Over this season I’ve seen 2 trout that I had first seen many years before. Both from high country rivers where trout are known to get pretty old. I contacted my friend, Rasmus Gabrielson, to find out a bit about how old trout get. Rasmus reckons from some surveys done on one of the rivers that it would take a brown trout about 12 years to reach 9lbs. 9lbs is important because both trout were that weight when I caught them first. The first trout I caught back in 2013. He was one of the most spectacularly coloured trout I had ever seen. He had a dark patch on his right gill cover. This would make him easy to identify if I was to ever see him again. Over the years I did see him on occassion. The dark patch easily visible as long as there was no wind riffle. His colour never seemed as striking as when I first caught him but I always assumed it was the same fish. Twice he ate my clients flies but but each time the rod came up empty. It wasn’t until this season that the stars aligned for Robbie to catch him. If it wasn’t for the dark patch on the gill I would never have picked him as being the same trout. For confirmation I compared photos and the spots matched. Some spots seem to have moved a little, some new ones have appeared and some have disappeared but its still easy to see that it’s the same trout. The dark patch has gotten much darker. Whats really amazing is that if that fish was 12 when I caught him first, he’s 20 now and still going strong.
The other fish I first caught in 2015. He was also one of the most beautifully coloured and marked trout I had seen – and still is to this day – both are actually. After I caught this fish I didnt see him for years. I caught him again in 2020 and again in 2021. Still the same weight and still looking good. Assuming this fish was 12 when I first caught him, he’s 18 now and also still going strong. I caught this fish from 2 adjacent pools. The first fish mentioned has been in the same pool for every sighting. This really proves the territorial nature of some trout. It also proves their resilience and ability to be caught and released many times. There’s photos of both trout on their first and last capture at the bottom of the list below. One has certainly changed a lot. Rasmus told me about brown trout from Norwegian high country lakes reaching 30 years of age. I wonder if we have a 30 year old brown trout in NZ? I think we could.
I’ve picked these two examples because they were such memorable fish. It’s also easy to know that they are the same fish. I have other examples too of old trout being caught many times over many years. It seems very normal for them reach a certain size and then maintain that weight. Some older trout stop spawning, making reaching old age more likely. Spawning is very hard on trout and claims many every year.
In other news, it’s been a great couple of months of fishing. I’ve been out a lot myself and had some big and beautiful trout. I’ve done some guiding. I didn’t expect to guide a double figure fish this season with so few guide days due to Covid travel restrictions, but Brian from Christchurch proved me wrong. We flew into a wilderness river on day 3 of 3. Fishing was slow – the only way to make it work was to cover kilometres and maximise opportunities. With this plan we found fish. At the end of the day we found a monster! He took the dry but Brian briefly foul hooked him in the tail on the strike. Luckily the trout didn’t seem didn’t seem too bothered and continued feeding. He took my #14 brown nymph a few casts later. This fish faught hard and Brian played him really well. At the very end, almost in the net, he made a dash under a rock. Fully under. We couldn’t see a fin! One chance before the tippet abrades off the rock – go and pull him out! I walked out to the rock and slid my hand under feeling around for the tail – taking a shot of water down my waders as I did. I felt the tail and got a firm grip and pulled him out and put him in my net. What a relief! I was expecting it would be a “one that got away” story! The fish weighed just under 11lbs. To me he looked like an early lake run trout. He was twice as big as any other fish we caught that day.
With the travel bubble open between Australia and NZ, the end of my season is pretty much full but there’s still lots of availability in May. Still plenty availability between now and April 18 for anglers within NZ. Feel free to get in touch. ronan@sexyloops.com or visit my website.
Tight lines, Ronan..
Out for a day on my own checking out some new water..
..some great fish.
One on my red and black nymph.
lovely clear water.
Day 1 of 3 with Brian.
Flew into this wilderness and caught heaps!
Day 2. No chopper but plenty trout about.
Brian landed a good few of these..
Day 3 – Back in the chopper!
Stunning place..
Fishing was tough but the afternoon really switched on for an hour.
Strong fish!
Stable boulders and the fish were there.
Love that definition from olive to silver.
A solid 6lber.
Love this feature in a rainbows tail.
Then this!
Just under 11lbs of magnificence!
Just under 11lbs of magnificence!
“take your pick” Robbie looks in my flybox..
Some new water. Fishing was good but quite a lot of walking between pools.
Lovely,,
I wonder how long the cave will last?
Fish of the day..
Nice water..
Day 2. Big fish hunting..
We had ideal sighting for about 2 hours..
..then cloud.
One very big fish for Robbie. I caught this fish in 2013!
We continued walking ,any kilometres.
Good light at times.
walking, searching..
Then this! Another very big brown.
The light was poor but I just managed to sight this fish. Delighted I did!
Happy men! Now for the big walk out.
27000 steps for 3 cracking trout. success!
A great fun day with Andrew and Will.
Will off the mark..
That smile was there all day!
Andrew into one. A pleasure to have these fellas out..
..they learned and enjoyed!
Lovely spot!
A quick snap on the walk down..
First of the day.
Hard to spot in a deep riffle. Very satisfying fish.
Bryan in..
His favourite fish to date.
That is amazing!
Then me again in the same pool. All about the same size.
I turned over a piece of wood in the local river..
