As the world descends into chaos, here’s a chance to step into a positive world where fish are feeding and people are friendly. I’m horrified by what’s going on right now. The continuous lies, genocide, hypocrisy and double standards.. but right now here’s a look back at my NZ summer. This blog takes me up to the end of March.
While fishing well out in the backcountry with Marcus we had an unexpected encounter. We had about 2kms left before the fishing ends on this wilderness stream. Upstream I couldn’t make out whether I was looking at was a camouflaged side by side or a rock! As we got closer it was indeed a side by side (4×4, 2 seater vehicle). “Shite”, I thought. “Probably a fisherman?”. When we got to the vehicle we found no evidence of it being an angler but there were no rifle cases either so the jury was out! We decided to continue and hope for the best. Just as we started to make our way upstream a spritely fella came jogging over the hill wearing a fly vest but without a rod. We went over for a chat. It turned out to be Bruce Masson. He’s about 80 I think. Bruce was the man behind the Trophy Trout videos from about 30 years ago. They’re still highly regarded fishing films today and inspired many anglers including myself. Bruce had fished the water above us so that was the end of the day for us. We didn’t mind, it was so good to meet this man. He was fishing with his wife and they had landed a few fish, she was still upstream waiting for him to come back with the vehicle. Bruce has some incredible access to this backcountry area. We had an enjoyable chat about fishing past and present and spoke of some mutual friends. Over the years I have met and gotten to know many people involved with this production, Robbie Mcphee, Bob Wyatt, Chris Jackson and more. I felt quite honoured to meet Bruce. The man behind it all. It was especially great to meet him randomly in this wilderness while he was doing what he loves. Hopefully we’ll meet again!
Next season is filling up fast! January and February are full, March almost full, but there’s still lots of room in the other months. To have a look at my flies which were great for me this season you can check out this link. You can contact me on ronan@sexyloops.com or visit my website.
Tight lines, Ronan..
Otago at it beautiful best..Decent fishing.There’s nearly always a fish here but he’s so difficult to get a drag free drift over…Off to a different wilderness..Some stunning trout.A great trout on my indicator dry.Love those glowing spots.Way off in the relative wilds we met Bruce Mason, the man behind the Trophy Trout videos. It was great to meet him!Chuan and Kim for a while – Dream start for Kim.9.25lbs on my Highcountry Green Cicada.A great moment watching this big head slurp down the dry…Chuan with his reply – almost 8.Highcountry green again.. visible and deadly. southland..On the dry. A slow start to a good day.Some goodies..One for me..Sad to see this stunning landscape being reduced to a pine forest. Nothing is sacred!Lovely.There were a few seatrout here..Kim got one of them.A great moment – I sighted a fish from here, Kim got him!Great country.An enjoyable few days for these fellas!Paparazzi!One of 2 very welcome fish on a da that wasn’t easy.Into the wilds..One of the most insane fights of the season! And the result.Happy anglers..Introducing Daniel to NZ fishing..A great start! And they kept coming..On the flats.. searching.Murky water today but there were a few trout cruising.Dan..Marcus into a little shark..A very different lake today.. Silver beauties! What a fish! Rose up at least 3 feet to eat a buzzer.Quite a day.Stephens first trip to NZ! And what a start..A brilliant fish at 6.5lbsHe was sitting in front of this snag.. 10 points for Stephens cast.A great day.A good start on day 2.then it went dead…didymo was quite bad....but the destruction on the river was worse.. Those trees were protecting the cliff from erosion....an already unstable piece of water, removing the willows will make it worse. We bailed out....a new spot for the last hour..A small rainbow, then this tank..A super fish of 6lbs.Chasing rainbows today.One almost in the bag.A big run down the chute.A hard day today but we managed 2.My 16 claret.I saw this same fish in the same place 4 years ago. She was 7lbs then, just over 6 now.The same fish, same place, 4 years prior..Good fun on the lake for the last day.Plenty of these.Lovely conditions..The rocks are the best!
Fishing continues, both work and pleasure. It’s been one of the most challenging seasons to date with extreme wind being the hardest factor. Some days I tried to hide from it, other days I went into the teeth of it. I got the desired results most days but they didn’t come easy. With the challenge came greater satisfaction with a good result. I had a day in early November fishing on my own in a blizzard with 100kph gusts. I was on a high country lake. 1 degree celsius. I loved it for myself but I’m glad I wasn’t guiding in it!
Things are getting warm here now and with that the terrestrials are about. My cicadas are working well whether I’m seeing them on the water or not. They’re also available in a size 6 this year which will work well for the larger West Coast and beach forest cicadas. I’m currently working on a few new patterns for the 2026 Fulling Mill catalog. You can check out my current range of flies here.
It was great to fish with Mark Regan over here. I know Mark from fishing Corrib back home and we have many mutual friends. We had a couple of great days on the water together. A sunny still water day with lots of fish on buzzers – Mark is no stranger to fishing buzzers! – and then a river day in the rain with a steady stream of mayflies trickling down all day. We had some great dry fly action with trout to 6lbs.
Still some availability from later in March, a lovely time of year! Let me know if you’d like to book or if you have any questions, just ask. More info here or email me at ronan@sexyloops.com. Photos below tell the story up to about mid December. More to come as soon as I get a chance.
It would be nice to see an end to the genocide in Gaza but it looks like rubble isn’t good enough for the Israelis. I think they’re aiming to turn the place to dust. What will be left for the remaining Palestinians? There’s basically nothing left already. This atrocity has left me with a constant sadness since the start. Not just because of the genocide but because of the complicity of our governments, the lies from mainstream media, the silence from celebrities and influential people. It looks like Israel has occupied them all.
Tight Lines, Ronan..
Crazy wind and freezing..No problem keeping the beer cold.The best of 3 from the blizzard on a bugger.5pm I called it a day. 1 degree the truck told me.A much nicer day for Mark from the motherland.We had a few stunning trout from my secret dam on my dads buzzers.Then to the river..A brilliant day where they only wanted dries – My 12 kiwi dun mostly..The best of the day.Back he goes..Solid action all day.Well bent!A couple of days with Tim and Kel..Beginners, they had 1 each per day!Great early season water.A really top end trout for this river for Kel. 16 claret.A great day on my own. I walked about 9ks of river and got picked up at the other end.Plenty of these and a few better.I enjoyed walking the river as much as the fishing.Sandy road awaiting my pick up from Robbie.Robbies first cast on this lake..Superb colours..This super specimen for me on my unweighted nymph.The rocks.This tank on my indicator dry size 14.Back he goes.Camp Island.This fish took my farther into my backing than I’ve even been with a trout.. Straggle nymph size 14.Robbie, Dougal and myself.Dougal heads off to explore a shoreline..A great couple of days.Day 1 with Graeme.. Hiding from the wind!Hard day with every trout in a tough position.A cracking rainbow under a log. Graeme nailed the bow and arrow cast but no joy.Another day another river..A very welcome trout.. They did not come easy. Kiwi Dun.Day 3 it all came together..A great start on my claret 16.Then this 7lb brute..As good as I’ve seen from this river. I don’t think the photo does him justice!Lovely.Action all day.Day 1 with Jeff and Bill – more fuckin wind!Jeff loads the bow..Today I decided to go into thick of the wind instead of hiding from it..It worked but it was tough.Wind.Wind..A nice day finally…And great fishing..A tank for Bill.Jeff I to one..A lovely trout..Back like a shot.Hiding from the wind again..One on my dun.A welcome fish on a hard day.Nice place to be..A great start but it got away, so did many more!!!!A great day..Heading home.. to be continued.
