April - Christchurch Fishing and Casting Club

April - 2011
IN THIS ISSUE
Page 1 - Presidents Report
Page 2 - Fishing Report
Page 6 - What’s happening – Club Nights / Club Trips / Events / AGM
Page 11 - Polluting Farmers Named and Shamed
Page 11 - Resources Rise To Nab Poachers In Rotorua
Page 14 - Recipe Of The Month
Page 15 – Fish And Game Backs Push For Water Foot-printing
Page 16 – Easter Reggae Street Party At Ngongotaha
Page 17 – Weed Cordon Installed At Lake Okataina
Page 18 – New Ministry Must Do More For Recreational Fishing
Page 19 – Hunting Charge Unacceptable
Page 19 – Concerns Growing Over The Taupo Trout Fishery
Page 21 – Fish And Game Auckland / Waikato Report
Page 24 – Dairy Compliance Still An Ongoing Challenge For Bay Of Plenty
Page 26 – At The End Are The Rainbows
Page 29 – Editors Note
Page 30 – General Club Information Plus Committee Members Contact Details
PRESIDENT’S REPORT
Since last month, work and other commitments have conspired to frustrate any ideas of
fishing but last week saw the completion of a long held ambition to walk the Milford
Track. A number of club members will no doubt have also done the walk but for those of
you who have not, I would recommend that you include it on your “bucket list”. It is
certainly one of the world’s pre-eminent wilderness experiences.
The walk begins at the northern end of Lake Te Anau and follows the Clinton River up to
the McKinnon Pass, the divide between east and west. The river runs through ancient
Beech forest and occasionally through open tussock land and is “gin clear”.
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More importantly, it holds a significant population of trout, predominantly browns but
also a few rainbows. I counted over 20 large fish and that was only where I had easy
access to “spotting” areas so there are clearly many more under banks, sunken logs and
other hiding places.
This was the first time I had been in this type of environment and I can see how, from an
angler’s viewpoint, that it could become very addictive. As I pointed out in a recent
article, making an angling trip a “total experience” adds a further dimension to the level
of enjoyment and in the case of the Clinton River, (and I’m sure for most other nearby
rivers), the pristine forest, towering mountains and inquisitive bird life, makes one forget
entirely about the stresses and strains of city life. In fact, one of my companions raised
the question of whether we were actually in the “real world” or was that the man-made
one where we normally live.
I discovered that fishing is permitted in the area if one has an appropriate Fish and Game
license but signage indicated that it is of a particular category and not the normal “run of
the mill” type. There is (understandably) a strong emphasis on the prevention of Didymo
entering the catchment and the advertised fine for non-compliance is $5000! However, if
appropriately licensed, the fishing opportunities are almost limitless and there are dozens
of rivers and streams within the surrounding area. The Arthur River, which rises on the
western side of McKinnon Pass and runs to the sea at Milford Sound also carries Brown
Trout and I saw a number of large fish from some of the swing bridges. On the return
journey, you enter the valley of the Eglington River, another famous trout fishing water,
which, together with the Clinton, is often mentioned in Norman Marsh’s well known
book, “Trout Stream Insects Of New Zealand”.
All in all, probably one of the best trout fishing experiences one can have without a rod in
hand! I’m already planning the Routeburn Track for 2012 but I’ll make sure I have the
old pack-away rod with me.
Dave Symes
President
FISHING REPORT
The Ohau Channel had a reasonable amount of small smelt throughout its length over the
weekend, whether they came from Lake Rotoiti or Rotorua is anyone's guess though.
There were fish feeding on them, though not in large numbers, nor were they of a decent
size. Grey Ghosts and Silver Dorothy flies caught some of them, though a Ginger Mick
or similar dark fly fished best.
Hauparu Bay is always worth visiting with a view to fishing. There are two streams
entering this bay, though most anglers only fish the one closest to the Angler Access. The
second stream mouth is best fished from the last jetty to the right as you look out into the
lake. Cast back to the corner where the stream enters or along the weed bed to the right.
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As the water is very deep close into the shore, fish come in very close both day and night
so it pays to stay well away from the water when casting.
Lake Rotoehu is looking the best that it has for a few years, no sign of algae bloom and
huge smelt cruising the shore. Many of the smelt were quite dark and well in excess of
five centimetres in length. Rainbows can be seen chasing smelt around the weed beds
around much of the lake and from what could be seen, the trout are larger than average
for this lake.
Lake Rotoma is, as always, looking superb. The clarity of the water is possibly the best of
all the lakes in the region, which can make for challenging fishing. Fine tippets and a
light drag are essential when fishing the shoreline at the end of the lake, alongside State
Highway 30. The rocky shoreline is a very popular spawning area that is open to fishing
up until June 30. The long beach to the right of the boat ramp can produce awesome fish
right through until August and is worth visiting.
Both the Ngongotaha and Waiteti streams have had fresh fish enter them, though they
have moved up into the upper reaches fairly quickly. More rain is forecast for the coming
weekend so more fish should be ready to move into both streams. The trick is not to hold
off fishing until the stream is clear, but fish the still clearing water with fluoro bodied wet
flies or egg patterns. Dark patterns also work well in discoloured water.
