October 2014 newsletter

Second equal September photo comp \"Raging waters\" By Peter Baker

President’s FlylineOpening Day is behind us and I hope many of you enjoyed success. For familyreasons I missed getting out on opening day, but am now looking forward to‘hitting’ the water and enjoying the fruits of the new season. Early reports fromvarious club members indicate good numbers of quite large fish on most rivers.Hopefully some of the technical advice and skills you have gained through theclub over the winter is now producing results.It was heartening to see the enthusiastic response to this year’s Rise FilmFestival, not only from a good turnout by club members but also from the general‘fishing’ public. The Suter Theatre was full and the selection of films wasexcellent. A contingent from the Marlborough Freshwater Anglers’ Club alsomade the considerable effort to come over the hill to take advantage of theoccasion. Nick Reygaert is to be commended for his efforts over the years to getthe Rise Film Festival up and running, something that has not always been aneasy task. Attendances from Nelson anglers in the past have been disappointingbut not so this time. Nick has kept the faith and I think he will be heartened byyour response. I know from feedback of some older members that the use of loudmodern music in some films might not be everyone’s cup-of-tea, but overall Ithink the content of the films has something to offer everyone and our support ofNick’s efforts are important for the exposure such an event gives our sport. Inthe face of all the bad news and negativity that often confronts us these days, itis nice to have an occasion to come together and enjoy the positive aspects andsuccesses recreational angling provides us all.We should now be all aware of the warning from the Department of Conservationand Fish and Game to refrain from eating trout caught in the immediate vicinityof 1080 poisoning operations. Sadly the timing of these 1080 operations couldn’thave been worse for anglers, coinciding as they have with the start of theseason. Whether you are pro or anti the use of 1080, it has to be recognized thatwhichever way you look at it, small amounts of 1080 are going to be present inthe food chain over large areas of New Zealand now … even more so for Nelsonanglers than anywhere else in New Zealand. As many of us mostly catch-and-release or tend to take trout for eating from closer proximity rivers anyway, thehealth risks may appear small. Take whatever precautions you personally feelappropriate.Personally however, I don’t find assurances from DoC that “an 80 kilogram adultwould have to eat more than 14 tonnes of trout flesh in one serving to have a 50%chance of receiving a fatal dose”… particularly reassuring. I’m not worried aboutreceiving a ‘fatal’ dose. To me the issue is more to do with the potential longterm risks of being exposed to incremental sub-lethal doses of any toxin. DDT and245-T are two pertinent reminders of toxins New Zealanders were repeatedlyassured were totally safe. There is currently insufficient on-going research (like

none) by the ‘powers-that-be’ into the wider risks of ingesting sub-lethal doses of1080 for anyone to be truly confident, especially now that science has shownthat 1080 can contaminate the food-chain.Our next Club meeting on October 15th will be about safe handling of trout forcatch-and-release, as well as a talk from Lawson Davey from Fish and Game onhow they go about ageing of trout. See you there.In the meantime … tightlines.Tony Entwistle, President.Cover Photo: Winning photo for September competition:\"Between the boulders there's a fish\" By Peter Baker. Club President Tony Entwistle presenting a cheque on behalf of the club, to Sport Fishing for Youth Trustee Richard Boyden. The funds were raised as part of our annual club auction.SecondequalSeptemberphoto comp\"Thomasfishing theRouteburnRiver\" ByGebhardKrewitt

Native Freshwater Fish of Nelson/TasmanReported by Graeme FerrierWhat an interesting and informative talk we received at our September clubmeeting from guest speaker Martin Rutledge who specializes in this field of workfor DoC in Nelson.From a scientist not really technical but made easily to comprehend fromMartin’s well organized PowerPoint presentation.Martin introduced his address by a statement most of us hadn’t even thoughtabout that…. “New Zealand’s freshwater fish are part of our natural heritage.”Because so many species are mostly seen only at night, they are not well known.Some species are a traditional food source and an important part of ourrecreational and commercial fisheries.NZ has 54 native fish species of which 30 are galaxiids which includes the highlysought- after whitebait. Three-quarters of our native fish are classified as either‘threatened’ or ‘declining’. One specie – the largest fish at 40cm (the NZgrayling) was once nationally abundant, but became extinct in the 1930s. (Aspecimen is held at Nelson Fish & Game).Our rivers, lakes and wetlands are home to 20 species of native fish, which makesthe freshwater fishery of the region one of the most diverse in New Zealand. At

