{"id":17835,"date":"2026-07-09T01:19:32","date_gmt":"2026-07-08T23:19:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sexyloops.com\/blog\/?p=17835"},"modified":"2026-07-09T01:33:19","modified_gmt":"2026-07-08T23:33:19","slug":"late-season-winter-escapades","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sexyloops.com\/blog\/2026\/07\/09\/late-season-winter-escapades\/","title":{"rendered":"Late Season & Winter Escapades.."},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Between late April and now I fished with a few good friends. First up was Dan, it was good to spend time with him on the water hoping for some late season magic. It didn’t really happen on the river unfortunately but thats how it goes. Staying at Peters Farm Lodge in the Maniototo was a bit of a treat. A cozy, homely accommodation with plenty old character. Getting back there after a massive day on the river was just right. We cooked enough for 4 and to our surprise we ate it all. It really was a big day. We burned off whatever food we had and a lot more. A frosty start on day 2, we gave it our all again. I had a small stream in mind but it had virtually no flow. Things didn’t really go our way but it was still a solid couple of days. Fishing is certainly not all about catching! We did manage to scratch a few out over the couple of days though.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Myself and Jeff struggle to line up our fishing schedules these days. However, we managed a trip in May and one in June. Long overdue. We had 3 fishing days in all, one in May and 2 in June. On the May Day we tore up the lake in Jeff’s family boat to a distant river. $100 worth or petrol each way. 100hp 2 stroke engines, holy feck they’re thirsty.. It was worth it though. We got into quite a few gleaming, fighting fit rainbows on a perfect weather day in a spectacularly beautiful, wild environment. Not a person to be seen. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In June we went up to Mackenzie Country for a couple of lake days. Jeff towed his raft to give us more options. We booked into Buscot Station backpackers. A place I’ve been staying at for over 20 years now. Tony owns and runs the place. He can talk at length on any topic with genuine knowledge from both sides. It’s a pleasure to stay there. Having the craic with Tony, warm clean beds, interesting guests; it’s always a great stay. Jeff and I had 2 nights there. A perfect fishing base. Day 1 we fished on foot. We walked a lake edge for the day mostly sight fishing. I also picked up a couple blind fishing murky water. The best fish of the day was a cracking 6.5lber. Sight fished with one of dad’s deadly epoxy buzzers. Even if still water fish are not specifically feeding on midge pupa they nearly always recognise them as food making them one of the most deadly flies to fish on any still water at any time of year. On day 2 Jeff put his raft in. Same lake but today we had the ability to fish the water we couldn’t reach from the shore. We did well. Landed about 7 up to 5 or 6lbs ish. The best thing about the raft day was how it tied the whole section of lake together. We covered a lot of water and left no stone unturned. between the shore day and the day afloat we now have a really good understanding of that part of the lake. Suddenly it doesn’t seem so vast.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Most seasons I catch up with Dougal for a fish. We left it late this year but had a good day on a high country dam in mid may. We met at the Adventure Hub Cafe. A great spot for a coffee and a chat before venturing up to the lake. Dougal wanted to learn the lake so he brought his boat. This suited me. For a change I wasn’t the one towing or operating the boat. I was able to advise Dougal on the safe runs and areas to be careful in and where I found fish over the years. We’d pull up the boat and fish the shore in opposite directions working the rocky edges. Thats where the fish seem to be late season. We had lovely conditions. Light wind and cloud and plenty active fish. Small brown buggers in the light wind worked best. A great day and I took a couple for dinner.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Had a good day out with Conor for the first time in a few years. Guy also came along and Lochlan too. fishing was surprisingly slow but we all had some action. I think we needed some wind. No wind and full sun all day. Thats not always ideal late season. Lochlan lost 3 in about 10 minutes. He wasn’t bothered, thankfully. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I had a few good days guiding too. Great to see Brendan over for his late season visit. He landed some brutes of trout. Nice to take Chris out again after so many years. We had a day pre covid with 2 of his friends but this time he was back to get the full one on one fly casting \/ fishing experience. New to fly he did great over 2 days catching fish both days and really getting to grips with casting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To check out my range of flies over on Fulling Mill click here<\/a>. 4 new patterns coning next year. I’m looking forward to seeing them available. Next season is almost fully booked but there’s still a few gaps here and there. If you’d like to get in touch you can do so through my website<\/a> or email ronan@sexyloops.com <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Peace – wouldn’t that be nice. Ronan..<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
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The Maniototo area.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Lots of backwaters.. very quiet though.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Peters Farm Lodge. Great to be back after over 20 years.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Dan working the edges..<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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The bridge fish on a brown bugger.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Wilderness with Jeff..<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Jeff into one..<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Almost there..<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Lovely..<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Jeff is a big fan of my claret nymphs..<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Another solid trout.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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One for me on trusty worm!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Fin perfect.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Into one..<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Out with Dougal today..<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Good shoreline..<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Dougal.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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A red finned beauty..<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Myself and Dougal.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Out with Conor, Guy and Lochlan.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Lochlan..<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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A great day.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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A family favourite. Trout crudo and pan fried for dinner.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Chris getting to grips with the fly..<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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His friend joined him on day one.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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First on fly.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Day 2. Into a fish at the first spot of the day.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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blind fishing the braids.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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In again!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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A great 2 days. Plenty fish in the net.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Blind fishing murky water with buggers
is so much fun.. constant expectation.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Brendan catching fish on the point.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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End of day 1.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Interesting formations in the stones – Morning day 2.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Not long for Brendan to connect.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Freshly tied brown buggers.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Day 3..<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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A great start.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Traditional coffee with lunch!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Back to business..<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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7lbs of tank.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Always good where a stream flows in..<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Oh yes. We’ll take that.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Day 4.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Decent fishing.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Day 1 with Jeff..<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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A bright 6.5lber.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Great to fish with my old mate.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Day 2<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Ready to rock..<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Jeff rigs up.. the claret again!
Lake or river, doesn’t matter!!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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What a result.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Lovely.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Jeff<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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2 great days – we learned a lot.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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A great little explore down the Clutha from
Alex. This was our first time checking it out.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Some fishy spots. Lovely day for a cruise.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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One of very few spots to pull up the boat.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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A fantail to keep us company.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Idyllic camp spot..<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Between late April and now I fished with a few good friends. First up was Dan, it was good to spend time with him on the water hoping for some late season magic. It didn’t really happen on the river unfortunately but thats how it goes. Staying at Peters Farm Lodge in the Maniototo was […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[1188,1435,617,1007,1364,1066,1436,376,356,559,1222,1434,1273],"post_mailing_queue_ids":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sexyloops.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17835"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sexyloops.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sexyloops.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sexyloops.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sexyloops.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=17835"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/www.sexyloops.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17835\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":17901,"href":"https:\/\/www.sexyloops.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17835\/revisions\/17901"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sexyloops.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=17835"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sexyloops.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=17835"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sexyloops.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=17835"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}