Lake Rotorua has been a picture early in the morning as there has been little wind of late.
The few boats that have ventured out on the lake have had some success, though the
condition factor of the rainbows is still variable. Trolling off the Ohau Channel through
to the Airport and out the front of Hamurana seemed to have fished well, but with rain
being forecast for the weekend, trolling between Kawaha Point and the Waiteti stream
mouths could produce some good conditioned fish.
Rainbows around the four to five kilo mark are being caught at the mouth of the Little
Waipa Stream. While this stream is not in the Rotorua area, it is an easy drive from
Rotorua City and those fish being caught are actually from the Eastern Fish and Game
Hatchery on Paradise Valley Road. Access to this stream mouth is off Horohoro Road,
which is the second right turn between Putaruru and Arapuni Village. Horohoro Road
leads back to State Highway One just North of the Tauranga turn off. A floating line and
standard Rotorua flies are all that is required. The pool above the culvert on Horohoro
Road is also worth flinging a fly at, although the back cast area is limited. After dark,
Doll flies or Craigs Night Time flies tied with a small amount of lumo catch well.
A far as the Waikato is concerned it is now official, summer is over! All the waterways
throughout the region are cooling down significantly. Like all changes there are plus and
minuses to be examined.
On the negative side, you will probably struggle to bring Trout up to a Cicada from the
deeper pools although those in shallower water may still take one. At this time of year
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follow Dave McLelland’s advice if you want to take fish on the dry fly and use Grey
coloured flies like the Blue Dun.
On the positive side the cooler water temperatures will be easier on the Trout and they
should be more actively feeding during the day, especially the Browns. Also, in places
like the Waihou and Waimakiriri there should be some bigger spawning fish coming up
the river.
The Waitawheta is still fishing well with the occasional fish taking the dry but most
succumbing to the nymph dropper, usually a mayfly pattern like the Pheasant Tail.
The Waipa and its tributaries are all fishing ok. Two weeks ago they were on fire with the
Cicada but this recent cold snap has calmed things down a bit. Those using small (size
14-16) Brown Mayfly nymph patterns appear to have had the best results.
The Taupo area is able to be encapsulated in one word, Hard. That’s not to say that there
aren’t some very nice fish about, it’s just that most people are finding them less than easy
to locate. The Tongariro has been producing some very nice Browns and the occasional
early running rainbow but not in any great numbers. Likewise the Tauranga Taupo has
had a couple of small early season runs but it is crystal clear and low, making it tricky for
even the guides. On the other hand, Lake Otamangakau is still giving up some fantastic
fish, (as can be seen in the photos below), and in reasonable numbers.
Finally, I put this report together through information gained from Club Members,
various websites, and my own fishing experiences, (plus of course Bert Robinson who
generously allows us to use his Rotorua report). If you ever have any reports / stories you
would like to share please contact me and we can get them out there. Also, if you have a
photo you would like to share please send it in too.
Fishy Tales
If you do have a report, success story, or anecdote to share then just send it to
iconp@ihug.co.nz .
Happy Fishing and Tight Lines - Freddy Da Fish.
QUOTABLE QUOTES
Flyfishing is like the legendary canary in the mine shaft. Flyfishing is the litmus test, if
you will, for our environment. If we cannot protect our rivers and fisheries, or strive to
make flyfishing a quality experience, our commitment to stewardship has failed.
George Anderson - Can Fly-fishing Survive the Twenty-first Century?
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Above: Our own Club Secretary Roy Richardson with a very nice Big O Rainbow.
Below: One of our Club’s founding members Dave McLelland and a prime lake
Rainbow. Photos courtesy of Dave McLellan, (via the Tongariro River Motel website).
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LAST CLUB NIGHT
Last month we had Bryce Johnson the Chief Executive of Fish and Game New Zealand
talking to us and it was by all accounts quite an eye opener to some of the more political
aspects of our passion. This was a very informative night and thank you once again
Bryce.
NEXT CLUB NIGHT – Tuesday 19 th April – 7.30pm
This month we are fortunate to have Kent Fraser, author of Destination Trout and its
accompanying DVD. He will be splitting his presentation into two; firstly talking about
targeting Snapper on the Fly and then talking on backcountry Trout fishing. This is sure
to be an interesting night and we hope to see you all there.
CLUB TRIPS 2011
February – Ngongotaha River and Rotorua Lakes
March – Lake Otamangakau
May – Ngongotaha River and Rotorua Lakes
July - Tongariro and Tauranga Taupo
October - Lakes Rotoaira and Otamangakau
October – Lake Aniwhenua and surrounding Rivers, Phil Gates
December – Tuition weekend on Ohinemuri River
The NSF committee arrange various Club Trips over the year to different parts of the
country. If you would like to be involved, or have an idea for a trip please let one of your
committee know.
