NTFC Newsletter_May 2023

CLUB CONTACTS Executive Don Clementson 027 437 6019 [email protected] Barry Howell 544 3069 [email protected] President: Jean Willis 547 6432 [email protected] Past President Secretary Chris Clenshaw 544 5276 [email protected] Treasurer Committee Richard Breakspear 541 9050 [email protected] Kevin Nansett 545 2007 [email protected] Peter Lawler 548 9753 [email protected] Tony Entwistle 544 4565 [email protected] James Macdonald 540 3520 [email protected] Neil Anderson 539 4941 [email protected] Allan Ballard 544 1735 [email protected] Web Master Peter Lawler 548 9753 [email protected] 547 1197 [email protected] Club Librarian Cameron Reid 545 2007 [email protected] 027 437 6019 [email protected] Trophy Master Kevin Nansett Club Sponsorship Don Clementson Club Speakers Committee Members Club Night Tea/Coffee Committee Members Newsletter Editor James Macdonald 540 3520 [email protected] Life Members 1982 Chappie Chapman 2007 Jean Willis 2018 Richard Boyden 2021 Tony Entwistle Past Presidents 06-08 Lester Higgins 08-09 Ross Walker 09-11 Dennis Ealam 03-06 Richard Boyden 13-15 Tony Entwistle 15-17 Maree Peter 17-18 Michael Stevenson 11-13 Ray Day 19-20 Barry Howell The Nelson Trout Fishing Club Meets once a month at: Fish and Game Offices, 66 Champion Road, Richmond Normally the 3rd Wednesday of the month at 7:00pm Please phone (Don’s phone #) if unsure Any views expressed in this newsletter are not necessarily those of the committee, club or editor Webpage: www.nelsontroutfishingclub.com Follow us on Facebook Cover: Participants in the November 2022 Trout Tactics Course held in Reefton and led by Tony Entwistle

President’s Flyline Nelson Trout Fishing Club May 2023 Welcome to the May edition of the Nelson Trout Fishing and Craft Beer Club. Not much has being happening this month with the limitation of the Winter season and also the water levels being high for almost all of May. If you are into fly tying and Youtube videos then the next few months are all yours. Make sure if you are tying copperdon nymphs that you are up for royalties which can be deposited into my bank account. Next month is our midwinter dinner at the Moutere Tavern - not to be missed. Plenty of good prizes - from tippet material to fly lines. Our spot prizes have been supplied by Flytackle NZ. They have been very generous to us over the years so support them through Tony Entwistle or by ordering on line. We have a mystery world famous guest speaker attending as well so book a seat today by contacting me on txt 0274376019 or email [email protected] June is our AGM and Tony’s famous quiz so be there. I have to stand down at the AGM because my 2 years are up so we are looking for a new President and some new Committee members as well. Without a President the Club can’t function so all you old farts and new ones that have been around the club for some time put up your hand and do your bit. It’s not hard if I can do it. You don’t have to do the Craft Beer section - it is optional. CRAFT BEER SECTION If you come a across a fishing guide that has jumped out of the river you get out your can of Octopus Clamp Dark Lager and deal to him. Once you have dealt to the guide pull out a can of Happy Juice Hazy IPA to celebrate. If the first can doesn’t work try the Highwayman APA - it will definitely work. If you have difficulty getting down to your favourite fishing spot pull out a few cans of Scrub Cutter Honey brown ale - you won’t notice the blackberries after having them.





Buy & Sell Chris Clenshaw has three marine rod/reel combos for sale: 1. Shimano TLD 30. 2 speed graphite sea reel and braid, matched to Shimano Taipan boat rod. Only used a few times. Immaculate condition. Ideal for Snapper Kingfish and Groper fishing. $275 2. Ryobi Adventure SD101 level wind sea reel and braid. Matched to 1.7 metre game rod. Ideal for big snapper groper, kingfish, sharks. Excellent condition $120 3. Penn 330GTI level wind sea reel and monofilament line matched to boat rod. Ideal for snapper and Kingfish, blue cod. Excellent condition $110

