June Mag2018

Nelson Trout Fishing Club Issue -165 June 2018Read the newsletter online at: WWW.nelsontroutfishingclub.com

Visit our website To sign up As a VIP Member And receiveMonthly newsletters, And more Ph 03 3383131 59 Lincoln Rd Email: [email protected] Christchurch Web: www.fishermansloft.co.nz

Club ContactsExecutive:President Michael Stevenson 5469632 [email protected] President: Maree Peter [email protected]: Jean Willis 547 6432 [email protected]: Maree Peter [email protected] Breakspear Committee [email protected] Lawler 5419050 [email protected] Jemson 5489753 [email protected] Richards 027 544 0274 [email protected] Clementson 0274349165 [email protected] Howell 5448867 [email protected] Furrows 5443069 [email protected] Sowman 0275519002Meet and Greet New Members: Ray Day and Pete LawlerFishing trips: Looking for somebody to run this job Fly Tying Convenor: Michael StevensonClub Librarian: Cameron Reid 547 1197 [email protected] Editor Magazine : Richard Breakspear Newsletter Distribution: Brian RichardsTrophy Master Looking for somebody to run this jobClub Sponsorship & Newsletter Advertising: Needed Club Speakers: Committee members Club Night Tea/Coffee: Maree Peter Past Presidents:03-06 Richard Boyden 6-08 Lester Higgins 08-09 Ross Walker09-11 Dennis Ealam 11-13 Ray Day 13-15 Tony Entwistle15-17 Maree Peter MGP 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, or club editor. www.nelsontroutfishingclub.comCover page: …… Popped in for dinner up Nelson Lakes, Bacon lover By Jean Willis

President’s Report June 2018I’m coming up to the end of my first year as President and Iwant to thank the members for making it a reasonably successfulone. In particular the members of the Committee have workedhard behind the scenes to deal with the day-to-day tasksrequired to provide us with the programs, speakers, and clubactivities through the year.In particular I want to call attention to a few who have beenespecially helpful to me. Jean Willis, our Secretary for remindingme of the stuff I’m supposed to remember, Richard Breakspearthe editor of the newsletter who has been almost patient whencontent is on the thin side. Peter Lawler, our Webmaster, forkeeping things ticking over on the web. Marie Peter theTreasurer, who threatens me every time I tell her I want tospend money. Brian Richards who has been instrumental inorganising the annual Awards Dinner including arranging for allthe great raffle items. Finally, while he’s not a Committeemember, Tony Entwistle, a former President for helpful advice ona wide range of issues.With the AGM coming up in July, I want to remind the membersthat we are still short a couple of positions on the Committee andencourage participation in the running of the club. The positionsare not onerous but new points of view are vital if we want tocontinue to have a vibrant organisation.Don’t forget to get out on the water as much as you can.Nothing is better for improving your skills and it sure beatssitting home watching TV.Michael Stevenson CLUB DINNER DATE Closes Names to Brian by 27th June, 2018. Ph 0274 349165 or email: [email protected]

Your club has been talking the Tasman District Council, about worksbeing done on the banks of the Motueka River, which are negativelyimpacting on the river. Is hearting to see the Council is listening towhat we say and taking into account our concerns.This sign at Mint Alley, is a tangible example.

Greetings from Glenarm, Northern IrelandWe are having an extended holiday here and really enjoying it. Terry wasprivileged to be invited to become a member of the Glenarmanglers club, as it is usually restricted to those with a Glenarm post code, buthe did live here for a while when he was a young lad. Having said that he lefthere 70 years ago!Unfortunately it is too early for the salmon to be running up the Glenarm Riveryet, and they should be starting to do so about the time we leave here inAugust! However he was hoping to fish for sea trout but there has been norain worth mentioning since we arrived here on 30th April and the river is toolow for any kind of fishing. This is unusual for Northern Ireland which has justhad its hottest and driest May on record. It is a beautiful river and we justlove walking through the forest that the river runs through. The far bank isthe estate of the Earl of Antrim and there is a castle there, but he is able towalk along that bank as well by virtue of being a member of the local club.I hope you like this photo of Terry fishing the Glenarm River, taken on 14thJune. Please feel free to put it in the magazine if you wish.Cheers, Alison Kelso

