I’m adjusting well in to my new lifestyle. Not working as a woodworker for 44 hours a week means I have time to think, time to consider my new job as a fly-fishing guide and do whatever it takes to make it work. My guiding season has been slow to start as I expected, but I have a busy period coming up which I’m really looking forward to. My website is not off the ground yet but its happening. I’m at the beginning of something great and I’m enjoying it. I’m excited about where it will lead. Exploring new water is now more important than ever before and I’m lapping it up.
I’ve been enjoying quite a range of fly-fishing lately. I’ve targeted a few big fish, mostly average sized fish, some salt-fly and quite a bit of exploration. Tomorrow I’ll be checking out a river that I have fished before but not for a long time. I’m looking forward to it. More on that on my facebook page tomorrow evening. (https://www.facebook.com/ronans.flyfishing)
One thing I’d like to share from a recent trip to the coast is the story of a challenging brown trout Iza caught. We were walking along a high bank together and I spotted a big fish down below happily feeding in a deepish riffle. The wind was blowing hard up river. The only place to take the shot from was on top of the high bank about 10 foot above the river. Because of our elevation we had to stay well behind the fish so as not to spook it. The cast was a difficult one. Quite long and from a hight, so leaving it very open to being whipped away by the wind. I suggested that she compensate for the wind and cast well left of and to the back the fish and let the wind carry it up. She said that I should take the shot but I convinced her to take it. She did, the first cast fell short but the second one was a pleasure to watch. The cast went left, the wind caught it and carried it up in a curve to the fish. The dry and nymph landed about a meter in front and the trout started to rise to the dry immediately; sailed up and confidently ate it. The strike was bang on and battle was not an easy one. Between scrambling down the high bank to the river, and being connected to an extremely strong fish she did well to land it. A fish like that makes any day a really great one.
I’m at a transition of sorts with my blog. For the last 5 years my blog has been about my own experiences, trips with my friends, my observations in and around the sport of fly fishing. To a certain extent I want to keep it like that but I also want to share my guiding experiences. I guess for the moment I’ll use what ever content and photo’s I feel like and in time a healthy balance of my guiding and my fishing will evolve.
If you’re planning a trip to NZ and need a guide why not get in touch! You’ll be in good hands.. ronan@sexyloops.com
Tight lines everyone.
Ronan..
PS.. If you like this, please subscribe!
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NZ is not all about big trout, far from it. Some of the best fishing you can have is for trout in the 2 to 4lb range.
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This sighted from a shallow riffle..
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Rosy red cheeks!
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The man and his best friend..
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A bright fish for Jeff Forsee..
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On the way home after a day on the lake..
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To be a good guide means I need a huge bank of water to choose from, this was some exploration..
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..on a pretty little stream..
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..which paid off! Wind, rain and cold didn’t put the fish off but it might deter many anglers from venturing out.
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A few flies for a mission to the coast..
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A great cast from Iza where she had to compensate for the wind got her attached to this great fish.
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The fish put up some scrap!
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What a fish! Simply stunning..
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It took me all day but I finally Got one too!
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Not as pretty but not bad at all!
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I love the coast!
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No visit to the coast would be complete without a visit to a river mouth. I hoped for a big sea-trout but I was very happy with 5 of these!
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There’s feck all a “MR Glister” wont catch!
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Ready to settle in for the night, spuds on the boil and steak and mushrooms ready for the pan!
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Dinner for two.
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Some exploration paid off. I landed 2 and saw one more on a 1 hour scout.
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A mighty west coast river..
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A recent exploratory chopper flight, what a great way to view a river!
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Bryan Wrighton enjoying his red letter day. He nailed it. Lots of fish all between 4 and 5.5lbs.
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Very striking..
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I explained a lot about fly choice and how to approach a pool with Bryan, all of which he put into practice successfully.
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Fat and strong..
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Perfect..
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Bryan’s best fish of the day.. He had one heavier but the condition of this fish is outstanding.
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Back he goes..
NZ is not all about big trout, far from it. Some of the best fishing you can have is for trout in the 2 to 4lb range.
This sighted from a shallow riffle..
The man and his best friend..
A bright fish for Jeff Forsee..
On the way home after a day on the lake..
To be a good guide means I need a huge bank of water to choose from, this was some exploration..
..on a pretty little stream..
What a fish! Simply stunning..
The fish put up some scrap!
A great cast from Iza where she had to compensate for the wind got her attached to this great fish.
A few flies for a mission to the coast..
..which paid off! Wind, rain and cold didn't put the fish off but it might deter many anglers from venturing out.