Contact Chris 0274377630 Go to: https://www.flyfishingwithtony.com





Originally published in New Zealand Outdoor, October 1954

THE NELSON TROUT FISHING CLUB Minutes (Draft) of the committee meeting 9th May 2023 At Fish and Game rooms Champion Rd, Richmond Don welcomed members and declared the meeting open at 7.03pm Attendance: Richard Breakspear, Don Clementson, Chris Clenshaw, James Macdonald. Jean Willis, Allan Ballard Apologies: Kevin Nansett, Barry Howell Moved that the apologies be accepted. Chris/Richard Carried Previous minutes: Minutes of the August meeting, as previously circulated, be taken as read. Moved that the minutes be accepted. Richard/Don carried Business arising from the minutes. Nil Treasurer’s report Chris presented his written report. Balance of club funds as at 9th May 2023 $7867.04 Payments made: - $500.00 $167.00 NZFFA donations Speakers’ gifts Dinner prizes Moved that the treasurers report be accepted. Chris/Richard Carried Chris advised that: - He was still not receiving membership application information but was receiving subscriptions. Jean to action He was out of membership cards. Subs are due 1st June reminder in next newsletter Correspondence: Emails from: - Barry Howell advising of his intention to stand down from the committee at the AGM, and recommending strongly that the committee should be renewed as too many members have been there too long. He suggests that if positions can’t be filled they are left vacant. From Jacob Lucas inviting the club to make a short contribution to the upcoming Fish and Game Fisheries report.

From David Hayes, secretary NZFFA thanking us for the $500 donation to the legal costs of the action against EACN re Rakaia WCO Moved that the correspondence be accepted. Jean/Richard carried Club nights May John Hayes Moutere Inn 18th June June Club dinner Sunday Midday Catering 25-35 Intention to attend advised by 10th June. Meal costs $25-$40 Club to subsidize club members by $10 a head. Prizes on the night Guest speaker Don to action July AGM and quiz night Jean/Tony Newsletter James reports a challenge in pinning Rob Blackbeard down for a bio piece in the newsletter. Chris commends James on a very good newsletter. Don raised the issue of non-members advertising in the club’s newsletter. Specifically, Mike Kirkpatrick was advertising his guiding business for no cost, while Tony Entwistle was paying to advertise his operations. The consensus of the committee was non-members and commercial operators should pay for their advertising. Website: Jean advised that the email address [email protected] had been used by criminals to send out scam emails, resulting in the club’s inbox being overwhelmed with more than 17k messages. This adversely affected club management. This has been resolved with Phil Houghton, website host acting to repair our site. General Business Don reports that Quinton Gately was running fly tying courses at his school. Don to offer club support. AGM The following committee members are standing down at the AGM Allan Ballard, Kevin Nansett, Barry Howell Don, Chris, Richard, James and Jean indicated they are prepared to stand again. We need new committee members and a president. Don closed the Meeting at 7.30 pm Don Clementson President

Blasts from the Past – originally published in the Club’s Newsletter from September 2009 1. Brackish Water Fishing By Graham Carter In many locations there is an area where fresh water mixes with salt water. Nelson’s coastline is one and there are many others around the world. This brackish water area is unusual in many ways, and most of them mean good fishing. The Motueka and Waimea river mouths, with the Aorere and others in Golden Bay are some. Marlborough has its canal and you can catch both salt and freshwater fish in these areas and they tend to be strong from fighting the current. If you have brackish water near you, check it out. I got my first taste of brackish water fishing on the Waimea at Appleby and I’ve heard stories that there are big fish if you know where to look. What this means in fisherman’s talk, is to put the book down and spend some time out looking and walking the river. Yes, take the rod but spend most of your time there early evening just looking. Look for the larger deeper pools, near willows and cast near the edges as the tide starts out. I have caught quite a few trout during the early part of the dropping tide, with my grandchildren looking on. It was fast fishing for a couple of hours and then they just stopped hitting. And dare I say it I used a spinning rod – it was easy to let the kids have a go. The tide movement is one thing you have to get used to in most brackish water areas. I had never fished a tide before and was surprised how it controls the fish feeding. You might as well stay at home if you don't plan your trip around the changing tides to take advantage of the feeding fish. This experience is also what convinced me the Solunar Tables worked since they are based on what causes the tides. The hard bit for me was understanding what it meant. The trout can hit during the first hour of the dropping tide near the mouth of the river, or upstream where the river and pools are still affected by the tide. If you fish brackish water, remember to wash your gear carefully. A reel that will last for years without cleaning in fresh water will rust up beyond repair after one trip to salt water if it gets inside. Don't just wash off the outside with a hose - that may actually wash salt into the reel. Clean it inside and out, and clean off your rod guides and hooks too. Brackish water is usually very fertile and the fish are usually healthy and fat. Today we see that catch and release is catching on with more fishermen. We have a lot of pressure going toward lakes, and rivers yet we see little pressure on fishing tidal waters. For years fishermen would launch their boats in the fresh water rivers, and head for the saltwater. One of the reasons for this, was to allow them to flush their motors, after a day on the salt water.