NSFF WEBSITE
As has been mentioned, the Club now has its own Website, www.nsff.org.nz . Thank you
very much to Phil Gates who has done all the hard work in getting this set up and running
for us. We are looking at having a Members photo page as well, so if you have any
feedback for Phil, or information that you feel should be on the site, please contact him
on mp.gates@mitgat.com .
QUOTABLE QUOTES
When I grow up I want to be a little boy.
Joseph Heller
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D.V.D. LIBRARY
The following DVD’s are available from the Club Library. If you would like to borrow
one please contact Dave Symes at the next Club Night or via email, dssymes@xtra.co.nz
ESSENTIAL SKILLS With OLIVER EDWARDS
ESSENTIAL PATTERNS With OLIVER EDWARDS
STILLWATER PRESENTATIONS With DENNY RICHARDS
ADVANCE FLYCASTING DOUG SWISHER
CHRIS OGBORNE’S SINKING LINE TECHNIQUES
NEW WAYS OF FISHING THE CADDIS FLY
NEW WAYS OF FISHING THE MAYFLY
HOW TO SUCCEED ON SMALL STILLWATERS PART ONE
HOW TO SUCCEED ON SMALL STILLWATERS PART TWO
HOW TO SUCCEED ON RESERVOIRS PART ONE
HOW TO SUCCEED ON RESERVOIRS PART TWO
NEW ZEALAND FLYTYING With JOHN GIACON
THE EDUCATED TROUT
WEE WETS AND DOWNSTREAM DRYS With DAVE McLELLAN
CLUB DVD'S
If you have borrowed DVD's and have finished viewing them, please bring them back to
the next meeting.
WEBSITE NEWS
Phil Gates has been doing some more work, (check it out), on our website -
www.nsff.org.nz – and the site now has the ability to send out RSS (Really Simple
Syndication) messages. All Club Members can sign up for them by going to the "Current
Issues" page of the web site and clicking "RSS Feed". If you save the RSS feed as one of
your "favorites" web pages, you will have a quick link to the latest comments and
activities of the Club
LAKE PUPUKE CHALLENGE
On the first Sunday in May (01/05/2011), your Club, in conjunction with Hunts Sports
and Trout Unlimited New Zealand, is hosting the annual Lake Pupuke Challenge. This
year’s event is timed for the weekend after the Auckland Waikato Fish and Game
Association is to release 1000 rainbows and 200 brown trout into Lake Pupuke. The
Challenge starts at 7 am and goes until 3:30 pm. Weigh in will be held at the Sylvan Park
reserve, on the elevated area near the car park and toilet block from 3:30 pm. Estimated
length of undersized trout or trout that were released would be also appreciated. Prize
giving will follow shortly thereafter.
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Beside the standard prizes, the Club also awards a prize for the largest trout caught by a
member. The trophy being awarded is the Lake Pupuke Challenge Ian Hunt Cup, last
year won by our Treasurer John Cuthbertson. This trophy will be presented at the May
Club meeting to the winner.
Prizes (available to all licensed participants) for this year’s event are:
1. Heaviest Trout
C&F Waterproof Fly Case plus $100.00 gift voucher, total value $200.00
2. Second Heaviest Trout
Led Lenser Head (Torch) Fire plus $100.00 gift voucher, total value $200.00
3. Heaviest Trout caught by a primary or secondary school student
$50.00 gift voucher
4. Heaviest alternative fish species (not trout)
$50.00 gift voucher
5. Three drawn spot prizes for junior anglers attending weigh-in.
Participants to pick numbered ticket up at weigh in station between 3.00 -
3.30pm:
a. Primary or secondary school student (Boy) - $25.00 gift voucher
b. Primary or secondary school student (Girl) - $25.00 gift voucher
c. Primary or secondary school student (Boy or Girl) - $50.00 gift voucher
HUNTS SPORTS STORE, North Shore FlyFishers and Trout Unlimited New Zealand
have donated prizes.
If you have any questions, contact Phil Gates, whose number during the day of the
competition is 021 544 212. For queries prior to the day, contact Phil on 480 2334,
evenings.
This is a great Club and children’s event. Let’s have a good turnout for this 2nd Ian Hunt
Cup competition. See you all there.
The Lake Pupuke Challenge Ian Hunt Cup.
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MAY CLUB TRIP TO THE NGONGOTAHA AND ROTORUA AREA
This year’s Club Trip to fish the Ngongotaha River and the Rotorua region is taking place
on the weekend of Friday 20 th , Saturday 21 st and Sunday 22 nd of May. We will again be
staying at the Paradise Valley Lodge, which backs onto the river.
Costs will be $75.00 each, which will cover 2 nights accommodation in the lodge and a
BBQ on Saturday evening.
During May this river can produce some excellent fishing for fresh run Rainbows and
Browns, but be warned, these powerful fish may take your fly willingly enough but they
are even better at keeping it or giving it back to you, usually bent.
Also, the river mouths and lake edges in the area are renowned for the quality and size of
their fish. (All reports are saying that with the arrival of the Smelt back into Lake Rotorua
the size and condition of the Rainbows has had a dramatic improvement from earlier in
the year). So if you prefer Lake fishing or the rivers are all in flood then there are still
plenty of fly fishing options available for your enjoyment.
