Ronan's Report

Iza’s First Fish On Fly…

October 31st, 2014 Ronan Creane No comments

So much time has elapsed since my last blog that I don’t know where to start! I’ve had 8 days on the water since writing and I don’t have the energy to write about it all. There were a number of highlights; some big fish, some stunning fish, fishing with Robie, fishing with Iza..

The best bit was coaching Iza on to her first fish on fly. We fished together on the secret dam on a Saturday with very mixed weather. mostly rainy and cold! She hooked a fish or 2 but didn’t land any. She did hook and land a fish but I made the cast. valuable fish playing practice none the less..

On Sunday we fished a local tributary of the Clutha. We fished from the confluence up. Not too far up I spotted a trout happily feeding in the eye of a pool. The water was swirling around so a drag free drift was difficult to achieve. Iza could see the fish from time to time so she knew where her fly needed to land to drift into the trouts lair. All the hours spent practising on lawn and water kicked in and she was sending in consistently decent shots. Eventually he ate. I saw the dry above the nymph check but I wasn’t sure if it was an eat, Iza noticed the dry stop too but struck without hesitation and hooked the fish. She played it well and when I fumbled with the net she dragged it up onto the bank. So I had dam all part to play in her first fish! She did it all from strike to land.. I put the fish in the net while I got my camera out to record this special moment. I left the net down and stepped away then turned around to take the photo. As I did I saw the trout zoom out of the net towards freedom! It was disappointing not to get a photo but it was great fishing event!!

Robbie Mcphee and myself fished together for a few great days last weekend. Iza joined us on the last one and she got a lovely 4lber in the first pool. This time the photo was a success! Cheers Robbie! She also hooked and lost one of about 6lbs so its all starting to happen for her…

I remember my first fish, I’ve guided many onto their first fish on fly.. Some close friends, Nigel, Tom, Fuzz, Jamie, Nico, Irene, Adam, spring to mind.. Justin, Eamonn, Kevin.. Have another go!! Its a special moment.. It was for me anyway!

The stories from the the other missions will have to be told in photos!

Ronan..

PS. Submissions to stop the “round the mountain cycle trail” ruining the upper Oreti valley must be in by the 3rd. All info here.. https://www.sexyloops.com/blog/2014/10/18/the-oreti-needs-your-help/

: Kevin went after gold, I went after trout…

: A beautiful small stream trout..

: Anticipation approaching some likely water up ahead..

: One of the better fish that day out of about 10. Kevin picked me up in the evening, no walk out!! He got some gold, a great day for both of us..

: The mighty Clutha.. Iza and I spent a day exploring one of it’s tributaries close to home. It was ok!

: Lots of these flowers growing from sand. Breandan??

: Iza hooked into her first fish on fly. Safely landed but I managed to let him out of the net before I got a photo!!

: Happy angler none the less!

: Iza really getting to grips with her fly-rod at the secret dam.

: I decided to slightly modify my go-to dry.. Leaving the post at the front so that I can see it better. The fish wont mind!

: A day out with Robbie yielded this fine rainbow.. That was it for me for the day. Robbie also had one. I filmed it. Check it out at the bottom of the page.