Thread: Fly advice for a beginner

Hi guys,

I’m planning to take the dog for a wander up the Waohine river to Totara flats this weekend, and have decided to swap the ussual rifle for a borrowed fly rod.

I have done a little fly fishing years ago, but really don’t know anything about what patterns I should be using at this time of the year. Wanted to get your guys thoughts before I ask the “salesman” at h & f.

Any advice would be much appreciated.

Cheers,
Josh


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Hi Josh it looks like the waiohine river is mainly gravel bottomed and fairly deep in places,I'd suggest gold bead hare and copper size 10 or 12, then run a second nymph a mayfly pattern (pheasant tail or similar) in size 12 or 14, and use a big buggy dry as a indicator,yre local h&f store will know the river better so will know what patterns are best this time of year,,
Interested to see how you get on

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@Hbwanderer thanks mate that is great. I will be sure to give that a go, and post up any pics if im lucky enough to have some success!

Cheers,
Josh

the last 2 issues of rod n rifle have suggested patterns in them......me it would be a #10 or #12 hare n copper with something big and floaty like a cicada imitation as they are chirping up a storm as of late. never gone to the 2 fly thing myself (get enough tangles with one)

If you can find them try some hills NATO nymphomaniacs(as in the last issue of rod n rifle) in a size 12 or 14.

Also id be inclined to try some copper Johns or pheasant tail variations both with or without flashbacks.

For your cicada type patterns take a look at the stimulator patterns :-)

Originally Posted by Micky Duck

the last 2 issues of rod n rifle have suggested patterns in them......me it would be a #10 or #12 hare n copper with something big and floaty like a cicada imitation as they are chirping up a storm as of late. never gone to the 2 fly thing myself (get enough tangles with one)

Micky if I can doing 2 flies in most weather surely any one can!.
Just try hanging your second fly about 5 -7 inches below the top fly.

Less is more :-) trust me

Rather than guess I always look under the rocks in the shallow permanent water and find out what is there and what size it is. Generally it will be small and dark size 16 or 18. Two nymph rigs are the way to go. A weighted nymph with an unweighted tied 30 cm behind the first. To keep it simple tie the second hook eye to the hook bend on the first nymph with 30 cm of tippet between. Try a wire weighted Pheasant tail with a Hair and Copper trailing if you cant find anything under the rocks. I like natural wool as a indicator with some fly dressing on it. Just loop the leader and poke the wool through - easy to move if it is too far from or too close to the nymphs. Wool never spooks fish. At this time of year I wouldn't use a shiny bead head, the fish will have seen it all before and a big shiny bead head might have them scorching off spooked. Better to play it safe with small patterns and black lead or tungsten beads or a few turns of fine lead wire. Wire I find better than tungsten beads that can tinkle on the stones and spook fish. If they don't take your nymphs at least you still have the option of trying a black knat etc

I have just started fly fishing and finally managed to catch two fish with a 5 weight setup, floating weight forward line and tapered 9 ft leader that I cut down to only 7 ft (i was having real trouble with tangles etc with a long leader) I tie a black gnat dry on the end of the leader as an indicator and then depending on the depth of the water im fishing about 10" or more of 3x tippet and a gold beaded hare and copper. Both fish I have caught have been taken "blind" fishing and they have taken the nymph, although I have had another fish think about taking the dry but I was too slow on realising he was there and missed my opportunity, saw him spook away from the dry just as I lifted the line to cast again. Its bloody frustrating but damn fun and rewarding!

Originally Posted by Ryan_Songhurst

I have just started fly fishing and finally managed to catch two fish with a 5 weight setup, floating weight forward line and tapered 9 ft leader that I cut down to only 7 ft (i was having real trouble with tangles etc with a long leader) I tie a black gnat dry on the end of the leader as an indicator and then depending on the depth of the water im fishing about 10" or more of 3x tippet and a gold beaded hare and copper. Both fish I have caught have been taken "blind" fishing and they have taken the nymph, although I have had another fish think about taking the dry but I was too slow on realising he was there and missed my opportunity, saw him spook away from the dry just as I lifted the line to cast again. Its bloody frustrating but damn fun and rewarding!