Organiser for this trip is Duncan Frew, available on 021 648 956 or iconp@ihug.co.nz .
Jimmy Teen and 8pds of hard fighting Ngonga Brown Trout caught last week. Come on
the Club Trip and this could be you…
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2011 ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
Notice is hereby given of the Annual General Meeting of The North Shore Flyfishers
Incorporated to be held at the Milford Cruising Club 24 Craig Road Milford on the 17 th
May 2011 commencing at 7.30pm.
Copies of the Audited accounts will be available at the Committee table prior to the
AGM.
AGENDA FOR THE AGM AS FOLLOWS:
1. Welcome
2. Apologies
3. President’s report
4. Treasurer’s report and financial situation
5. Set subscription rate for the year (already done)
6. Election of officers and committee
PRESIDENT
SECRETARY
TREASURER
CLUB CAPTAIN
COMMITTEE (5 people) required
7. Notice of motions (See note below)
8. General business
9. AGM CLOSE
NOTE: Any member wishing to place a notice of motion to be raised at the AGM must
do so in writing and be received by the executive committee no later than 10 th May 2011
INTERMEDIATE TUITION FISHING TRIP
As a result of the continuing success of the Club Tuition Trip to the Ohinemuri we are
now looking at the possibility of running an Intermediate level Tuition Trip. Peter Scott
of Rod and Reel, and the New Zealand Fly-fishing Team, has generously offered to help
out again. So if you may be interested then either send in an email to iconp@ihug.co.nz
or simply have a chat to any Committee Member on Tuesdays Club Night.
WALKING / RIVER ACCESS WEBSITE
The Walking Access Commission has put together a great new Website depicting access
points to Rivers and waterways around the country. It is hard to describe all the features
available on this site, but what I can say is that it is Excellent. If you haven’t seen it
already then do so soon, it really is a site that needs to be looked at, time and time again.
The site address is www.wams.org.nz , check it out.
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WHY WE FISH
"… You must not fish for covetousness or to save money, but principally for your solace
and to promote the health of your body and specially of your soul. For when you go
fishing you will not want others with you as they will distract you. And then you may
serve God with devotion in effectively saying your customary prayers."
"A Treatyse of Fysshynge With An Angle" - 1496
POLLUTING FARMERS NAMED AND SHAMED
TVNZ – 19/03/2011
Forest and Bird is naming and shaming regional councils with the worst results from
dairy farm pollution.
Advocacy Manager Kevin Hackwell said that only two of the five targets have been met
in the eight years since the Clean Stream accord was created.
"It is a real surprise that, as the level of serious non-compliance increased, the number of
prosecutions by regional councils actually went down. It seems that the regional councils
in the areas of highest offending are still not taking the problem seriously," Hackwell
said.
He says 16% of farms are still not complying with resource consents and some districts
are especially bad. "Sadly there is still a significant minority of dairy farmers letting
down the majority of producers and other New Zealanders," he said.
Hackwell says in the Waikato and Northland around one in every four farmers is
polluting. He says Greater Wellington Regional Council has been tougher, and its non
compliance rate is down to 1%.
Taranaki is the only regional council to have met the 2007 target and most councils have
fallen short of the earlier 50% target for 2005.
RESOURCES RISE TO NAB POACHERS
Anita Moran – The Daily Post – 30/03/2011
As winter approaches Fish and Game rangers are gearing up to target poachers in Rotorua
fisheries.
Eastern Region Fish and Game officer Anthony van Dorp said in the 2009/2010 year 73
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people were caught poaching by officers in the eastern region, the majority of those being
in Rotorua. The 73 people committed 128 separate offences and about a third of those
people were prosecuted, Mr. van Dorp said.
"This is up somewhat on recent years as we are putting more resources into this area."
Mr. van Dorp said there were two different types of poaching.
"Firstly, those persons who fish without a license and/or breach any of the rules and
regulations governing how anglers may fish.
"Secondly, there is the perhaps more serious poaching which usually takes place over the
winter period.
"It is when trout come into streams to spawn and are targeted by poachers using a variety
of implements."
Mr. van Dorp said Fish and Game officers had caught poachers using a variety of tools to
catch fish. He said in his experience many of the people caught poaching were also dealt
with by police and other agencies for a range of offences.
"Trout poaching is dishonesty and is stealing from those people who buy a license to fish,
and who follow the rules," he said.
"Trout poachers are not conservationists. They are selfish and the effect they can
potentially have is huge."
Mr. van Dorp said poaching had the potential to ruin fisheries and could cause the cost of
fishing licenses to rise through increased costs to Fish and Game.
He said another local issue was that Lake Rotorua was a wild fishery which was
dependent on successful natural spawning of trout in its tributary streams.
"Many poachers walk in the streams thereby disturbing the spawning gravels and in the
process destroying, or potentially destroying trout ova."
