One of the highlights of this season for me was mid summer dry fly action. Even in summer it’s hard for me not to fish a nymph. This summer though, I had so many days where the single dry rig was the only one to step up for the shots. I’m happy to catch fish on any fly or tactic but there’s no denying how great it is to watch a trout, preferably a big trout, coming up to take a dry. My cicadas were really great and accounted for some very big trout over the summer. No doubles this season (yet!?!) but we saw a few nines in the net and lots of other really top end trout. The photos below take me up to early February so there’s more summer stuff coming later. I’m always a couple of months behind but what harm!!
Myself and Robbie caught up for a few days fishing after a long time of not catching up at all! Life gets away on us sometimes. Robbie caught all the big ones – no surprise there! We had some full on fishing, mostly on dries. One funny day where every time we decided to call it a day, another fish would rise. We were on the river til late that eve. We explored some new water from an excellent new access for me.
We’re now into the last month of the regular season over here. The fishing has been pretty tough locally. Some great days but more tough days than I’d expect for this time of year. The hatches have been pretty minimal so far but there’s a few weeks left. April has the most dependable hatches of the season so I really hope it winds up for the next few weeks.
I have the next few days to fish myself. No plan as yet. I’ll decide in the morning!
For a look at my patterns available over at Fulling Mill you can check out this link. They’re also available in store at Patagonia Queenstown.
Next season is filling up fast. Feel free to get in touch with any enquiries or to make a booking. You can find me on my website or email – ronan@sexyloops.com
Tight Lines, Ronan..
Robbie into a 7lber.A super trout on one of Dads buzzers.The bridge fish! This was a great day.Robbie testing his gear!Like a cheetah…A rising trout is the target..I knew it was a big fish from my vantage point..It certainly was..Back he goes…Victorious!Crazy rocks and dark, tannin water.Wilderness..Lots of history here for Robbie.Great to be able to drive to this spot.Great to see Mike again..The one that got away....this one didn’t!On the Tussock Cicada.A very healthy 5lber. The best of the day.Nice water..The fish were hiding on this day..Alun!Stunning water down south.One of my favourite pieces of water..Jon Eric into one..Back he goes..Looking for the big one…. no joy!A few members of the Defective Gene ClubA wild river..Mackenzie country.A bent rod!One on my kiwi dun.This one on my brown nymph. Another on the brown nymph.Back he goes..A flat tire changed our plans… and worked out great!A long, bumpy drive in..Summer dry fly at its best..Healthy trout..Iconic.Down south. One of the best days of the season!I had a great few days with Will.Tiny stream with superb trout.Kiwi dun nailing it all day..Another 5.5.. what a day.Joe covers a fish..Into one..Our annual pilgrimage..8.5lbs on the Tussock Cicada – Great story behind this trout.Smoke in the air..Into another.. This one blind fished on the Tussock Cicada.An incredibly fat 9lber.Thick.A really magnificent trout.There is a fish in there…End of the day. Dry the socks and bring the steaks to room temp!A nice starter while we wait.Breakfast!Marcus’s version of my mothers recipe, cooked in Melbourne and flown to Queenstown (legally!)..Time to take on the day..What a start!Condition!!! Highcountry green Cicada.Another great fish.. I have never seen on in this pool before..Brilliant fish.. This one on my indicator dry size 12.
It’s busy now! Not much time to think let alone write. The usual for this time of year. The pictures below take me up to early January. They begin with the continuation of Jeffs trip. A tough trip in general but we put it together and had some brilliant moments and solid fishing… and a blank or two!
Christmas was a family and friends affair. I always keep a week over Christmas free just for that. There’s usually a straggler or two who appreciate a place to go for the celebrations, namely Alan, who didn’t make it this year. Hopefully we’ll see him next season. Wesley and his family were here for a few days, Guy was here as always and Robbie for the first time in ages. Usually he fishes on Christmas day but now that he’s retired he’s a bit more relaxed. Plenty fishing chat, beers and craic. Absolutely brilliant to be surrounded by friends and family.