one survey site on the lower reaches of the Onekaka River in Golden Bay, 13species of fish were found. This is very high for a single site in New Zealand. Mostoften it is the small to medium-sized creeks that hold the greatest abundanceand diversity of fish. Giant KokopuNative fish found in the region include:Kokopu: Includes the ‘Banded’, ‘Giant’ (pictured) & ‘Short-jaw’ Kokopu.These fish can grow up to 30cm & weigh up to 3 pounds.Koara: These are well-adapted to ‘climbing’ up damp rocky surfaces e.g. waterfallsGalaxiids: Include migratory (to the sea) & non-migratory species.Mudfish: Well-adapted to creeks & small streams that dry up.Bullies: Another migratory species spending part of its life in the seaEels: Comprise the short-fin (also found in Australia) and the long-fin (NZ only)Lamprey, Torrentfish, Black Flounder and Smelt are other species foundlocally.Of the 20 species of native freshwater in the rivers, lakes and wetlands ofTasman District, fifteen need to migrate between freshwater and the sea duringtheir life. Structures such as overhanging culverts, tidal flap gates and dams canblock fish access. From assessment completed to date, about 450km of streamwas totally inaccessible to fish in 2005. By June 2012 this had reduced to 330km.

A further 1000km may be inaccessible to migratory fish at certain flows. It hasbeen estimated that land drainage, flood protection schemes, and introducedpest fish can also affect our native fish.Unfortunately over half (11) of our native fish species are classified as \"indecline\". Even the long fin eel, which is still the most widespread and abundantfreshwater fish in New Zealand, is reported as declining, with the mostconcerning sign being falling recruitment rates of juvenile eels.Some species, like the kokopu (e.g. giant, short-jaw and banded), koaro and red-fin bully are very sensitive to stream habitat disturbance such as streamsideforest clearance, stream straightening/realignment and stock trampling. Fishsurveys in Tasman repeatedly show much higher numbers of these sensitivespecies in undisturbed streams. Giant kokopu are now very rare with only 42 sitesin official records. These fish generally require wetland-fed streams in lowlandareas but about 90% of all lowland wetlands in the district have been drained.Competition can occur between native species (particularly the non-migratorygalaxiids) and trout, especially in the smaller streams leading to predation bytrout. In Canterbury, DOC has had success with building trout barriers in some ofthese smaller streams. These allow the native fish to carry on up stream withoutcompetition and so continue their life-cycles.Whitebait - migratory galaxiidsThe small fish caught each spring by whitebaiters all around the country areactually the juveniles of five species of fish. These five are part of the galaxiidgroup. (so called because of the patterns of their skin which look like a galaxy ofstars) of which there are 20 species, the rest of which don't migrate.Those that escape the whitebait net grow into silvery, slender adults (about 9 cmlong). They spawn in streamside vegetation, even rank exotic grasses aresuitable. Inanga make up about 90% on the whitebait catch, with Banded Kokopuand Koaro plus a few juvenile Bullies making up the rest.Although galaxiid species are found in many places in the Southern Hemisphere,the giant, shortjaw and banded kōkopu only exist in New Zealand.Our galaxiids are generally nocturnal and very good at hiding. They love bushystreams, where they find both shelter and food, with a rain of insects fallingfrom the overhanging plants.The main breeding season for our galaxiids is autumn. Inanga migratedownstream to estuaries and lay their eggs among plants and grasses, whereaskōaro and kōkopu stay where they are and lay their eggs on leaf litter and forestplants.The eggs stay out of water for several weeks, and need good plant cover to keepmoist. They hatch when re-immersed, either by spring tides (for inanga) or floods(for kōaro and kōkopu). The larvae then float out to sea where they live andgrow over winter, migrating back upstream as whitebait in spring.

The protection of estuary lowlands from grazing has had a positive impact onboth spawning success and egg survival. Mice, slugs, eels & even crabs are eggpredators.Longfin EelsThere are two main types of eel – the shortfin and the longfin. There are fewereels today because of the loss of wetlands and historical commercial fishingpractice. The extensive hydro developments on many of the larger rivers has hada lethal impact on eels trying to migrate to sea to spawn!Eels migrate up streams as elvers to find suitable adult habitat. After many years(15-30 years for shortfins, 25 -35 years for longfins, and sometimes much older.(Female eels over 100 years old have been found in Lake Rotoiti). They migrate tothe Pacific Ocean to breed and then die. The actually spawning grounds areuncertain but could be as far away as the Tonga Trench between Tonga & NewCaledonia. Eels are secretive, mainly nocturnal and prefer habitats with plenty ofcover.The ancestors of modern New Zealand eels (like Anguilla dieffenbachii) had beenswimming up and down New Zealand waterways since at least the early Miocene(23 million years ago). The longfin eel is one of the largest eels in the world (upto 20 kg)and it is found only in the rivers and lakes of New Zealand. Longfin eelsare considered At risk, declining. 8