Mr. van Dorp said Fish and Game worked closely with police to combat poaching. He
said officers would regularly visit problem locations and also sometimes used covert
surveillance equipment to catch poachers.
Those who poach spawning trout face penalties of up to 12 months' jail or a fine of up to
$10,000.
"Recent prosecutions for this type of offending have seen the Rotorua District Court
imposing penalties of up to 280 hours' community work, forfeiture of gear used and
disqualification from driving," Mr. van Dorp said.
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"Other recent offenders sentenced by both the Rotorua and Taupo District Courts have
been sentenced to 130 hours' community work for taking spawning trout, and prison
warnings in some cases have also been given by the court."
JOKE OF THE MONTH
A middle-aged couple had two beautiful daughters but always talked about having a son.
They decided to try one last time for the son they always wanted.
The wife got pregnant and delivered a healthy baby boy.
The joyful father rushed to the nursery to see his new son.
He was horrified at the ugliest child he had ever seen.
He told his wife: 'There's no way I can be the father of this baby.
Look at the two beautiful daughters I fathered!
Have you been fooling around behind my back?'
The wife smiled sweetly and replied:
'Not this time!'
“There’s Gold in them thar waters…” Photo courtesy of James Teen.
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RECIPE OF THE MONTH
The following is from The Great Trout Cookbook by Jean Melba, and looks delicious.
Trout Fettuccine
Serves 4:
Ingredients
1 Trout of 1-1.5kg, filleted and skinned.
500gms fresh Fettuccine
500gms white Fettuccine
50gms Pine Nuts
200mls Olive Oil
2 crushed Garlic cloves
100mls White Wine
2 Egg yolks
100mls fresh Cream
½ bunch Basil, finely chopped
200gms freshly grated Parmesan Cheese
Salt and Pepper to taste
4 litres of Water
Mix egg yolk and cream together, beating lightly.
Put 4 litres of water into a pot, add a small amount of olive oil, and bring to the boil (the
oil will stop the pasta from sticking). Add the fettuccine and cook for approximately 8
minutes, until the pasta is al dente. Strain the pasta and rinse with cold water.
Cut the Trout into small finger length pieces and fry lightly in a large pan for 5 minutes.
Then add the pasta, pine nuts, crushed garlic and wine. Cook slowly for another 5
minutes, stirring from time to time.
Before serving, add the cream and egg yolk mixture to the fry pan and stir and let simmer
until the mixture thickens.
Serve with a generous amount of chopped basil on top and add the parmesan cheese.
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FISH AND GAME BACKS PUSH FOR WATER FOOTPRINTING
Fish & Game Reel Life Magazine – 1/03/2011
Fish & Game NZ is supporting international calls for Global Water Footprint Standards
which would hold industries accountable for their impact on our finite water resources.
“Pressure is mounting for countries to be more accountable for the water they use and the
impact industries have on water scarcity and its environmental degradation,” says Fish &
Game NZ chief executive Bryce Johnson.
Water footprint assessments assist governments and industries to measure and understand
water use and the impact on the resource throughout the supply chain.
“To date, New Zealand has failed to develop any effective measures to gauge and
mitigate the impact industries are having on water quality and consumption,” says Mr.
Johnson.
“This has resulted in water being majorly over allocated in many parts of the country,
severely polluted in lowland dairy catchments, and often simply wasted by irrigators and
urban centres.
“This irresponsible approach to freshwater management is really going to tarnish our
international image and our economy.
“At the end of the day, avoiding facing up to the water management problems we have in
this country is really going to hurt exporters – this Global Water Footprint initiative is a
clear signal that the international community is no longer prepared to accept hollow
slogans.”
Mr. Johnson says New Zealand urgently needs a measure of accountability so industries
and government adopt best management practice around water quality.
“If they don’t, then New Zealand will face the consequences of consumer backlash in key
export markets.”
The development of the Water Footprint Standard comes at a time when leading
international companies across all sectors – including Coca Cola, Unilever, SABMiller –
are awakening to the risk their impact on water resources poses to both their reputations
and bottom lines.
For more information contact: Bryce Johnson, Fish & Game NZ chief executive,
021397897.
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EASTER REGAE STREET PARTY
Cherie Taylor – The Daily Post – 8/03/2011
Roads will be closed for a reggae street party as part of this Easter's Ngongotaha Trout
Festival. Bands including House of Shem and Sons of Zion will perform. The concert and
a trout-fishing competition will see Ngongotaha transformed into one big street party
during Easter Weekend as part of the first Ngongotaha Trout Festival.
Event manager David Taui said the street festival had been in the planning six months,
with bands including House of Shem, Cornerstone Roots, Sons of Zion, The Real
Konflikt, Moana & the Tribe, Soul2C, Fisher Kings, Major and AIO already on board to
play.
New Zealand's very own Elvis Presley, Chey Orton will bring the King of Rock's sounds
to the event. There will be live music, plenty of food on offer and lots of Rotorua's
culture on show throughout the weekend, Mr. Taui said. "It's going to be one big street
party with lots of prizes up for grabs," he said. "We want to show the sunny side of our
maunga, Ngongotaha, to the rest of the world."