Full of life.
Trout food!
And then a great fish! not bad for a short session..
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..
Last Sunday fishing with Mike Bonn on Lake Wakitipu…
Mike into one of the better fish of the day in crystal clear water..
The fish were plentiful. We had 20 for a morning on the water, all between 1 and 3lbs.
The lake shelves off quickly and the stronger fish bored deep.
All fit and healthy!
There is always a fish or 2 around a stream mouth!
Surprising golden fish from water where I’d expect them to be silver!
Mike and I had one Rainbow each!
One of the better brown’s of the day about to kick off..
Wednesday with Jeff.. Wordpress jumbled up the pics at bit so they’re not in proper order!
Nice pocket water but fish were few and far between..
I could see where a fish should be!
A deep, dark pool.. Jeff and I pulled heavily weighted streamers through it but no joy!
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!
Jeff and his best friend!
Jeff sends in an accurate shot..
Result!
All the water through a tight gap..
Nice water but few fish..
I think these rock lines were built by the Chinese during the gold mining era.. Amazingly they have not washed away!
We followed a creek out..
Kenai! Wrecked at the end of a long hard day negotiating difficult gorges and lots of climbing!
A disgruntled Jeff opining the 15th gate on the way out! Good to be the driver!!
The next 4 pics were meant to be the first 4!!
A beer and a good sandwich is worth stopping for during a day on the water!
Jeff fishes to one.. The few fish we encountered were not easy!
I’m at Christchurch airport right now and my bag is checked through to Dublin. Snakehead has just appeared on the agenda for Thailand in a few weeks so hopefully my next blog (probably in about a month but possibly sooner) will have 3 countries and multiple species in it which will make a welcome change from trout.. I’m happy to be heading home for what will surely be an epic trip.
Last weekend was tough. I broke in 2 fish which I shouldn’t have and one was possibly a double. I hooked 5 in total and only landed one. Day one brought tough sighting conditions but day 2 was perfect and I blanked! I fished lots of new water and I’m excited about getting back there for some really big days in the new year..
If I don’t get a report up before Christmas and New year I hope you all have a great one!
Fish hard..
Ronan..
Clearly a 4×4 is not necessary to get here!
8 vintage cars in the middle of nowhere!
Day 1. No sun but I could spot fish on sandy eyes.
Lovely 6.5lb hen fish.
Went to Pete’s 60th after an enjoyable day on the water. We dam near polished off a keg!
Greg and Pete. Work mates. We had a great night under a walnut tree out of the rain! Here’s to another 60 Pete!!
Day 2. Perfect conditions, 8ks, saw 7, landed 0. had 3 shots. Broke in one. My fault!
When I left the Highlands of Tasmania over 2 years ago I knew it would only be a matter of time before my return. My recent 6 weeks in Tasmania was everything I had hoped for and more. The fishing was not as good as when Paul and I were up here but that’s fishing and it didn’t detract from the whole highland experience. Like I said before, Tassie is as much about the people and the way of life as it is about the fishing. When I arrived in the highlands I called in to see John (The Pom/Woodstock) but he wasn’t in, he was at Dons so I went there where I met Don, John and Bob (bush mechanic from “3 Wheels on my Wagon” in SLTV). I had intended to fish that day but that took a back seat to a few beers… lots of beers. My plan was to live in Sean’s Subaru but Don very kindly put me up instead. That’s the Highlands for you, very social and very hospitable. Thanks again Don!
Many of the people I got to know over my 2 visits to the Highlands came to Don’s place on my last day for a few beers and food. Noby cooked up a feed of mutton birds which I have to say were miles ahead of the NZ mutton birds I had a few years ago. Actually, they were one of the best things I’ve eaten, full of fish oil and flavour from the sea. The roast from Dons Dad’s pet cow didn’t last long, in fact Don and John missed out! Everyone ate and drank well and a few of us pushed through till dawn, well not quite…
Thanks to all the Highlanders for making the place so special. I wont tell anyone how good it is!
See you all again soon..
Stuntman Ronan..
PS. Congratulations to my great friend John O Malley on his engagement to his beautiful partner Bronwen Kearns! I really hope I can make it home for the big day… If I’m invited!! 🙂
A nice little fish in my last few days in Tassie!
A few dries for night fishing. Lumo beatles and rat faced McDougles (Great name for a fly!!). Lumo dries work and I’m the only person I know who fishes them!
A beautifully marked night caught brown on the Rat Face.
The same trout about to swim off under the light of my headlamp. Looks a little prehistoric!
This was my stubbie cooler while I was staying at Don’s place! What can I say!!!
And the other side… :))
A large skink near one of the 19 lagoons.
Another old Boags can!
My last Tassie fish for a while
This was home for 6 weeks…
Hair and Bronwyn’s son Oliva going through the cat flap!
Almost there….
Wash your teeth with the coffee and sugar on the lemon while sucking the lemon juice through the whole lot.. This straight after a shot of vodka. Dam good!
John, Pete and Noby..
Chatting by the fire pot…
Noby expertly cooking the mutton birds..
These taste incredible!
Getting the last bit off the bone..
Tom, a young fella from beside the Great Lake tied me these flies for NZ. Cheers Tom, I will catch fish on both!
Great music, great food, great drink, great people!!