Pest SpeciesOther introduced species could provide a serious threat to our local native fish.These include Koi Carp (eradicated); Gambusia and Rudd (trying to eradicate) aswell as Tench/Perch which have been illegally introduced and DOC are trying toeradicate.Sources: Martin Rutledge, Freshwater Technical Adviser, DOC Nelson.Tasman District Council.Department of ConservationPhotos courtesy Department of ConservationAnnual Fly Casting Clinic - Phase 1By David Cartwright Rachel Shaw a visitor to the Casting Clinic receiving instruction from Lester Higgins. By Gebhard KrewittThe Club’s annual Fly Casting Clinic was held at Garin College on Sunday 14September. The annual Clinic provides an opportunity for new chums to the sportto gain valuable tuition in basic fly casting and for club members to refine theirskills prior to the start of the new season.Despite limited publicity by the local papers, approximately 20 members andvisitors attended the session including 6 people new to fly fishing.

The overnight unsettled weather gave way to a cloudy but fine morning with alittle variable wind just to make it interesting for the beginners among us. Takehito Maeda a new member receiving personal tuition from Mike Kirkpatrick. By Gebhard KrewittAbly led by Club President (Tony Entwistle), participants were divided intogroups based upon level of skills. An experienced fly caster was assigned to eachof these groups and intensive coaching was undertaken over the next couple ofhours. Strategically placed orange peels and crisp wrappers gave us all targets forour subsequent casting efforts.As one of the beginners, I was extremely grateful for the patience and skillshown by our tutor (Brian Richards). As a “mere male”, trying to keep more thanone new thing in my head at once made for initial difficulties. With the leader“whip cracking” behind me and the line at times caressing the back of my head, Iwas very glad that there were no flies attached. Despite battling with an at timestricky wind I was however pleased to be told at the end of the session that I wasnow sufficiently skilled to be let loose on the local fish population (hopefullywithout scaring too many of them).Looking around the rugby field during the session it was great to see the differentgroups making use of the specialist skills of the instructors and improving their

existing techniques or developing new ones. The two women attendees (LeeDennis and Rachel Shaw) were more than holding their own on the day.As a Club we are privileged to have the likes of Tony Entwistle and MikeKirkpatrick who, along with the other coaches give so freely of their time, theirskills and their invaluable experience. Tony Entwistle giving members some on the water casting techniquesAt the end of the Clinic, I was fascinated to see a display of long distance castingprovided by Don Clemenson, Cam Reid and Tony Entwistle. Given the limiteddistance able to be achieved by yours truly, it was a pleasure to watch linesbeing cast so gracefully over such long distances – certainly something to aspireto!With the new season fast approaching and a further Clinic at the river in the nextweek or so, it is home to continue my casting practice before I start to forget theelements of the technique that Brian and Tony have so patiently tried to instil.Special thanks to the coaches on the day – Tony Entwistle, Mike Kirkpatrick, DonClemenson, Brian Richards, Richard Boyden, Michael Stephenson, Lester Higgins,David Scranney and Cameron Reid. 11

A slack line By BRAG PAGESRichard Boyden A promising pool By Peter Baker Amazing Lake Brunner By Richard Boyden

Bernd andGebhard spottingfish on theD'Urville River ByGebhard Clouds over Iveagh Bay, Lake Brunner By Brian O'SullivanHeinz Reberfishing theWairau RiverBy Gebhard

Slinging my hook in Our Father who artColmar, France By Ray on Dartmoor pleaseDay let me catch a fish. (Belinda Thomas NZ) By Chris Sherwood The perfect pool By Peter BakerTranquility of an eveningfishing By Peter Baker