2. Beating the Wind By George Beall The wind is a constant – almost – in New Zealand weather, and the fly-fisher must reckon with it. If it is possible change banks or find a stretch with a better orientation, or find some shelter under trees some place. What do you do on the upper Ahuriri, for instance, when the nor’wester comes up, ay half-gale force? Some experts say: stay home” in such cases – tough advice for the bloke on holiday and with only so much time to fish the Ahuriri (or any of the many others of like situation)! Herewith are some ideas on how to cope with head winds. Let me say straight off that gusty, swirling winds blowing from all directions can be pretty hopeless; about all one can do is wait for a lull between shifts in direction. But casting against a head wind can be done with some ease and even comfort, by a skilled caster with the right gear. Good co-ordination and timing are essential – it’s no place for sloppy rod-work! An obvious way to beat the wind is to use a powerful rod and heavy line but this can be self-defeating, as a powerful rod you are not used to will quickly tire your arm and lead to disordered flailing. If you have a choice, take a powerful rod you use regularly and cast well with, keeping in mind the shorter and thinner the better (less wind resistance). An 8ft rod is preferable to a 9ft cane, or carbon or boron or glass fibre. Otherwise, use a heavier and denser line than you would ordinarily. As you won’t be casting much line anyway, you can use a line weight or two heavier than you would ordinarily use, without overloading your rod. Most rods will take two or three weights of line: use the heaviest your rod will take. An ‘intermediate’ (slow sinker) or sinker is denser, thus thinner, than a floater and hence penetrates the wind better. If you are fishing on the surface, these lines will float acceptably if well-greased. A weight-forward line also helps. Check the line to see how much level end it has: if there is more than 18in, you won’t get the leader (trace) to turn over against the wind, and indeed, not well even with no wind. The terminal gear is of utmost importance. If fishing on the surface (a wind-ruffled surface helps to get close to big fish without spooking them, and the take can be seen) don’t use large bulky wind-resistant flies like large Wulffs, up wings, etc. Use aerodynamic dressings like sedges or cicadas (in season) – both of which are likely to be on the water when the wind is strong. If you must use up wing flies, keep them small. The trace is the crux of the matter, along with the line. It should be short (no more than a rod length) with a fast taper (no knotless jobs!), with a fairly short tippet of stiff nylon. This is a double taper trace which I make 22in of 0.4mm – 22in of .45mm – 12in of .35mm – 10in of 0.25mm and 15in of 0.22mm or 0.2mm tippet. I have carried this idea a step forward and made up a weight-forward trace that is usable only against a strong headwind, it turns over so hard! Finally, casting tricks. The wind is stronger at waist or shoulder-level than it is below knee-level; it is least strong just above the surface. Hence casting into the wind will be

