I just couldn’t help myself yesterday afternoon. A morning in the office saw me chomping at the bit to do something, anything. With no real breeze blowing I decided to head back to one of my local trout fishing spots where I had had good success they day before. I got there about 3pm and rigged up again with my 8 wt and a medium fast sinking shooting head line and tied on a green rabbit (duller light conditions than the previous day and got into work. Didn’t take long (2 casts) and I was hooked in to a nice brownie of about 3.5 lbs and after landing that I  continued to work my way down about 150m of big river hooking into fish after fish. One little spot where every cast resulted in a bite or hook up. The end result was 12 to the bank in about 1.5 hours and 3 lost and I would think about 6 hits missed out on, all in all a tremdous afternoon out of the office.

A good mix of brown trout which are spawning and alos rainbows which are hanging out taking the free feed of eggs as the float downstream. Nothing big today, about 4.5 lbs was the largest trout but in big water even 2.5 lbs give you a good run for your money – especially the rainbows.

This chunck of water only fishes well for about 4-6 weeks max as there are the spawning brown trout and the hoover rainbow trout so we proably have a few more good chances over the next month to have some fun in this area.

Off up the mtn 2moro – rostered on to work, but if the weather is puss on Coronet Peak I will probably attack the water again in the afternoon or maybe go for a duck shoot either way it wil be a good day – some skiing, some fishing, some shooting – maybe I can get all three in!

BIG water in New Zealand

NZ Fly Fishing Expeditions New Zealand is a post from: Fly Fishing Expeditions New Zealand

New Zealand Fly Fishing Expeditions NZ Fly Fishing Expeditions New Zealand - Fly Fishing Queenstown, Southland and Fiordland New Zealand

I had a great day today, A dozen quick runs on the Quad at Coronet Peak to get my ski fitness up enjoying the fabulous snow conditions and my new Salomon skis and playing with my early season techinque.

Here’s something to think about early season (if you are a skier):

Feel pressure along the whole length of the foot as you ski (not just the heel or the toe).

Widen your stance to hip width or slightly wider.

Focus on disciplined hand and arm position (don’t let them wave all over the shop.

Thinking about these three things as you start your season will be a good foundation enabling you to progress faster this year. Get a ski lesson at an NZSKI snowsports school to find out more! Oh remember to ask for Simon Wilkinson if you want a private ski lesson at Coronet Peak.

After my quick ski I decided putting some dinner on the table might be a good idea (keep the wife happy), and popped down to one of my favourite fishing spots near Queentown. Using a shooting head medium fast sinking line and a yellow hairy dog (fine weather – go for a lighter color fly) streamer fly I into hooked into a good fish (8.5lb brown trout) second cast and enjoyed a good battle in the large and fast moving water) I hooked and landed twomore  trout  which I let  go, and had 2 more bites that didn’t translate into hook ups. Time to go home with dinner for another day! Where can you do that, go ski in the morning and then catch big NZ trout a 1/2hr later! Queenstown and Coronet Peak Rocks!

8.5lbs brown trout - winter fishing in the wakatipu

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NZ Fly Fishing Expeditions New Zealand is a post from: Fly Fishing Expeditions New Zealand

New Zealand Fly Fishing Expeditions NZ Fly Fishing Expeditions New Zealand - Fly Fishing Queenstown, Southland and Fiordland New Zealand