Annual Fly Casting Clinic - On the Water Fly CastingPhase 2By David CartwrightPhase 2 of the Annual Fly Casting Clinic involved an on the water session at theWaimea River on Sunday 21 August 2015. The rainy periods of the previous weekwere replaced by periods of sunshine and a steady south-westerly breeze. A totalof fifteen members and friends attended the session.Tony Entwistle again provided a comprehensive demonstration and explanation ofthe basic casting technique before setting us to work practising the basics or, inthe case of the more experienced members, revising their technique after awinter off the river.For me, as a beginner, Tony’s patience in taking me through the very basics ofcasting on the river was a godsend. As my technique improved, it was also greatto receive further advice and encouragement from Don Clemenson (“MrMotueka”). David Cartwright practicing his newly found skillsAfter the initial session, Tony provided a detailed demonstration and extensiveexplanation of the reach casting technique that is designed to minimise drag

where the angler has to fish across both slow and fast moving sections of thestream or river – a vital technique in my very limited experiences on the localrivers and streams.Once again our President’s high level of fly fishing skill and experience and hiswillingness to share this with both club members and with those new to the sportis exemplary – thank you Tony!Following this session, I was also fortunate to receive a practical demonstrationof where the trout are likely to be feeding from Lester Higgins. We waded out todrop-off areas to the deeper water where Lester explained the trout habits intheir feeding processes – thank you Lester!A BBQ lunch, arranged by Bruce and Tony and superbly cooked by Ian Sowman,gave us all a chance to recharge the batteries before a visit to the nearby salmonponds. (Thanks to Richard and the Trust for permission to go there even if wehad to throw back anything that we might catch.)As a novice to fly fishing, my confidence levels have increased dramatically as aresult of both this and the initial clinic on the previous Sunday. I now lookforward to the upcoming 2014/15 season and to my first fish on a fly line. Happyfishing all!Didymo study disputes assumptions on spread andcontrol of ‘rock snot’ algaeBy Alex CardFor those wanting a North American perspective on Didymo:http://www.fondriest.com/news/didymo-study-disputes-assumptions-spread-control-rock-snot-algae.htmforwarded by Peter WilliamsIt kills fish, fouls up waterways and its appearance has earned it the name “rocksnot.”Seven U.S. states, Chile and New Zealand have passed legislation to prevent thisnotorious algae’s spread. However, a recent study suggests that Didymospheniageminata is an algae poorly understood both in origin and function.“It’s in a lot of rivers where I work in Colorado, and it’s always been there,” saidBrad Taylor, assistant professor at Dartmouth College. “However, only recentlyhas it formed blooms and only in some rivers.As I continued to work on the causes and consequences of blooms, and visitedother areas with blooms, such as Chile, I started to question whether D.geminata – or ‘didymo’ had been introduced anywhere.”

Taylor recently co-authored a study analyzing a broad array of scientificliterature dating back to the 1800s — including other studies from Taylor and hiscoauthor Max Bothwell of Environment Canada. They argue that current effortsto curb the algae’s spread are ineffective and misguided. Not everyone agrees with Taylor and Bothwell’s study. New Zealand experts issued a response to the study, maintaining didymo is an unwanted introduced organism in their waters. “They missed a major point of our paper,” Taylor said. “Even if it was introduced there, that is now irrelevant.” Didymo streamers in West Brush Creek, Colorado (Credit: Brad Taylor)One of the study’s main points, Taylor said, is that free-living microorganismslike didymo cannot be controlled by measures such as the “Check, Clean, Dry”campaign that encourages inspection and treatment of equipment and clothingbetween uses. The best evidence for that comes from New Zealand where Taylorsaid some of the best research shows the distribution of blooms is solely theresult of low phosphorus.But why all the fuss over didymo in the first place?One concern is its effects on fish. The blooms tend to support tubifex worm,which are the only host of the fish parasite Myxobolus cerebralis. The parasitecauses whirling disease, which leads to skeletal and neurological damage inyoung fish.Didymo blooms are unlike those of other algae, Taylor said. While many algaeblooms are the result of an increase in cellular biomass, didymo blooms areactually formed of carbohydrate-based stalks. In some cases, streams withoutblooms have high densities of didymo cells.

Didymo colonies forming tufts on a rock (Credit: Brad Taylor)The algae produces stalks in an attempt to gain nutrients, forming telltale drabmats and tufts along the streambed. The obvious presence of blooms in popularwaterways might lead some to believe that the algae is thriving, but that isn’tnecessarily true.“In fact, it’s probably not doing better in terms of evolutionary fitness becauseits cell division rate is lower,” Taylor said.To better understand didymo, Taylor examined historical and fossil records.While fossil records show didymo cells dating as far back as 10,000 years in theDelaware River, didymo blooms appear to be a purely contemporaryphenomenon. Poring over literature of fly fishing, a sport that has existed in theU.S. since the 19th century, Bothwell found no mention of didymo blooms.“Anglers have been the primary reporters of blooms, so it seems unlikely bloomconditions would not have been mentioned in historic writings,” Taylor said.Didymo’s presence in recreational hotspots has fueled the belief that the algaespreads via unwitting humans, but that doesn’t explain the appearance of bloomsin other locations. Taylor’s study suggests a far greater catalyst behind theblooms. 18