easier in this zone just above the surface. Thus a side-cast with rod parallel to the surface and just above it, will be more effective than an over-head cast. To make it easier, kneel down if possible. In any case, drive the cast out with a full arm stroke, flexing the wrist (“turn-over”) just at the end of the power stroke; if an overhead cast, drive the rod right down to the surface and do not make the usual “9 o’clock” check. Give the line a short sharp pull with the line hand just as you turn over the rod with your wrist (double-hauling is not necessary, as the wind takes care of this for you on the back cast). This pull helps straighten out the trace against the wind). Any shelter available from the wind helps: every little bit counts, and the sum of the tricks and tactics above can spell the difference between utter frustration and comparative ease when coping with a headwind. Editor’s note: George Beall, an American living in France, visits New Zealand each year to sample South Island brown trout fishing. He is an angler of exceptional finesse and skills. Courtesy NZ Sport Fishing 3. Do Fish Feel Pain? By Marshall Cutchin Well, yes they do. They probably also feel fear. Or for them fear is the same thing as pain. Or pain is fear. Or whatever. The conversation has dominated the animal ethics community for the past couple of years, even exciting PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) to ask that fish be renamed \"sea kittens.\" Fly fisher Michael Agger just published a very good piece in Slate magazine on the controversy, citing the science and the writing that has explored it in recent years. \"The 2003 Edinburgh study confirmed that trout have polymodal nociceptors around their face and head--i.e., they have the ability to detect painful stimuli with their nervous system. But, according to some definitions of pain, the detection of painful stimuli is not enough. The animal must have the ability to understand it is in pain to really feel pain.\" (Thanks to readers Zach Matthews and Jim Phillips for this) Fish have the receptors necessary to detect trauma, threatening circumstances, movement, colour, noise/vibration, pressure differences, temperature, etc. - but that's only part of what it requires for them to \"feel\" pain. The receptors do their job - and the signal is sent to the brain - the processor. Extensive research has defined the part of the brain that processes the information and results in us feeling pain, and that part of the brain does not exist in fish. The do sense the signals, and a response is programmed into them, but that response does not include the sensation of pain. Anthropomorphism is a strange road to go down for adults. We don't live in the world of Disney/Pixar - cold-blooded creatures do not process neural stimuli like we do, and they cannot \"feel\" the things we feel.

4. The Stonefly Hatch By Tony Orman The brief emergence of the stonefly is a time for both trout and anglers. The brown rose once, then twice and, each time it did so, it’s flank flashed gold in the sunlight. Again and again the bronze body twisted as it fed avidly. I tied on a nymph. It was large in size, perhaps a number 8 hook. It’s body was a furry green and above that a nondescript grey thorax. The nymph looked ridiculously cumbersome. I moved up to just below the feeding fish and cast upstream. The nymph went in three or four feet upstream. There was a hesitation in the drift of the floating line, then a quick raising of the rod and below the surface the brown bucked against the pressure of the hook. The trout ran downstream, making maximum use of the strong clear flow of the Buller River, and yet never failing to apply every ounce of it’s magnificently conditioned body. A quarter of an hour later, I held up the speckled bronze fish and admired it. The trout of the Buller River are like that. They are beautiful trout, heavy, broad in width and thick in depth. You cannot help but admire them. The large nymph in the jaw of the brown, was conspicuous. In fact the pattern looked absurd. But there is nothing absurd about the stonefly, which the nymph imitates. The stonefly hatch is an event that many trout look forward eagerly to. When it arrives they greet it with a reckless and greedy abandon. It stands to reason that larger trout like their meals in large mouthfuls. Food is that substantial is likely to be appealing to large trout. When a big trout sees quality food coming down in quantity, he’s not going to restrain himself. Stoneflies are big and awkward. As the nymphs struggle to the surface to crawl onto rocks to dry out, the trout find their capture easy. Fly fishermen tend to think in terms of patterns along the sizes of mayflies down. But there are some species of fly that are big and bulky. The dobsonfly larvae is one, the stonefly another and of course there are always clumsy and large terrestrial insects, such as grasshoppers that fall into streams. Certainly on many days the smaller patterns are essential to success and under summer conditions, diminutive nymphs or dry flies in sizes 16, 18 and 20 fall will catch trout when all else fails. But versatility is the forte of top anglers. Good anglers I have known, seem flexible in both tackle and technique to meet the circumstances of the day. The stonefly hatch is one such case where an angler can reap maximum sporting gatherings. Such is the trout’s enthusiasm for an opportunity for a feeding spree on abundant quality fare. It is necessary to appreciate, too, that a trout is a creature that is limited in intelligence. It has the ability to concentrate on only one thing at a time, and once a

