Cicadas to sea-runners to speeding tickets….
Last Saturday Mike Bonn and I took the Wakitipu Anglers Club boat out on Lake Wakitipu to target Cicada feeders. I have not fished for trout feeding on Cicada’s very often but one observation I made in the past stud true on the day. The trout were sipping down the big morsels like little mayflies. There were very few smashing rises, In fact,we only saw about 10 free risers all morning. If they were smashing them we’d have seen heaps! They were clearly zoned in on cicada’s because our big, shop bought cicada patterns were all they wanted. I have often heard about fish hitting cicada’s very hard but I have rarely seen it happen. The truth is that once a cicada lands on the water he’s not getting off it again. Trout zone in on this behaviour after eating a few and instinctively adapt their behaviour to match ( I hope I worded that correctly Bob Wyatt, feel free to comment!!) Cicada’s range widely in size and colour so maybe they only sip down the medium sized grass green ones!! Who the hell knows.. Regardless, Mike and I had a great few hours on the water. Afterwards I went to James and Caroline Wilkinson’s Wedding. Thanks James and Caroline.. Great fun had by all! (apart from getting a speeding ticket while trying to keep up with Jeff on the way the the river the next day!)
Wednesday, Waitangi day. No work so Jeff Forsee and myself set out to catch a big searun brown. I’m tired now so I’ll keep this short! Basically, Jeff had to open about 15 gates before we got to where we wanted to go, then a 300m climb into a gorge, then about 5ks of very rough gorgy terrain to get a shot at a handful of fish. They were tough! We each had a 7lber. I lost 2 more one of which I reckon was 9 plus. Then the walk out. Down the river first then up a stream, then up and over a mountain, down a gorge, and back out the same gorge to find the truck a few k’s down the track. Fitness helps about as much as stubbornness! My knee gave up but still worked. Thankfully it’s almost fine today but my legs are sore! Jeff said his were too and Kanai is still asleep. Was it worth it?… Fuck yes.
Ronan..
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- Last Sunday fishing with Mike Bonn on Lake Wakitipu…
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- Mike into one of the better fish of the day in crystal clear water..
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- The fish were plentiful. We had 20 for a morning on the water, all between 1 and 3lbs.
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- The lake shelves off quickly and the stronger fish bored deep.
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- All fit and healthy!
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- There is always a fish or 2 around a stream mouth!
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- Surprising golden fish from water where I’d expect them to be silver!
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- Mike and I had one Rainbow each!
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- One of the better brown’s of the day about to kick off..
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- Wednesday with Jeff.. Wordpress jumbled up the pics at bit so they’re not in proper order!
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- Nice pocket water but fish were few and far between..
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- I could see where a fish should be!
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- A deep, dark pool.. Jeff and I pulled heavily weighted streamers through it but no joy!
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- Brand new second hand Simms boots.. These are dam good! The best I’ve used actually. They’ve got some funky studs on ’em that “stick like shit to a blanket” as Joe Creane would say!
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- Jeff and his best friend!
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- Jeff sends in an accurate shot..
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- Result!
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- All the water through a tight gap..
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- Nice water but few fish..
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- I think these rock lines were built by the Chinese during the gold mining era.. Amazingly they have not washed away!
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- We followed a creek out..
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- Kenai! Wrecked at the end of a long hard day negotiating difficult gorges and lots of climbing!
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- A disgruntled Jeff opining the 15th gate on the way out! Good to be the driver!!
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- The next 4 pics were meant to be the first 4!!
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- A beer and a good sandwich is worth stopping for during a day on the water!
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- Jeff fishes to one.. The few fish we encountered were not easy!
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- A nice sea run brown for me!