Trout competition organiser Brynn Kelly said the festival provided the perfect
opportunity to show the rest of the country what Ngongotaha had to offer. "Let them
come and fish in the greatest and most lucrative streams in Rotorua," he said. "In fact it's
the best trout-fishing area in the world ... we want to lift the profile of Ngongotaha and
the people who live here. It's an absolutely beautiful place to live."
Rotorua organisations will have the chance to hold fundraising stalls throughout the
weekend.
Between 6pm and midnight on Good Friday the main street in Ngongotaha will be closed
to through-traffic while bands perform during the street party.
Ngongotaha Idol is also planned.
The fishing competition will be between 5am and 1pm each day to allow competitors the
chance to check out the rest of the festival. Prize giving will be on Easter Sunday
afternoon.
Free food stalls will also be set up on Easter Sunday.
Entry to the Ngongotaha festival is $40 per adult with a gold-coin entry for children
under 14 and pensioners.
Money collected from the gold-coin entry will be given to the Red Cross to help assist
Christchurch earthquake victims.
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Dirty Harry hits the Ohau Channel on Opening Day…
WEED CORDON INSTALLED AT LAKE OKATAINA
Media Release - Environment Bay Of Plenty – 9/03/2011
An exciting initiative which began in Lake Rotoma has now been applied to Lake
Ōkataina.
Bay of Plenty Regional Council has installed a weed cordon around the boat ramp at the
main beach on Lake Ōkataina. The weed cordon has been specifically designed to
prevent the spread of aquatic pests that are present in nearby lakes.
Lake Ōkataina is particularly vulnerable to invasion by two of the worst aquatic weeds,
Hornwort and Egeria which can spread easily through fragments transported from nearby
lakes.
An isolated site of Hornwort which was discovered last year at the southern end of the
lake is under active control by the Regional Council in a hope to eradicate the infestation.
Bay of Plenty Regional Council Biosecurity Officer Hamish Lass said the cordon was
constructed from used mackerel purse seine net donated by Sanford fisheries.
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“Shade cloth covers the top two metres of the cordon and has been designed to contain
any fragments from other lakes that may have been on boats or boat trailers.” Mr. Lass
explained.
“When a boat enters the water, weed fragments will wash off and be caught in the net
within the controlled area.”
“A fish pass has also been installed so trout can still migrate along the shoreline of the
lake,” Mr. Lass said.
The cordon is marked out with buoys and port and starboard makers. Signs also explain
the cordon’s purpose and have navigational instructions.
The area within the cordon will be sprayed out annually with diquat herbicide to prevent
weed growth and checked regularly for any Hornwort or Egeria incursions.
Lake users have already welcomed the cordon and the efforts by the Regional Council to
help maintain the lake’s quality.
NEW MINISTRY MUST DO MORE FOR RECREATIONAL FISHING
Press Release – United Future – 12/03/2011
UnitedFuture leader Peter Dunne has greeted the decision to merge Fisheries with
Agriculture and Forestry with a call for the new organisation to be more responsive to the
needs of recreational fishers.
“For too long recreational fishers have been the poor downtrodden cousins of our
fisheries sector, the new ministry gives us a great opportunity to change that,” said Mr.
Dunne.
“New Zealanders have a long tradition of utilising our marine resources and common
rights to harvest food for the table. Currently, however, these common rights are being
largely ignored as recreational interests are subservient to both commercial and
customary interests.”
“Unfortunately the recreational sector has neither the resources, or at present, the
influence to effectively challenge the status quo. The new ministry should be tasked with
helping to change this.”
“There are two specific areas of policy I wish to see Government and the new ministry
focus on.”
“Firstly there needs to be work done in conjunction with the recreational sector to
establish a statutory management organisation to better represent and protect the interests
of recreational fishing.”
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“Secondly, a review needs to be conducted, and if necessary the Fisheries Act amended,
to ensure that the recreational user’s share of the quota is not further undermined by the
unsustainable activities of the commercial sector.”
“These two initiatives alone would go a long way to addressing the concerns of the
recreational fishing sector, while also establishing a more level playing field across
fisheries as a whole.”
“The more than 1 million recreational fishers in New Zealand and the ongoing
sustainability of our fishery deserve far better representation than they currently enjoy. I
hope the new combined Ministry can assist in achieving that,” said Mr. Dunne.
HUNTING CHARGE UNACCEPTABLE, SAYS DUNNE
Radio New Zealand – 20/03/2011
United Future leader Peter Dunne says the decision by forest management company
Timberlands to charge people for access to the Kaiangaroa forest south of Rotorua is
unacceptable.
From 1 May, those wanting to access the forest to hunt, fish, or shoot game birds, will
have to register with a security firm and pay $50 for a permit.
Mr Dunne says that goes against the well-established common right of New Zealanders,
to fish and hunt without charge.
He says Timberlands' decision is an abuse of power.
Mr Dunne says there has been a long standing access issue between Timberlands and
anglers who want to fish the Rangitaiki river which needs to be resolved.