Didymo cell and extracellular stalk (Credit: Brad Taylor)“In the past ten years, didymo started blooming in remote areas of the world,such as in New Zealand, Colorado, and Chile,” Taylor said. “So the idea is thatwhatever is driving the blooms could be a global process.” That global process,Taylor said, could be climate change.“One of the possible links with climate change is the shift to an earlier growingseason,” Taylor said. “Basically, you ‘turn on’ the terrestrial plants and the soilmicrobes earlier in the springtime, and they start taking up nutrients. Duringspring runoff, a lot of those nutrients aren’t flushed into the river.”If climate change — or any other global mechanism — is responsible for therecent appearance of didymo blooms, then current measures to cease itsproliferation are useless at best, and harmful at worst.In New Zealand, weekly treatments of affected waterways with a chelatedcopper solution have resulted in “significant localized trout mortality,” accordingto the study. Measured additions of phosphorus to waterways have been shown todecrease didymo blooms, but the method seems counterproductive as much ofthe world works to reduce phosphorus loading and eutrophication.Ultimately, Taylor admits that the solution to the problem will remain unclearuntil its root and effects on ecosystems are better understood.“We have pretty good evidence now from lots of areas of the world that theblooms and the year-to-year variation is linked to variation in climate,” Taylor

said. “It’s just that we haven’t nailed down exactly the mechanism — and itcould be a multitude.“If it comes back to climate change, well, I think we know what the answer is,and a solution will require working across local and international governmentboundaries.” Little Qualium River, British Columbia (Photo by M. Bothwell)Anglers advised not to eat trout in 1080 areasWith the fishing season opening in just a few days (1 October 2014), anglers arebeing warned by the Department of Conservation(DOC) not to eat trout frompristine backcountry waters and their downstream catchments, where thedepartment is conducting 1080 poisoning operations.In response to publicly expressed concerns by the New Zealand Federation ofFreshwater Anglers, and supported by Fish & Game New Zealand, DOCcommissioned research by the independent Cawthron Research Institute on therisks of mice carrying sub-lethal levels of 1080, and which are routinelyconsumed by trout, becoming a food safety risk for humans.Chief executive of Fish & Game New Zealand, Bryce Johnson says “The resultsindicate that, 1080 levels in trout flesh were significantly in excess of recognisedFood Safety guidelines(FSA) for safe human health and DOC is now having toadvise anglers not to eat trout caught in 1080 poisoned catchments, until advisedotherwise.” 20

“Anglers fishing back country waters, including overseas anglers who come herebecause of the trout fishery’s international reputation, have always been able toassume that it is totally safe to catch a trout and eat it. Sadly, this turns thatover and is not a good look for New Zealand’s 100% pure environmental brand.”The massive poisoning operation being conducted by DOC, is in response to theanticipated ‘mouse plague’ caused by the cyclic production of beech seeds innative forests, for which this year is a high point.“While we understand why DoC is doing this, the findings from this recentresearch has added a very significant and concerning new dimension to the 1080debate”, said Mr Johnson.Fish & Game also believe the ramifications of this extend well beyond just thepoison sites, and Mr Johnson added he was pleased DOC has investigated theanglers concerns, accepted the research findings and has taken the lead inmanaging the consequences.Mr Johnson says that while he realises the timing, so close to the season openingis unfortunate, his organisation has been left with no choice, but to support thisadvisory from DoC, and adds that “further research, to more closely simulate thenatural, wild environment is needed, to provide a more accurate picture of therisks.”“Fish and game is not saying don’t go fishing in the back country, just don’t eatthe fish.”Never let the facts get in the way of a good storyBy Peter WilliamsThe news has been full of reports of 1080 in trout, but the media have done anappalling job of presenting the facts.They have not reported the vital fact that these trout were forced fed 1080 inthe lab!! The risk to human health is extremely low. Researchers calculated thatat these levels,i.e., forced fed in the lab, an 80 kilogram adult would need to eat more than 14tonnes of trout flesh in one serving, to have a 50 percent chance of receiving afatal dose !!There have yet to be any reports of 1080 in trout flesh from the wild.My wife asked me: “watcha doing today?”I replied: ‘Nothin.”She said: “You did that yesterday.”I replied: “I wasn’t finishedFive ways to win an argument with a woman:1. 2.3. 4.5. 21

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] 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: Maree PeterNewsletter 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. www.thenelsontroutfishingclub.com

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