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Reel Life Taranaki Jan 2012
Great time to get on the rivers
Regular freshes in December and January have maintained river base flows at relatively high levels, which are only now receding toward their summer lows. While at times this (and the wind) has made for challenging angling, it’s really been all good news for the trout, with reduced stream bed algal growth, lower water temperatures and improved invertebrate food supplies for fish.
Anglers have reported their trout have mostly been in excellent condition and some great fish have been landed, including this 2.75kg brown (below) that Michael Bakker of New Plymouth caught and released in Lake Mangamahoe. Another local angler Isaak Mischefski also sent in some great photos of fish landed this season, including a lovely 5lb (2.25kg) brown.
Now is a great time to get out on the rivers with a nymph or dry fly. Green beetle are still about, cicada are increasing in number, caddis are hatching and the delta-winged passion-vine hopper is also making an appearance. With an abundance of long grass along many stream banks, grasshoppers are also starting to show up. Imitations (or in the case of grasshoppers – the real thing), including old favourites such as the coch-y-bondhu, cast to rising fish or drifted along foam-lines, should take fish. Small (#14-16) pheasant tail nymphs, cased-caddis or similar patterns fished through riffles and pocket water using a bushy dry fly as an indicator, will also be effective, particularly in the upper reaches of streams.
Isaak Mischefski’s 2.25kg brown.
Trout for kids fish out
Up to 500 well grown two-year rainbows from DoC’s Tongariro National Trout Centre will be released into the Patea River Scout Den pool at Stratford for the 14th annual kids’ trout fishing day on Saturday, January 28. Most of these fish aren’t caught on the day and the release provides an excellent opportunity to target rainbows in the section of the Patea River running down through Stratford, where there’s a good walkway on both sides of the river. Locals report that some of last year’s release are still in the river, and have grown very well. About 50 of the Tongariro two-year-olds will also be released into the Stony River. DoC’s donation of all these trout is gratefully acknowledged, along with a grant from the Taranaki Electricity Trust to cover the cost of transporting the fish from Turangi to Taranaki.
On the downside, anglers have reported seeing fewer trout than usual in the Kapuni Stream, and this was confirmed with a drift dive survey just before Christmas. It appears that a couple of major floods in conjunction with erosion high on the mountain has destabilised the habitat, and adversely affected the fishery. Both brown and rainbow trout from Fish & Game’s Hawera hatchery have been released into the Kapuni and more will be liberated as the habitat settles down. Experience with the Stony River indicates that Deleatidium mayflies are well adapted to unstable environments and populations increase rapidly once conditions improve, providing an excellent food supply for the trout that remain.
Didymo tips
Anglers are reminded of the importance of checking, cleaning and drying any clothing, equipment, and fishing gear before moving between waterways – to help prevent the spread of didymo. While didymo has not yet been found in the Taranaki Fish & Game Region, not all catchments are tested for it, so the only safe view to take is that the water you are currently in has didymo – but the next one you visit, hasn’t been infected. For further information on cleaning techniques visit http://www.biosecurity.govt.nz/pests/didymo/cleaning
