Ronan's Report

I’m adjusting well in to my new lifestyle. Not working as a woodworker for 44 hours a week means I have time to think, time to consider my new job as a fly-fishing guide and do whatever it takes to make it work. My guiding season has been slow to start as I expected, but I have a busy period coming up which I’m really looking forward to. My website is not off the ground yet but its happening. I’m at the beginning of something great and I’m enjoying it. I’m excited about where it will lead. Exploring new water is now more important than ever before and I’m lapping it up.

I’ve been enjoying quite a range of fly-fishing lately. I’ve targeted a few big fish, mostly average sized fish, some salt-fly and quite a bit of exploration. Tomorrow I’ll be checking out a river that I have fished before but not for a long time. I’m looking forward to it. More on that on my facebook page tomorrow evening. (https://www.facebook.com/ronans.flyfishing)

One thing I’d like to share from a recent trip to the coast is the story of a challenging brown trout Iza caught. We were walking along a high bank together and I spotted a big fish down below happily feeding in a deepish riffle. The wind was blowing hard up river. The only place to take the shot from was on top of the high bank about 10 foot above the river. Because of our elevation we had to stay well behind the fish so as not to spook it. The cast was a difficult one. Quite long and from a hight, so leaving it very open to being whipped away by the wind. I suggested that she compensate for the wind and cast well left of and to the back the fish and let the wind carry it up. She said that I should take the shot but I convinced her to take it. She did, the first cast fell short but the second one was a pleasure to watch. The cast went left, the wind caught it and carried it up in a curve to the fish. The dry and nymph landed about a meter in front and the trout started to rise to the dry immediately; sailed up and confidently ate it. The strike was bang on and battle was not an easy one. Between scrambling down the high bank to the river, and being connected to an extremely strong fish she did well to land it. A fish like that makes any day a really great one.

I’m at a transition of sorts with my blog. For the last 5 years my blog has been about my own experiences, trips with my friends, my observations in and around the sport of fly fishing. To a certain extent I want to keep it like that but I also want to share my guiding experiences. I guess for the moment I’ll use what ever content and photo’s I feel like and in time a healthy balance of my guiding and my fishing will evolve.

If you’re planning a trip to NZ and need a guide why not get in touch! You’ll be in good hands.. ronan@sexyloops.com

Tight lines everyone.

Ronan..

PS.. If you like this, please subscribe!

Another swims away..

NZ is not all about big trout, far from it. Some of the best fishing you can have is for trout in the 2 to 4lb range.

This sighted from a shallow riffle..

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Rosy red cheeks!

The man and his best friend..

A bright fish for Jeff Forsee..

On the way home after a day on the lake..

To be a good guide means I need a huge bank of water to choose from, this was some exploration..

..on a pretty little stream..

What a fish! Simply stunning..

The fish put up some scrap!

A great cast from Iza where she had to compensate for the wind got her attached to this great fish.

A few flies for a mission to the coast..

..which paid off! Wind, rain and cold didn't put the fish off but it might deter many anglers from venturing out.

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It took me all day but I finally Got one too!

Not as pretty but not bad at all!

I love the coast!

No visit to the coast would be complete without a visit to a river mouth. I hoped for a big sea-trout but I was very happy with 5 of these!

Some exploration paid off. I landed 2 and saw one more on a 1 hour scout.

Dinner for two.

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Ready to settle in for the night, spuds on the boil and steak and mushrooms ready for the pan!

There's feck all a "MR Glister" wont catch!

A mighty west coast river..

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A recent exploratory chopper flight, what a great way to view a river!

A happy client! 4 fighting fit trout for his morning on the river..

Bryan Wrighton enjoying his red letter day. He nailed it. Lots of fish all between 4 and 5.5lbs.

I explained a lot about fly choice and how to approach a pool with Bryan, all of which he put into practice successfully.

Fat and strong!

Doing battle!

Very striking..

All in perfect order..

Fat and strong..

Perfect..

Bryan's best fish of the day.. He had one heavier but the condition of this fish is outstanding.

A classic jump shot!

Back he goes..