Ronan's Report

I’ve had the boat out a couple of times now with the family. She’s lovely! Not built for speed but she gets along just fine. I played with the trim on the engine trying to get the bow down with the throttle opened up. It seems weight up the front might be the only option to get the bow down to plane properly. I’m not convinced that more power would get much more speed but I could be wrong. Even with the 15HP Evinrude I found myself throttling down for optimum performance. I remember learning about “hull speed” years ago – that a yacht cant go past a certain speed based on its hull shape and weight. I’m looking forward to seeing if I can knock a bit more speed out of it with somebody up the front. Maybe with correct weight distribution more power would equal more speed. Time will tell! Cant wait to get it out for an exploritory multi day lake trip. There’s enough room to sleep on board and heaps of space to carry gear. Now to find the time to do it! She also needs a name…

Plenty good fishing lately. I’ve put some highlights in the gallery below. My annual pilgrimage into one of my favourite and most physically demanding gorges was successful. Just like last year I found only one fish – turned out it was the same fish as last year. I’m starting to think he’s the only fish in the river and I’m not joking! I’ve watched fish numbers decline since I started fishing it 6 years ago. No idea why. Such a pristine backcountry river. Great to see my friend for the 3rd time. He’s still 9lbs, in great condition and still in the same part of the river. Funnily enough he was the first fish I ever caught on the river 6 years ago and currently he’s the last. Now he seems to have the whole place to himself. He must be old. 6 years ago he was 9lbs so he must be at least 15 assuming 1lb growth per year til he reached 9lbs. No science behind that, juat a guess. Hopefully when I go back next season I’ll find a new fish in one of the pools – and maybe I’ll see my old friend again too. (this is the blog he appeared in last season. I’ve spent the last hour trying to find the blog he first appeared in but I can’t find it!)

The weather has taken a turn for the worse. Bad timing as I’m supposed to be fishing down south with Robbie today and tomorrow. It’s been raining heavily for about 30 hours now. All rivers in flood. I might hit a lake myself tomorrow. I spent today sweeping water out of the workshop while trying to make some furniture. Guttering and drainage around the house need attention. I’ve added it to the infinite list of jobs!

Feel free to get in touch about a guided fly fishing trip. Plenty spaces in my calendar this season! Check out my website or email me directly ronan@sexyloops.com.

Tight Lines & Happy New Year! Ronan..

Since Dad left almost a week ago I’ve been staying with my good friend Kevin Alexander in Fairlie. I’ve been busy online with organising flights to, from and within Australia, writing my first ever CV, contacting recruitment companies, visa applications, Christmas shopping (unsuccessfully) as well as staying in touch with family and friends. I still made time to get out on the water though, mostly on the local reservoir.

The fishing has been hit and miss. Some days the river mouths have been fantastic and other days, for no reason I can deduct, they’ve been dead! That’s fishing though and it’s all good. On one evening of note I had 3 fish in about 3 hours. A salmon, a brown and a rainbow, The next day I blanked but Mark Adamson managed a couple. All of the lake fishing were doing is from our boat (mine and Kevins). She has a few small problems but without doubt it was the best 400 nzd (thats 200 each!) we’ve ever spent. I doubt an outing in her goes by without mentioning what a bargain we got.

When travelling around the south island catch and release is what I do 99% of the time. The main reason for this is conservation but I eat fish so sometimes I take one or 2 when I know the body of water I’m fishing wont suffer from the loss of a fish or 2. this is generally true on lakes and large rivers. I really enjoy fishing for the table. It’s different because its not about deceiving the fish, It’s about food. I still have hunter gatherer instincts. Yesterday Kevin and I went out on the lake in the evening. We got 2 fish; the first one we took, the second went back.

I’m spending Christmas with Kevin, His Partner Freddie and her family and their baby Macy in Te Anau. Thanks in advance for having me. I have bought you all exceptional gifts so I’ll be expecting the same!

In case I don’t get a blog up on Christmas day I’ll say Happy Christmas to you all now! I hope its a good one. I know Kevin and I will sneak away to the river for an hour or 3, tight lines if you do the same!

Enjoy the festivities! Stuntman Ronan..