CONCERNS GROWING OVER THE TAUPO TROUT FISHERY
DOC Media Release – 29/03/2011
As the Taupo region begins to look forward to the coming winter and the onset of
tradition winter pursuits like skiing and fly fishing, there is considerable concern among
anglers and angling businesses over the state of the Taupo Fishery.
In spring the lake fishing started well with large numbers of smaller fish just under the
legal length, and very high catch rates. However, as summer progressed the fishing in the
space of several weeks suddenly became hard, and the Department of Conservation’s
smelt monitoring programme also showed a lack of smelt along the lake shore. Smelt are
the primary bait fish in Lake Taupo, and make up the large proportion of the diet of trout
in the lake.
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As a result of environmental factors the smelt numbers in the lake went through a major
decline 3 years ago, and this was made obvious by the poor condition of the trout in the
lake at that time. “The situation appears different this time” says Glenn Maclean,
Technical Support Manager of the Department of Conservation, “as we are seeing
amongst the catch some very good trout, which is a vast improvement on recent years.
We are also getting reports that the good fish which are being caught have stomachs full
of smelt. However there just aren’t a lot of trout about and that is something of a concern.
There is no escaping that the fishing has been hard work in recent months. As we expect
the trout to follow the smelt in the lake either the smelt have moved out into the open
waters away from where anglers fish, or alternatively become very scarce. Smelt
abundance is very difficult to monitor and predict.”
“We are very aware of the understandable concerns the community has over the fishery”,
says Dave Lumley, Area Manager for the Department of Conservation “and it would be
great to be in a position to definitely say what is going on out in the lake in terms of smelt
production. For now, we can’t provide that advice, but we are working hard to firstly
measure the smelt population using complex acoustic techniques and if there is a
problem, to understand what it is.
Theories abound as to what may be happening in the great lake, but data is sketchy about
the lake ecosystem. One thing that is known is there have been subtle changes in how the
ecosystem of the lake functions, but the department doesn’t know yet whether these
changes have an effect on the smelt and trout. “Unfortunately if there is an issue as a
consequence of these changes in the little animals or zooplankton that live in the lake and
which feed the smelt then there is no quick fix”, warns Glenn, “as there is no point
releasing more trout if there is nothing to feed them.
At this point there is no obvious reason why the fishery should not be fine but the next
few months will begin to provide some answers, as the spawning runs begin and the
Department is able to get a better assessment of the numbers and condition of trout in the
lake. However, recent improvements in the lake fishing give hope that the trout have
spent the summer out in the open waters rather than disappeared all together.
For more information:
Contact - Glenn Maclean - Programme Manager Technical Support
Taupo-nui-a-Tia Area Office
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AUCKLAND / WAIKATO REPORT
Whakapapa drift dive
Trout numbers continue to increase in the upper reaches of the Whakapapa River. The
1995/96 eruptions of Mt Ruapehu severely depleted the trout population in the
Whakapapa, and for several years the river ran milky with volcanic ash with the riverbed
covered in volcanic debris. Recovery only started in 2003 but since then trout numbers
have continued to increase. For example, in 2002 we saw only one large rainbow trout on
the entire dive (2.5km) despite good visibility but this year we counted 35. However the
fish are not evenly distributed but have a clumped distribution with 18 trout, including
eight rainbows, observed in just one pool while no fish were observed in three pools.
Generally trout are more abundant in the largest pools, especially those pools that have an
area of deep water (>3m), presumably available as a refuge, and a long run of 1-2m deep
water leading into the pool providing good feeding sites. No trout were observed in short,
shallow pools (

New stile and access sign at the end of Stone Jug Road, Kakahi.
Angler access map
The Walking Access Commission has an excellent new website that will allow you to
easily identify land open to public access, including public access to and alongside rivers.
The website can be viewed either as a standard topographical map or as an aerial, and
shows marginal strips, Crown Land, esplanade reserves, conservation land, formed and
unformed public roads. However the website is still a work in progress and some public
access is not yet included – for example, the “Fishing Reserves” alongside rivers in the
South Waikato District have not yet been marked. The website address is
www.wams.org.nz If you have any access issues/inquires that you would like addressed
by the Commission they can be contacted via the website.
Arapuni fishing competition
The Te Awamutu Fish and Game Club again ran their annual fishing competition on
Lake Arapuni to provide data for the management of this popular fishery. Neil Hoyes was
the winner of the Bill Sullivan Memorial Trophy with the largest trout a 2.73 kg rainbow.
But the top junior wasn’t far behind with Kaley Mexted entering a 2.72 kg brown. Most
anglers found the fishing hard perhaps due to high water temperatures and calm weather.
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Some anglers blamed the bright full moon. Overall not ideal conditions and not much
improvement expected until the weather cools.
The majority of fish entered were hatchery-reared rainbows that were released as
yearlings (12 cm). Over the next three years we’re trebling the number of rainbows
released into Arapuni with liberations occurring every 4 months rather than just once a
year. This will be a trial and closely monitored with fin-clipped and tagged trout.
