20lb Rainbow Trout!
It’s fair to say that I’ve never really cracked the canals! I’ve had a reasonable number of attempts over the years but the really big fish always seem to get the better of me. I’ve hooked them once or twice but just briefly. This time was different, this time I hooked 3! Two of which were sighted which made me question my spending 2 full days scouring the depths with a di7 and a Dore’s Mr Glister. The 3rd I hooked was right on the bank, close to the surface as I was lifting to recast. Again, not backing up my di7 tactic. I lost them all anyway; one was in the 15-20lb class. Jeff decided on pretty much just sight-fishing for them and luckily for us there were a few to be seen when we fished it in July. He persisted until he got one! A monster cruised through a few 10 to 15lb fish and bullied them out of his path before inhaling Jeff’s fly with his permanently open jaws! The battle was on.. Jeff tamed him pretty quickly and I put him in my weigh-net which luckily goes up to 30lbs. 20lbs on the button!
Most people know the canals for being a place where salmon are farmed and wild trout get huge feeding on pellets. A recent survey shows evidence to support that trout feed on a huge natural stock of food such as snails and cockabullies, kilometres away from the cages. This makes it a much more interesting fishery indeed. I have often walked the edges for kilometres while casting a fast sinking line without success. Much of the canals are 6m deep so I might not have been deep enough. I guess I need to keep experimenting! I might make it back up there pretty soon, Nico is dying to fish it so that’s a good enough reason for me!
Loads of stuff coming up in my next blogs, I’ll be talking about 11 days fishing in Ireland for 7 species, Stu’s Superior Flies (I just received a box of his flies they’ve landed plenty fish already), Guiding and whatever else comes to mind! This blog is a little rushed because I have a tonne of stuff to sort out before the season opens on Saturday.
Tight Lines all
Ronan..
For guiding bookings and information you can contact me at ronan@sexyloops.com You can also check out my facebook page which is updated regularly with what’s happening right now! www.facebook.com/ronansflyfishingmissions/
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- Myself, Nico and Oisin.. Oisin just bought himself a fly rod so you’ll be seeing him from time to time! I Like how his beard matches his hat! Nico is armed with a fly rod now too.. Team Ireland!
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- The nicest of 2 rainbows from the Frankton Arm on Wakatipu.
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- Back to the canals, this time with Jeff…
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- This for me to open my account.. No laviathan but always good to catch!
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- Then this brown sight fished from an edge.. Were really looking for fish into double figures..
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- Then this salmon.. A little better.
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- Then Jeff caught this fucker! 20lbs on the dot!
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- What a beast! Just about to be returned to the canal.
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- I kept my salmon. I think it was the tastiest salmon I’ve ever eaten! Just seasoned and panfried in butter.