It took me all day but I finally Got one too!
Not as pretty but not bad at all!
No visit to the coast would be complete without a visit to a river mouth. I hoped for a big sea-trout but I was very happy with 5 of these!
Some exploration paid off. I landed 2 and saw one more on a 1 hour scout.
Ready to settle in for the night, spuds on the boil and steak and mushrooms ready for the pan!
There's feck all a "MR Glister" wont catch!
A mighty west coast river..
A recent exploratory chopper flight, what a great way to view a river!
A happy client! 4 fighting fit trout for his morning on the river..
Bryan Wrighton enjoying his red letter day. He nailed it. Lots of fish all between 4 and 5.5lbs.
I explained a lot about fly choice and how to approach a pool with Bryan, all of which he put into practice successfully.
Bryan's best fish of the day.. He had one heavier but the condition of this fish is outstanding.
Categories: Expedition Tags: Big brown trout, Bryan Wrighton, Curved cast, Fishing guide Cromwell, Iza Haspela, Jeff Forsee, Kahawai, Kahawai on fly, Lake Dunstan, Ronan Creane Fly-fishing, West Coast
Perched high on a bank, I could see into the entire pool. The sun was out, it had been behind the clouds for a lot of the morning, so I was scoping quickly before the clouds moved in again. The pool was big and varied with depth and cover and my eyes were picking out the most likely lies from the bottom of the pool to the top.. Then I saw him. Cruising an eddy, a really big fish with a green back and pink flanks and fins. I knew it was an incredible fish. The sun highlighted the colour by shining through his fins. Bright pink, a beautiful, unforgettable sight, but I was dying for a piss. Before I could take this fish on, I had to go. The excitement made me need to go even more. I’m not sure if that’s normal. With one eye on the fish and the other making sure I missed my waders, I did what I had to do.
Back in the zone, this time fully, I watched the fish as he picked up speed and disappeared into the depths of the pool. His slight acceleration suggested that he may have been spooked. I was pretty inconspicuous I thought, but sometimes trout just become aware of your presence for no apparent reason. I watched and watched but he did not return. I stood up and started walking on up river and there he was. He had moved out of the main pool and up into a deep riffle at the head. I followed, but quickly lost him. I rushed back to see if he was back in the main pool, but he was not. I went back to the riffle and briefly spotted him again, then lost him. I watched the water for a while more without a sight. I got myself to river level. I peered in but could not see him. There was a 20′ x 10′ section in the riffle where I could not really see into. Instinct told that’s where he was so I sent in a blind cast. I watched my dry carefully as it drifted downstream carrying 2 nymphs under it. I looked upstream to recast but before I took my flies from the water I glanced to where they were. The green back and pink flanks were where my flies should be. I lifted and the rod bent.
The fight was solid. I had to clamber around a large boulder which overhung the deepest part of the pool as the fish took off down stream. I could not hold him so had to follow. Thankfully Jeff was on the other side of the rock to drag me the rest of the way.. “I have you, 100%” he said. After a few more runs Jeff netted him for me. I thought he might crack the mythical 10lb mark, but he fell short by three quarters of a pound. This did not matter. Such a stunning fish I have rarely seen. This trout is in my all time top 5. The photo below does him justice! Thanks for the shot Jeff..
Ronan..
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After a fun 4×4 mission we got to where we wanted to be!
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Walking, searching…
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Onto a fish which I hooked and lost… Big!
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Hooked into another.. The battle begins!
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I had to clamber around this rock.. Jeff was on the other side to drag me the rest of the way!
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Around the obstacle, the battle continues..
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Strong fish.. almost done!
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Relief, in the net!
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Absolutely spectacular!
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Back he goes..
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Change of tactics..
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Some good decisions late in the day gave Jeff a last chance to catch one…
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Heading home as the light started to fade. The road suffered from floods.. big time!
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No road!
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NZ fly fishing is often a wee bit adventurous!
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One obstacle after the next…
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Still looking after her, John Boy!
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This bit was a little dodgy!
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Back to tar seal.. I didn’t spot that sign in the morning. I don’t think it would have made any difference! Actually, I’m sure..
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Day 2. 1.5hrs fishing.. The smell of the wild thyme is incredible..
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Pretty relaxing in my floating armchair!
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One fat little brown!
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I had the sinking line set up for the deep parts.. Too many snags!
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Not a nice photo to finish with. I saw this fish acting weird, I was able to get close enough to take this photo. I don’t know what this white fungus is or if it’s anything to be concerned about..