hatch, surface or aquatic, takes place, the trout are less likely to feed on that species to the exclusion of all others. Perhaps we anglers outwit ourselves, by confusing our choice of patterns with such complicated theories and thinking that mental pandemonium results. A basic to successful fishing is to present to the trout what it is feeding on. In other words match the hatch. Of course, when you get a hatch of stoneflies taking place, then any trout that preferred caddis larvae or mayflies would be wasting time and effort. It’s logical that the trout will prefer the stoneflies. My first introduction to the peculiarities and success of the stonefly, came from a Nelson angler. Now Jim is an exceptional angler, and his success is derived from exceptional ability allied with a tremendous knowledge of a river’s daily and seasonal cycles plus a perceptive sense of observation. Jim was quick to note the liking of trout and usually the bigger ones, for the brief but intense stonefly hatches. One pattern of stonefly nymph approximates the following – hook size 12 to 6, Tail – three golden pheasant tippets, Body – olive seal’s fur dubbing, Head – rough grey wool, Wingcase – grey mallard fibres, Hackle – sparse red brown one turn. Various patterns have been published in books such as “Trout with Nymph” and “Trout Insects of New Zealand.” This pattern would be varied to suit the locality. In America for example, it is said that there are nearly 400 species of stonefly. Species appear more limited in New Zealand. The eggs of this fly remain among stones and weeds until they hatch. The nymphs live under stones and at full maturity these creatures, perhaps up to three quarters of an inch long, crawl from the water onto boulders to dry, cast their skin and begin the brief adult life. The skins of these stoneflies are conspicuously littered over the boulders after a hatch has taken place. Stoneflies do not constitute a large proportion of the trout’s overall diet. In actual fact the larvae of the stonefly forms only a minority percentage accordingly to stomach analysis of both rainbow and brown trout. Stomach analysis of trout in New Zealand shows the stonefly similarly does not form a high percentage of the seasonal diet. However statistics can be deceptive. In the case of the stonefly this appears particularly so, for on certain days of the year when the major emergences do occur, the fishing can be fast and furious. In bouldery clear-watered rivers, like the Buller, if stoneflies are emerging you should find the trout feeding near the edges, for the nymphs will be crawling onto the boulders to dry. Fish upstream with a floating line and eight foot monofilament cast. Fishing with a dead drift is probably best, but it is also worthwhile to fish your cast out till the nymph drags and then retrieve it with short jerks. The stonefly nymphs, struggling to the surface, may be moving in an erratic, but purposeful manner, so letting the stonefly imitation drag is not without reason.

As with fishing, it is good policy to vary your technique, until you find the way that suits the trout’s whim. Fish the nymph in a dead drift. Letting it tumble downstream, but when the line is below you, let it swing around and retrieve in short jerks, before beginning the next cast. It is wise to consider that the stonefly hatch is likely to tempt some large trout to feeding. Consequently your cast should be as heavy as you dare, without marring your presentation. Of course, fishing the stonefly nymph need not be restricted to the activity of the actual hatch. The period before and after the hatch, might be likely to result in productive fishing with a stonefly imitation. At any time during the summer months, trout would, I suspect, be likely to take such a large delicacy as a drifting stonefly. The larvae is ever present living it’s existence under the boulders beneath the surface, and surely could always be regarded as potential trout fodder. The Woolly Worm might well pass for a stonefly imitation at times and it is a pattern worth considering. I find Jim Ring’s pattern a tried and trusted one. Either way, a look at the basic entomology of your river may well reveal that the stonefly nymph is in evidence. If so, it’s worthwhile appreciating it’s existence by carrying a few imitations with you. They will be likely to reward you with some trout on average days, but if you are fortunate to strike the intense hatching of this large aquatic insect, then the stonefly nymph will give you some exciting action. Courtesy NZ Sport Fishing

Tip of the month – CRIMP YOUR BARBS with Don Clementson Don reiterated that there are a number of reasons to flatten your barbs: • The hooks penetrate the fish’s lip more easily • Releasing the fish is easier • Extraction from any accidental bodily hooking is easier • Extraction from clothing is easier • The hook is more likely to fall out in foul hook/break-off situations Don states that “I have been using barbless hooks for over 40 years and when I release a fish that someone else has hooked I find it difficult and stressful on the trout” Don’t let this happen to you!

Annual Club Membership Dues are due Subs are due as from 1st June. The subs will remain at $40 per adult and Juniors free. Please pay fee to Acct: 06 0705 0373202 00 Membership Cards Cards will not be sent out in the mail due to the cost of postage. Once subs have been paid cards will be available for collection on club nights

Fly Fishing with Tony Entwistle