lake Brunner) the fishing was better. He also fished theCrooked River and enjoyed the clear water of Bruce Creek, where he spotted anumber of fish; but to get to the creek he had to navigate around a number ofelectric fences. Both Mike and James caught a fish each on the first full day offishing; both were in the 2-3lb range with Mike keeping his for the freezer.Thursday dawned with low fog around the motel and lake but by the time boatswere launched - around 7.30am at Cashmere Bay - the lake was just a picturewith the rising mist. The mist was still there when Pam was first again withanother “Fish On”. This time the photo was taken by Bruce. They took turns atdriving, with Pam on a huge learning curve to do some fine close-in navigatingand put Bruce onto three beautiful trout. The first two leading a merry chase inthe shallows before breaking off. Persistence paid off, when Bruce netted athird. 11

First of the day from the Porta-Bote (day 2) Morning Fog2 (day 3) 12

James caught 5-6 fish on both Wednesday and Thursday, up to 3.75 lbs. Mostwere caught in Swan Bay from Mike’s Porta-Bote, near the Orangipuku inlet, byslowly retrieving a hare and copper; one took a woolly bugger. What a catch! Pam’s first fish on day 3They also chased fish along the SW margin of the lake with cicada patterns, withsome success before the afternoon winds picked up. It is the sublime essence ofdry fly fishing to cast a cicada vigorously in the direction of a trout and - when ithears the splash - immediately see it turn 180o, race 2-3 metres to the fly andthen you see that gaping white mouth rise up and inhale it. Spectacular stuff! Allfish were in very good health and a beautiful bronze colour. The margins of LakeBrunner were as attractive as ever.Pete had taken to his kayak for the day (Thursday) and it wasn’t until ~11.30 amthat Pam and Bruce scouted him down with the promised morning tea and cake.He was having a ball in really shallow water with trout not spooking until veryclose to him. Pete’s ~5.5 pounder - caught in the Iveagh Bay area - earned himthe “Fish of the Trip” prize, a bottle of Fish Pimp Fly Sauce (fly floatant).After tea and cake, the wind was getting up and the slow, close-in navigating wasgetting harder. From just after midday to 3pm Pam and Bruce just trolled aroundhoping for a fish but at the same time enjoyed sight-seeing of the beautiful LakeBrunner. 13

Mike & James were considering having a final morning (Friday) on the Lake andgot up at 5:30am for an early start. By 6:30am, it began to drizzle, then rainsteadily so we decided to head for home.Much thanks to the Lake Brunner Country Motel for accommodation and theMoana pub for refreshment at the end of the day and for dinner on our last night. Award Ceremony in the Moana Hotel: Fish of the trip award goes to Pete Lawler (back right); photo taken by JennyPete’s 5.5 pounderin the kayak

RECENT DRIFT DIVE RESULTS Nelson-Marlborough Fish and Game



Lawson Davey from Nelson-Marlborough Fish & Game, updates Club members on recent drift dive results at the March Club meeting. This morning I lucked out and was able to buy several cases of ammo which were on sale from the local Farm Trading store for this year’s duckshooting. On the way home I stopped at the gas station where a drop-dead gorgeous blond was filling up her car at the next pump. She looked at the ammo in the back of my SUV and said in a very sexy voice, \"I'm a big believer in barter, big boy\". \"Would you be interested in trading sex for ammo?\" I thought a few seconds and asked, \"What kinda ammo ya got?\"

Nice Fish By Leo A fly a dayThomas keeps the doctor away …… Backcountry Paradise



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