UppaCreek Ltd.

NETTING
1. Use strongest tippet possible to ensure your success but also to shorten the battle with the fish.

2. Use barbless or crushed barb hooks.

3. Use a net to avoid dragging the trout over shallow water and onto rocks etc. Keep your capture under the water all the time until ready for a photo and release.

HOLDING
4. Once netted, squeeze the fish just in front of the tail. The pressure must be firm and applied directly on top of (the back) and underneath. Do not squeeze the sides.

5. The trout should, with this pressure applied correctly, be “knocked out” and consequently will not damage itself by struggling. Try not to walk in front of your netted fish, especially over a sandy bottom, so that it is not getting silt and sand in its gills.

6. The fly can now be removed with the free hand and, if a photo is desired, get your companion to have the camera ready prior to holding up the fish so that it is kept out of the water for the least time possible. I aim for no longer than 10 seconds and if there is a problem with the camera or pose it is better to replace the trout in the net (under water) until ready again. After all, we wouldn’t like being shoved under water for any length of time so look at it from the fish’s point of view!

RELEASING

7. Place the trout back in the water facing the current. If possible, try to choose a spot where the current is not too strong and where the fish has access to cover eg. undercut bank, deep drop-off. Release the pressure while supporting the trout and it should regain its senses and depart quickly.

TIP

I use wet gloves when handling trout to reduce knocking off scales & slime and for better grip, although wet hands will do.

Happy catch and release fishing!

The fishing this month has been above average for this time of the year, with some large 7-10lb fish being caught regularly along with the average 4-5lber’s. This has been due to the very high amount of rainfall this month, especially later on in the month. (as I am writing this we have just finished another two days of heavy rain).

There has been a consistent rainfall every couple of weeks which has kept the rivers in tip top shape. The larger fish have been caught on both dries and nymphs, when the rivers have still been coloured and quite high.

February was good for the terrestrial once again with cicada’s, beetles, and willow grubs just to name a few. Carty’s General Terrestrial is a good alround pattern but will not work as well on some rivers like the Motueka.

There has been quite a bit of wind around this month as well so a weighted nymph due to its great momentum can be hurled into the teeth of a gale abit easier than a dry fly. Good patterns are Green Stonefly size # 8 and 10 or Tungsten Pheasant tail size 16 – 14.

A gold bead on the top of a double nymph rig with a smaller black bead or natural nymph on the bottom has been working well. Indicators should be kept as small as possible yet still visible, this sometimes means changing up and down depending on the type of water being fished. i.e riffles and rapids as opposed to calmer slower stretches.

The autumn hatch has started on the Motueka so the duns should start going off in the evenings especially once the rivers drop. I personally can’t wait for this as it gives me some fishing time to myself in the evenings.

Good luck to everybody out there in the month of March, and may the hatches keep on coming.