Special report from Cory Scott
Over the last few months, I’ve spent a lot of time guiding the Taupo River systems. When we time the rains and have a bit of colour in the rivers the fishing can be incredible and almost too easy, that see’s almost any technique or presentation work. Once the river clears and the fish have been pressured as they move through the system fishing has become much harder in the last couple of weeks with no rain, and while this might be about to change again in the next few days, here is what I have worked out during my own intel gathering sessions and time guiding.
In between jobs I spend my time gathering intel, so I can be of better service to my clients. While I am effectively fishing, through my experience as a competition fisherman, I am breaking down the water, the techniques and the drifts to analyze and get data of fish behavior in as fast as possible process. Often when we have competed overseas, we get 5-7 days in a foreign fishery to work out how to approach those waters for the best catch rate possible, often fishing to species of fish we’ve never encountered before. So, while we only have rainbows and browns (in lesser ratio) in these Taupo rivers, the process I go through is the same.
While I do some wet lining if the conditions dictate that, coloured river, wind etc. I tend to use the techniques of indicator nymphing and euro nymphing, the most in this fishery. Over the last week as the river dropped, became “gin clear”, clear blue skies and plenty of angling pressure, to be successful you had to approach more like a backcountry river. Sight fishing was possible, and I often saw fish moving through in the shallows only to have anglers walk straight in and cast to the other side of the river. Fish tended to be holding in zones where they feel they had cover, deeper pools, and on the lips of heavy runs. They were also ignoring any drifts which had even micro drag. Moving the indicator off the fly line (a typical Tongariro traditional setup) and extending leader or tippet out and also getting the indicator as small as it will float your offerings will help immensely. As well as keeping your casts off the water, without water loading or slapping. Fish are holding hard on the bottom and in this river the surface speed is much more than where the fish are holding, therefore drifts are key! Which means 1: Mending must extend all the way or even upstream of your indicator, any line loop either up or downstream depending on the individual flow will drag flies off the bottom. 2: Your rig system must be a uniform thickness throughout the length, if you have a tapered leader beyond your indicator or a thicker butt section, this will be creating surface drag and your flies will never be getting down. 3: Tippets need to go down in diameter! Typically, I run into anglers using 2-3X or 10-7 pound. When conditions are tough, you will find better success using 4-5X or 6-4.5 pound. Yes, it is a strong river, but the majority of the runs have averaged around 3-4 pound, so this tippet size is more than enough, loosen off your drag, don’t attempt to stop or palm the reel on the initial first run and you will find your catch ratio will increase. Of course, I mention this scenario using a #6 rod, if you are using an 8-9 then you will still need to fish heavier.
When it has been super clear and tricky I’ve found euro-nymphing to be most successful technique by a long shot. With less line laying across the different currents that all ads drag to the system in some way no matter how good your presentations are. Euro nymphing cuts through the currents and places your flies in the zone, quicker and with more control. While recently working a pod of fish for data for the next day's guiding, I covered the pod with the same flies on the indicator and euro. I was sight fishing and covering each fish and in 40 odd drifts I had zero response from the fish, I then swapped and in 8 drifts had 5 fish, all fish that Id previously covered. If you are proficient in the euro technique, try to avoid leading the flies and move your rod tip in the drift over or ahead of your flies slightly. Obviously, the draw backs of euro nymphing are wind, and long casts in deeper pools which you can’t wade into, so it is not a magic fix for every scenario.
In terms of flies that are working, early morning before the sun hits the water egg patterns are still doing the job, but as soon as the sun is up, I've found naturals best. I've always believed that presentation and drifts are far more important than the flies, but typically caddis and small PT style ties are working best.
If what you are already doing isn’t working take the time to mix it up and try new things, we often hear that the river is empty of fish, or that they’ve moved through! Perhaps you were successful using a certain setup on your last visit, that doesn’t mean it will always work… be adaptable and broaden your skillset and you will increase your chance of success.
Tight Lines
Cory