Rivers dropped to good fishable levels this week and have warmed up several degrees but it will not last, with snowfall forecast as well as heavy rain in places.
Looking at the chances of catching fish this weekend from the optimist’s point of view (and are not all anglers optimists?) we may miss out on the worst of the weather.
Rivers in South Otago and Southland will be the worst affected so that leaves East and North Otago as well as the Maniototo waters for us to fish.
Of course, there are stillwaters, although the higher lakes may have snow around them, making access a problem, as well as the cold conditions which may not appeal to less hardy anglers.
The cold snap will be short-lived and conditions will improve from tomorow.
The lower Taieri may escape the worst of the weather and when I crossed it late this week it was looking perfect for fishing, so may be worth a look.
There are plenty of fish in the Southern reservoir and, Sullivan’s Dam always gives the opportunity to catch a fish.
Murray and I fished the Pomahaka at the weekend and we were pleasantly surprised to see how clear it was, as it had been very dirty recently. It was also at a good height for fishing.
We were even more surprised to see that all the willows have been cleared upstream of the SH90 bridge. That reduces cover for fish but also make more water accessible.
There were a few fleeting showers passing through as we tackled up, which did not dampen our enthusiasm, as we decided which size hare’s ear nymph to start with. Murray headed upstream and I went down.
By the time I started fishing the weather had cleared and it was very pleasant, although I did not see any fish rise or any fly life for quite a while.
Eventually I saw a fish rise and got the fly in front of it and it took straight away.
I struck and pulled the fly out of its mouth. It kept rising, so I cast again and again it took the fly but this time I hooked it, briefly before it dropped off. Must be nearly lunchtime, I thought.
After lunch, a fish rose in the first pool I fished and this time I landed it. Moving upstream there were a good number of mayflies on the water by now and on the next pool more fish were rising.
I had an unweighted size 14 hare’s ear on at this point and the first fish I covered took it first cast.
Moving up the flat water in front of me I could see several fish rising and caught a couple on the nymph. There was one fish that would not take it, so I put on an emerger, which it nailed.
On being hooked it cartwheeled across the water and dropped off. The rise petered out and it seemed the right time to pack up.
