NTFC Newsletter_July 2023

CLUB CONTACTS Executive Kevin Earl 027 221 9777 [email protected] President: Don Clementson 027 437 6019 [email protected] Past President James Butler 027 228 3559 [email protected] Vice President Secretary Jean Willis 547 6432 [email protected] Treasurer Chris Clenshaw 544 5276 [email protected] Committee Richard Breakspear 541 9050 [email protected] Quinton Gately 027 963 4930 [email protected] Peter Lawler 548 9753 [email protected] Mark Jowsey 021 627 962 [email protected] James Macdonald 540 3520 [email protected] Neil Anderson 539 4941 [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 2023 Don Clementson 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 (Kevin’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: Newly elected Club President, Kevin Earl, with a fine brownie from the Motueka catchment, caught on a weighted hare & copper fly, before releasing.

President’s Flyline Nelson Trout Fishing Club July 2023 Many thanks on the unopposed presidential election, Thanks to Don and the rest of the committee for their time last year. I have only been in the club for a few years and I'm looking forward to being more involved. I would like to keep a craft beer connection going as I brew at home as well as fish and tie my own flies. How about a beer tasting night? It's seems like winter has finally arrived and this is a good time to head out to the Appleby fish out ponds to watch the rainbows doing their spawning dances otherwise it’s up to Taupo for the spawning run? Or filling your flybox for the summer. It’s also a good time to clean your flylines and check out the rest of your gear so that you're ready for the new season. Tight lines, Kevin.

Buy & Sell A. Chris Clenshaw has a marine rod/reel combo for sale: 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 Contact Chris 0274377630 B. Finn Sumner is looking for a book: “A river rules my kitchen” by Tony Smith Finn is willing to pay $60 for the book; contact him at [email protected]

C. James Butler is selling a pair of Wading Boots Studded AS NEW! Simms G3 Guide Wading Boots Size 10 I bought these at Hunting and Fishing Nelson in October 2022, and wore them for 1 hour. They didn’t fit, and I couldn’t return them because they had had studs fitted in-store. I bought them for $449.99. Asking price $390 Please contact James Butler 0272283559 Go to: https://www.flyfishingwithtony.com





Originally published in New Zealand Outdoor, December 1954

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

Update from the NZFFA on The Rakaia WCO Environment Court from David Haynes On behalf of the Executive of the NZFFA I would like to thank the Nelson Trout Fishing Club for their generous donation towards our legal costs in the Environment Court for the Rakaia River WCO Declaration Proceedings - ENV-2023-CHC-7. The legal process is a frighteningly expensive one. A quick recap of how we got here – on 15 February 2023 Christchurch Regional Council, (more commonly known as Environment Canterbury, or ECan) applied for a declaration from the Environment Court that it ‘has no statutory duty to enforce the provisions of the National Water Conservation (Rakaia River) Order 1988 (WCO)…’ other than to ensure its regional policies, plans and resource consents are not contrary to it. This is a subtle but important technicality: It means that whilst it must not contravene the WCO when issuing water take permits for example, in their own words they believe ‘Canterbury’s Regional Council’s monitoring functions under section 35 of the Resource Management Act 1991 do not extend to directly monitoring compliance with, gathering information on, and keeping records under the WCO…’ beyond its obligations in respect of monitoring the effect of its plans, policies and consents issued. To the average eye ECan seems to be saying “we promise we won’t break the terms of the WCO but it’s not our responsibility to check if we do”. Manawa Energy (née Trustpower) have signed up in support of ECan, particularly as a negative outcome might force them to stop diverting the Harper and Wilberforce rivers into Lake Coleridge and then selling the water twice – once in the form of HEP and again by those and other releases being diverted off into pipes and canals by Central Plains Water Ltd and over eighty other irrigators. Both North Canterbury Fish & Game and the Environmental Defence Society submitted counter- declarations – that ECan are responsible for monitoring adherence to the WCO and NZ Salmon Anglers Association and the NZFFA submitted as ‘interested parties’ under s274 of the Resource Management Act. This means both the salmon anglers and ourselves get a say in the case. The NZFFA executive committed funds to pay for the case and have received donations from individuals and clubs from across NZ and overseas. As secretary, I spent a whole week compiling papers and completing forms for the Environmental Legal Assistance fund, c/o Ministry for the Environment and we were awarded $10,000, less than asked for but gratefully received. The case was set down before Judge Borthwick, a specialist in water rights issues throughout Canterbury. Borthwick was unable to clarify whether this was a yes/no declaration or several competing declarations and so referred it to a barrister, Stephen Christensen, as Hearing Manager, to get all parties together to seek consensus on how best the case should proceed. A date for that meeting is set for 16 August in Christchurch. Only legal counsel was invited which we thought a bit rude considering we are paying for it. So be it. At conclusion of this we obviously hope we have clarity on to how to proceed and our position has been communicated and reinforced. I will be keeping all our members abreast of progress.

As I have said before, this is a classic David & Goliath battle in economic terms, Manawa Energy and ECan have very deep pockets, well-funded legal teams and seemingly little concern for the environmental impacts of their behaviour. We believe we have formidable legal counsel, extensive on-the-ground historical knowledge of the Rakaia fishery, tenacity and a deep moral sense that if we don’t stand up to persistent ruination of our precious freshwater rivers and lakes, then who will? David Haynes Secretary & Treasurer New Zealand Federation of Freshwater Anglers

My Fishing Life – a vignette from Immo Neumann On a sunny Tuesday morning George and I decided to fish the Branch River at its confluence with the Wairau. We parked the car next to the Branch River Bridge and started to walk down the Branch. It was about a one-kilometre walk and my feet were hurting a bit since my waders were not the most comfortable. It was slow going and after about half an hour we made it. That day I decided to use my spin-rod. I chose a size 6 floating Rapala lure I prefer floating lures since they don’t snag so easily. Furthermore, I like to cast across the fast water, pay out an extra 10m and let the lure come onto my side of the river. I slowly retrieved with a little tug ever so often. That’s what I did on that day; after the second cast it paid off. My rod bent and I could feel a heavy fish pulling. It did not take me very long before I landed a nice 7 pound brown trout. This seems to be a very productive way to fish. Immo’s 7 pounder from the Branch.