The old "Black Gnat" ah
That and a Twilight Beauty for Dry Fly fishing were the norm for me in evening time on the Rangitaiki River - Kaingaroa Forest
Fly fishing is something I would like to get back into - if I ever get the chance to live in locations to access it again
Learnt on the Opihi - Temuka as a teen.
Prob buggered now is it Ryan ??

Not sure Peter have only just started getting into it so maily just fishing pools in the Rakaia but want to get out and fish some smaller water which is generally better on the fly. Seen some prettt impressive videos of giys taking kingfish and even marlin on flyrods though so dont let that stop you!
Watched a guy taking kahawai on smelt pattern flies at the rakaia mouth a while ago, looked like a tonne of fun they reckon that pound for pound kahawai are one of the hardest fighting fish in the ocean and flyrod made it one of those "most fun you can have with your pants on" activities have got myself a 7 weight setup and smelt flies to give it a go just haven't got round to it yet

Originally Posted by Ryan_Songhurst

Not sure Peter have only just started getting into it so maily just fishing pools in the Rakaia but want to get out and fish some smaller water which is generally better on the fly. Seen some prettt impressive videos of giys taking kingfish and even marlin on flyrods though so dont let that stop you!
Watched a guy taking kahawai on smelt pattern flies at the rakaia mouth a while ago, looked like a tonne of fun they reckon that pound for pound kahawai are one of the hardest fighting fish in the ocean and flyrod made it one of those "most fun you can have with your pants on" activities have got myself a 7 weight setup and smelt flies to give it a go just haven't got round to it yet

You have the bug now so to speak!
Be careful as you'll soon have multiple fly boxes!

I did a count the other day on my flies.

I've got around 370 lol and yet I still need more!

I find just on dark a Dads fav para is deadly or for a more delicate fly the cdc emergers kick butt!

Next water fowl you shoot get the cdc out and find someone who does. They'll love you for it plus you could do a deal :-)

Josh, I've spent many happy days shooting the flats at dawn & dusk and fishing the days along the edge of the flats. In clear water use a Pheasant Tail and it probably doesn't need to be super small either, a Size14 should be OK, and if the water is clearing then a Hare & Copper Size 12 for a bit more visibility. If you want to try and have them take off the top then a Coch-y-Bonddu seems to look sufficiently as much like a fly as a manuka beetle to generate some interest. Those three have always worked for me. If you start at the bottom of the main flat then stalk them up the true right edge looking down into the water is easy enough from cover. Once spotted and the holding position is well identified, drop back, climb down (quietly) to river level and cast upstream to them to avoid getting snagged on the backcast. The visibility is good from the bank for a few hundred metres up to the Sayers crossing point. It resumes above the gravel fan just above the old lodge site where the bank is again a bit higher, then you can weave in and out of the kanuka up towards the corner slip - the height of the bank along this portion means you are looking right down on them even in low water, but it is more difficult to climb down to river level without a few rocks being loosened on the way. All browns, few if any rainbows; there were some released in the 90's and for a few years were in the upper gorge up to Mid-Waiohine. They may come back given time from the Ruamahanga.
The bottom pool (off the little flat) always has cruising fish that have more time to inspect your offering, and more time for line drag too, so are likely a bit trickier than in the faster water. I landed my first trout in that pool many years ago, a plump 3lb hen. Sounds like it'll be a good weekend.

Sarvo...the Temuka still holds a few fish and last time I went out the evening rise is still pretty good.

Cheers for all the advice folks, I really appreciate it. Just got back this arvo, unfortunately I didn’t have any luck with fly fishing, was mainly using a small hare and copper behind a cicada.

Water was relatively dirty but cleared progressively over the weekend. My mate caught 2 nice brown on the spinner using a small Rapala. Will definitely be back in there, beaut spot and throughly enjoyed fishing - hopefully catch something soon!






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what an awesome looking place to be.... I would go with the H&C or the cicada....but not both. another fly you dont see any more but was all the rage back in the day is the bug eye....2 balls of bath plug chain tied as eyes on a peacock herl body...they whistled through the air and hurt like stink if you cocked up the cast and hit your self in back of head with them...we caught a few back country browns using them...presume they died when beadheads became the new thing.