Last day of AutumnIt seemed ages since I had been able to get on a river with a flyrod but it was actually more like a month. Rain and the resultinghigh water had ruined any chance for an outing. Finally startingin the third week of May, we had a stretch of dry weather longenough to allow the rivers to clear and drop to fishable levels.The forecast was for morning cloud clearing and becoming fine.That sounded pretty good and the previous three days and beenfine with plenty of sun. I figured I might have some luck on thelower Pelorus where the long slow wide flows would allow thewater to warm up enough to get some activity.I left the house about 9:30, getting yo the rover about an hourlater. The chilly air and overcast sky made the water look likeblued steel. Pelorus Canvastown run:Cont

Pelorus big hole 1/5/18I set up with a double nymph rig with a #14 gold bead headolive pheasant tail with rubber legs and a #16 copper BHPT. Icarefully worked the top 2/3 of the run for the next hour withabsolutely no luck. I guessed it was still a bit early as the watertemperature was 11º C. I headed to the big hole crossing theriver with care. At 17 cubic metres per second (cumecs), the flowwasn’t particularly risky but the cold water made me morecareful then usual. I have fished this stretch often and thefeeding fish tend to be toward the top end where it’s moreshallow and there is more food in the drift. Another wastedfruitless hour and I broke for lunch. The weather continued tothreaten to clear but never quite get the job done. The waterwas still 11º C and probably wasn’t going to warm at all.I had seen only one splashy rise run that time where there’susually a steady occurrence (but far beyond casting range). Ifinished my lunch, heaved myself vertical on my now stiffeningjoints to start slightly further downstream of my earlier efforts.:Cont

There was still a bit of current within reach because of the higherwater and I decided it was worth a try. I certainly wasn’t goingto do worse. I increased the length of the drop from my indicatorby about 60 cm (2 feet). about 5 minutes and several drifts later,the indicator eased under. At first I thought I might be hookedon the bottom but a lift of the rod proved it was a fish, YES! Nota big fish but larger than I had expected at this time of year.Several runs and a few jumps provided an exciting tussle and itwas a minute or two before I slid the net under a 40 cm (16inch) rainbow of about .6 kg (1.5 pounds). Insert photo :Pelorus 31/5.18Another hour of casting practice and a temperature check gavestrong evidence that I wasn’t going to have any further success.I trudged back across the river and on upstream to the car toface the hardest part of the outing…getting out of my waders. Ofcourse the next two days were bright and sunny. The river godshave a wicked sense of humour. By Michael Stevenson

Fish and Game Council Meeting 12th June 2018Notes from the metingForestry SlashForestry slash and sediment into rivers was discussed and discussion focusedon what options are available to mitigate the effects.F&G staff directed to write to TDC & MDC asking about complianceenforcement of logging operations.1080 testingNMIT have agreed that they can do the research, but they have to gainapproval from the ethics committee before this research can proceed,expected time frame up to a year.I find this incredible, that to repeat an experiment that was not done correctlyand has health implications for anglers can take this long.Licence fee recommendation.Discussion about the non residents license and the need to increase it wassupported. The non resident angler is a South Island problem (85% of nonresidents fish in the South Island). New licence categories of non residentchild and junior in response to tourists ripping of our angling resource.Argument to reduce senior loyal license fee to retain the senior anglersF & G stated aim is to reduce the cost of licences to residents anglersDepartment of ConservationDOC. Representive stated that the increase in DoC funding and with thecertainty of a four year funding means that they can better plan their battleof the birds and hence better accommodate anglers fishing season. Hopefullyno drops on opening day.DoC have been directed by the minister of Conservation and funded to getback into the advocacy for the environment and RMA work.Promised improved fresh water, monitoring, ranging, and increase theemphasis on whitebait.Advised of the activities of the Local Graham Valley farmers for predator freewith their focus on the blue duck, and Tasman environmental trust predatorcontrol “Sarraute” in the Nelson district, Shea Davies leading.A request for docs information on helicopter access to back country forangling in order to get better information on angler use of rivers.