After a generally tough early season things have improved a lot. I’ve really enjoyed this summer guiding. I generally don’t guide much locally from about mid jan til march because there’s nothing much left in the rivers after the farmers irrigate their land. They also get quite warm, due in part to their low flows. Instead I’ve been road tripping and getting into a great mix of water from Southland to Mackenzie Country to the Maniototo. It’s been really good but more on that when the relevant pics make it into the blog.
One thing I’ve been doing recently with great success is alternating between two patterns which have been killing it for me this summer season. Dry fly fishing has been A1 and I’m talking dries now. One is my Tussock Cicada in a 10 (also a good caddis pattern) and the other is Mcphails Blowfly. Both available from Fulling Mill. What I like about this combo is the contrast. If one doesn’t work the other probably will. Now that I think about it, I should have fished them both together instead of changing from one to the other.. I used to do that in the past and I really enjoyed fishing 2 dries. When they want dries, fish 2! Why not.. Next time. I’m glad writing this reminded me of that old tactic.
To see my full range of flies with Fulling Mill click here. There’s a few additional sizes this year which really add to the versatility of the collection. My hotspot is now available in a 14. The brown nymph is available in a 16 which is a little heavier than the claret 16. My cicadas are available in a 6 so when you need a big terrestrial you have it. Also the willow grubs are now available in size 18 and 20. Check them out! Also available in Patagonia Queenstown. I’m happy to answer any questions you might have about them.
Next season is filling up quickly. Feel free to get in touch about booking or with any questions. There’s still availability in April and May this season and through the winter season. ronan@sexyloops.com or visit my website.
Tight lines everyone.. Ronan..
Continuing from the last blog.. Jeff proudly wears a gift from my daughter, Adaline. She’s a great tier for 7 years old.See the fish? I can’t, but he’s there....and we got him.A new day and a great start..Good action today..Into another..well conditioned brown..A good cast and he ate… but got away.My favourite section on a stunning and peaceful river.A tangle to finish the day!Tough light today.. and hard fishing.I set up a deep nymph rig to blind fish a deep riffle – Jeff got 2 from it!How quickly a day can turn around..and then another on my hotspot nymph.Tough wind a light all day but 3 in the net in the last hour. Never lose heart!The last day and it was freezing.We got his one in the first pool..The weather deteriorated quickly – 2c, we called it early. It wasn’t a day for wet wading.Cloudy and damp, but lovely.It was pleasure to take Evan out for a couple of days.A good caster! Make a massive difference over here.Raining but pleasant.Into another..My trusty Claret Nymph.We also had a great day after rainbow but I lost the pics!Sometimes they don’t have to be big....but sometimes they are! A great rainbow for James.A good day with these 3. Only one in the net but that’s fishing.A full house for Christmas. Guy, Robbie and Mick.Robbie and Wesley.Guy trying out his new Temu rod.Adaline playing a Dustan trout.A great family day out.Weed and mud! Lovely.Great weather, most of us jumped in for a swim.A good day out..Spoonbill, first time seeing them locally.Tiga into one.Superb.Good action..The one that got away..Only a few opportunities today..One of 3 in the net. This was the best.A successful into to NZ fly fishing.January 1 and Robbie lines up his first trout of the year… which he got!Consulting the box of tricks.A lovely day out..And a few trout. This on my hotspot – Now available in a 14 which I love.A stunner for Robbie.Time to walk out.Fellow West of Ireland man, Padraic, having the perfect start to the day.Things went quiet for a good while after that..A blind fished worm to the rescue.And a cracker he was..Fat!Some great action..One on the 16 brown nymph. A little heavier than the 16 claret.And another fatty.Lovely.Day 2 was a lot harder..But persistence payed off.. 16 brown nymph again.
