Weather: 8.1° Rain, possibly heavy, turning to showers late morning then easing from late afternoon as fine spells develop. North-westerlies turning south-westerly in the afternoon.
River Flow: 29.7 Cumecs (m³/s)
The weather held out right through until last night, making for a fantastic weekend across the Central Plateau. Unsurprisingly, the rivers were busy with anglers making the most of the conditions and chasing fresh fish.
We had some great reports coming through the shop, with plenty of fresh-run fish being landed. Early mornings proved particularly productive, with egg patterns doing most of the damage before interest started to taper off around midday. As the day wore on, anglers found success by switching to more natural offerings, with caddis patterns standing out as a reliable option.
Rosie, Luke and I snuck in a Hinemaiaia mission on Monday and were rewarded with some great fishing. Between the three of us, we managed plenty of fish, with a good number being fresh arrivals. Natural patterns seemed to have the edge on the day, although we did our bit to decorate the riverside trees with a few egg flies along the way!
This time of year offers some of the best opportunities for social fishing. The combination of good mates, plenty of banter, fresh fish and a few adventures along the riverbank makes the winter chill much easier to ignore. All three of us rely heavily on the trout we harvest to help feed ourselves and our families, so these trips mean a lot more than just time on the water.
With the increased angler traffic during the spawning season, tensions can sometimes run a little high. Spending a day on the river with friends is a good reminder of what it's all about. Having fun, sharing a few laughs and appreciating just how lucky we are to have these incredible rivers/awa's right on our doorstep.
Sunday morning saw Sombra (the cat) and I heading off to my favourite river for a quick flick before breakfast. The plan was simple: enjoy a few quiet hours on the water and see if any fish were willing to play ball.
It didn't take long before I stumbled across a small pod of fish holding in a likely spot. A few well-placed casts and some cooperative trout made for an enjoyable start to the day, with a couple of solid fish coming home with me for the smoker. There's something particularly satisfying about a short early-morning mission that produces a feed, especially when you're back home in time for breakfast.
The river was looking great, and with fresh fish continuing to move through the system, it was another reminder that some of the best fishing opportunities can come from those spur-of-the-moment trips when you can sneak away for a few hours.
Looking ahead to the coming week, there's a bit more rain in the forecast for tomorrow and again heading into the weekend. Those freshen-ups should help keep the rivers nicely topped up and encourage more fish to make their move upstream. There are still plenty of fish waiting for the right conditions, and a combination of fresh water and colder overnight temperatures should provide exactly the encouragement they need.
We'll also be busy at the vice this week, tying up more Slushies to keep up with demand. They've been accounting for plenty of fish lately and, with winter now settling in, there's every reason to expect they'll continue to be a go-to pattern over the coming months.
What an incredible weekend it's been. The rivers are in great shape, fresh fish are showing up regularly, and there's a real sense that we're edging closer to that magical time of year when everything starts to fire on all cylinders. If the conditions continue to line up, there should be plenty to look forward to in the weeks ahead.
Tight lines everyone!
~ Niamh (Bluey)