Concern was expressed about huts use extending by more than 3 days,particularly by the so called “trout bums” who live off the land.Fish committee report.Support for a winter fishery in the Rai up to Carluke bridgeA request to made to clubs for feedback if fishing the Rai during winter.A ban on single hooks referred to national council, as it was seen as anational issue.Travers River fly only. Rejected. Next seasons backcountry users survey willdetermine if there is support for a fly only designation.The request for catch and release in the Travers River rejectedArgyle PondFish release proposed for end of June in anticipation of school holidays.Argyle pondSalmon spawning countsSalmon count in upper Clarence down on previous years , but the count inthe Rainbow River is up defying national trend.Locally licence sales are up 5.1% credit for this is due to the council’s policy oflocal fish releases in rivers and in the Argyle pond.Jean Willis, CouncillorF & G fish Repot 2018 MOTUEKA RIVERThe Motueka River provided superb fishing as staff had predicted due to threevery stable years conducive to excellent recruitment. Regular feedback fromanglers indicated the average size was down on previous years with many fishin the 2-3 pound range evident, however quantity more than made up for thelower average sizes. A reduction in overall average fish size reported byanglers indicates this system is once again starting to support massivenumbers of medium sized brown trout and possibly shifting back to a morefood limited brown trout fishery, a phenomenon not seen since the late1980’s/early 1990’s when this was documented by Cawthron as a uniquefeature of the Motueka fishery at that time. Despite the effects of CycloneGita on the Riuwaka and lower Motueka, staff therefore had high hopes forthe upper sites, and this was proven to be true with some of the highestcounts since records began.

The Woodstock site could be said to be the yardstick for the river, and thisyears’ dive showed similar numbers to the halcyon days of old when theMotueka was known to hold one of the highest numbers of trout/km,however it must be noted that there were more medium sized fish this year(320) than the peak years between 1985-1989 which had a higher number oflarge trout. The numbers of large fish present this year were still the highestsince 1989. Many of these fish will transition from medium to large fish andMotueka River anglers can expect a couple of great seasons ahead, apart fromfishing within the lower river which will likely have been significantly damagedfrom Cyclone Gita sand deposits.600 MOTUEKA RIVER - WOODSTOCK500400300200100 0 Large Medium SmallUnfortunately due to insufficient water clarity as a result of the cyclone thelower two sites could not be dived. While the MacLeans and Dove sites werealso the highest on record, the Pearse Confluence site was slightly lower thanlast year which may be due to the marginal water clarity which the diversexperienced, and staff were not confident that an accurate count wasachieved.UPPER MOTUEKAThe Upper Motueka at Golden Downs and Glenrae was surveyed inNovember, and the Glenrae was dived again in February after the Wangepekahad revealed a record count at the lower site. Staff concluded at the time thiswas due to the trout seeking thermal refuge in the cooler waters of theWangapeka, so it was decided to re-dive the Glenrae site to see the effect thewarm temperatures had on the Upper Motueka.1985 1987 1989 1994 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018

As expected, numbers at Glenrae were significantly lower than the Novembercount, with most remaining trout located downstream of the Hinetai Spring orin deep pools which had cold groundwater flow coming through. UPPER MOTUEKA - GOLDEN DOWNS4035302520151050 1989 1996 2000 2009 2012 JAN 2016 MAR DEC 2016 2017 2016 (POST Large Medium FLOOD) SmallMOTUEKA - AT GLENRAE 140 120 100 80 60 40 20 0 Large Medium SmallThis is just a part of the F&G fish report. If you would like afull copy of this report please let me know, and I can email itto you. It covers Nelson Marlborough region .

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