Weather: 5.4° Fine with morning frosts. Light winds.
River Flow: 35 Cumecs (m³/s)
There was a thick frost around this morning, but it was more than made up for by a stunning sunrise and a layer of mist hanging over the river.
Before heading to work, I popped down with Sombra the cat to see if I could gather a bit of intel from anyone brave enough to be out in the cold. I bumped into one angler who likes to squeeze in a few casts before work. In the short time he'd been fishing, he'd landed two nice fresh fish and said things had definitely been improving lately.
We're also back to that time of year when getting your flies down to where the fish are holding becomes increasingly important. As water temperatures cool, fish tend to sit deeper and conserve energy, so don't be afraid to fish heavier flies or add enough weight to ensure you're getting into the strike zone.
Reports from anglers fishing the smaller rivers have been equally encouraging, with good numbers of fish being encountered and, perhaps more importantly, the fish themselves looking to be in excellent condition. Many have been commenting on how healthy and strong the fish are, with bright colours and plenty of energy once hooked.
It's a positive sign for the season ahead and shows that it's not just the main river producing results. Those willing to explore some of the smaller tributaries are finding fish well spread throughout the system, with plenty of opportunities available for anglers prepared to put in a bit of time on the water.
Throughout the day we've been hearing more and more success stories from anglers connecting with fresh fish, which is always a good sign that things are starting to build momentum. Reports have been coming in from a range of spots along the river, with fish continuing to move through and anglers being rewarded for putting in the time.
In terms of fly selection, the pattern has been fairly consistent. Early morning through until around lunchtime, the slushies have been doing most of the damage, particularly while the water temperatures are at their coolest. As the day warms and insect activity increases, caddis patterns and other natural imitations have been producing well through the afternoon. Then, as the light begins to fade towards dusk, the slushies have once again been proving hard for the fish to ignore, accounting for a number of fresh fish late in the day.
If the current conditions continue, there's every reason to expect the fishing to keep improving over the coming days.
One of the highlights from today came from Pete and Lewis. Pete has been taking Lewis out for casting lessons for quite some time, helping him build confidence and put in the hard yards before finally getting him on the water for his first proper fishing session.
It didn't take long for the practice to pay off. On just his third cast, Lewis hooked into a fish, and what a fish it was. An absolute stunner that had both Pete and Lewis grinning from ear to ear.
Stories like these are what it's all about. There's something special about seeing someone land their first fish, especially when it's the result of dedication, patience, and plenty of practice. The excitement, the smiles, and the sense of achievement are hard to beat, and it's great to see all that effort rewarded with such a memorable first catch.
From the sounds of things today, we are well and truly seeing the fishing start to ramp up here in the Central Plateau. With ideal river flows, colder temperatures, and more fresh fish being reported each day, it's shaping up to be an exciting few weeks ahead.
Hopefully we'll have even more success stories, photos, and fresh fish reports to share over the coming days as more anglers get out on the water.
Tight lines everyone! Stay warm out there, and I'll be back with another report on Saturday.
~ Niamh (Bluey)