Weather: 14° Mostly cloudy. Northwesterlies.
River Flow: 31.8 Cumecs (m³/s)
It’s been a quiet week at the shop, with most anglers heading off around the country for opening season, including some of our own team who’ve made the trip down to the South Island. That said, we’ve heard that a lot of rivers down there were blown out with all the recent rain. Still, there have been plenty of stunning fish caught across the country, and it’s been great to see the photos and stories coming in.
This morning, Tim and I decided to hit the big lake early to try our luck with jigging. We'd heard reports of good numbers being caught in certain spots. A little early in the season for it usually, but as with anything in fishing, things are always changing. Sometimes it’s worth just getting out there and giving it a crack.
We managed to hook into four fish over the course of the morning, which was pretty slow going... So maybe not quite time for jigging just yet.. At least not for us.
After a quick bite back on land, we decided to shift gears and head over to Lake Rotoaira for the afternoon. That turned out to be a much better call.
Despite battling some strong winds, we found success nymphing the drop-off in the canal. It was more sheltered there than out on the open lake, which definitely helped. All up, it turned into a really solid day on the water.
A Bit of informal Pre-Comp Coaching with Cory Scott
We had the pleasure of hosting Cory Scott after hours for a relaxed teaching session with some of the beginners gearing up for this weekend’s lake competition on Lake Kuratau.
The evening was a great opportunity for those who’ve never fished Lough style, or are still new to it, to get their questions answered and learn the basics of this unique method. Cory shared a lot of valuable insights, helping to boost confidence and get everyone a little more prepared for the days ahead.
More Sessions to Come – And We’d Love Your Ideas!
Looking ahead, we’re keen to host more of these kinds of sessions in the future. There’s always something to learn, and we all benefit from sharing knowledge, whether it’s about technique, gear, or new spots to explore.
We’d love to hear your suggestions on what you'd like to see covered in future evenings. Flick us an email with any ideas, we’re all ears!
Weekend Forecast & River Update
As we head into the weekend, the forecast is calling for more rain and wind, especially on Sunday. It might slow things down a bit for anglers, but the important thing is just getting out there and giving it a go.
With many people still away fishing around the country, we’re expecting less traffic on the local waters compared to the busy winter period. That means more space and quieter conditions, a welcome change.
The rivers are still fishing incredibly well. The on-and-off rain has kept things fresh, and we’ve noticed that the multiple flood events over winter seem to have delayed some of the runs. We’re still seeing late surges of fresh, silver fish moving through the systems, an exciting bonus for this time of year.
Tight lines, everyone!
~Niamh (Bluey)