Four wild brown trout were landed – the first time since 2008 that a brown trout has been
entered in the contest. Over the previous nine competitions only eleven browns had been
entered of which five fish were from hatchery liberations. Over the last year there has
been a notable increase in the numbers of browns being caught in the hydro-lakes .
Neil Hoyes (on right) receives the Bill Sullivan Memorial Trophy from Te Awamutu Fish
and Game Club president George Brocklehurst.
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Where to go in April
In April it usually pays to put in the extra effort and avoid the more frequently fished
waters where the fish are now well educated. In this category you would have to include
the Whanganui and the Whakapapa, both rivers having been heavily fished by the Taupo
guides this summer. But there are many small rivers that rarely see anglers, either
because a longish walk or a polite request to a landowner is required, sometimes both.
Occasionally the extra effort doesn’t pay off, but it’s much more likely that you’ll find a
river with plenty of good trout and no footprints.
Fishing on the hydro-lakes should pick up once there have been a few frosts, perhaps
later in the month.
John Carey had to recut an old track to get down to this South Waikato spring creek but
it was clearly worth the effort.
Ben Wilson - Fisheries Manager - bwilson@awfg.org.nz
DAIRY COMPLIANCE STILL AN ONGOING CHALLENGE FOR BAY OF
PLENTY
Bay Of Plenty Regional Council – 5/04/2011
Routine farm dairy effluent compliance monitoring in the Bay of Plenty has again
highlighted the ongoing challenges of consistent compliance across the region.
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This year’s results are similar to last year’s results where some areas have improved and
others have worsened.
Bay of Plenty Regional Council Group Water Management Manager Eddie Grogan said
that while there had been some highlights of the season including Rotorua’s significant
improvements, overall there had been a marked drop in performance across the region.
“Of the 354 dairy sites inspected this season, just 72 percent achieved full compliance.
Unfortunately, the performance rate has deteriorated from 79 percent last year,” he said.
Mr Grogan said the increased level of significant non-compliance is the most concerning
factor for this year’s compliance inspection with 47 cases (13 percent) reported.
To be rated as significant non compliance there must either be a discharge to a waterbody
or a serious breach of consent which could result in a discharge to water.
“Reduction of the significant non compliance category is the industry’s primary focus. It
is unfortunate that the considerable effort so far from Federated Farmers, Dairy NZ and
Fonterra has not yet impacted on overall compliance figures,” Mr Grogan said.
“We are witnessing the same repeated issues of non-compliance; irrigators and ponds are
not being managed properly due to lack of gear maintenance, lack of staff training, and
certainly lack of pond storage.”
The Regional Council continues to work on a number of initiatives to improve
compliance figures. One change is a big shift by farmers towards incorporating storage
back into effluent systems.
“The improved use of pond storage has been a focus for the dairy industry, and this is
being strongly supported by the Council, with increased resource consent terms reflecting
the infrastructural investment that farmers are now making on their systems,” Mr Grogan
said.
“A new calculator tool is also used widely by Bay of Plenty dairy professionals and
council to help farmers calculate how much storage is needed to get through particularly
wet periods.”
Rotorua farmers made a significant improvement on their compliance figures this season.
Rotorua recorded poor results last year with about half of the farms inspected rating as
significantly non compliant. This season only three of the 25 farms inspected were rated
significantly non compliant.
“A working party that was formed as a result of the 2009 Rotorua Audit appears to have
been successful in changing behaviours and getting agreement on accepted practices.
This was one of a number of successful initiatives undertaken in the Rotorua catchment
and we plan to roll these out in other areas,” Mr Grogan said.
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“It is clear that we have a long way to go with Bay of Plenty farmers to achieve our goal
of 100 percent compliance. Whilst it is good to see progress in some great initiatives, we
need farmers to see the urgency and make compliance a priority with their farm
management.”
Clear water, big Brown Trout, and hardly anyone else about…it must be South Island
back-country fishing. Photo courtesy of Jack Russell.
AT THE END ARE THE RAINBOWS
by Hugh Creasy
The phone calls were made, the door-knocking done and Les would do the driving. I had
no excuse for not going, but I have grown reluctant to test new water, especially if it
involves hours of driving. I have grown lazy, comfortable with the familiar, even if the
reaches and pools of loved streams no longer produce the rich catches of past seasons.
Perhaps they no longer produce the fish because I have no longer the energy required to
cover the distances of my youth. I fish with a lazy cast, mostly indifferent to the result,
and my pleasure comes from movement of water and the life it carries, the birds and
changing seasons. A fish seen is exciting, and a fish caught makes the heart beat faster,
but a blank day is no less pleasurable. I see no point in pursuing a limit or competing for
26

the highest number of fish landed. The best caught fish is one that took the best presented
fly, from the best cast of the day. Its size is immaterial.
The river we were visiting flowed out of the Tararua Range, and many years ago I caught
my first trout in its upper reaches. It was a peculiar introduction to the sport. I was
handed a rod and spinner and was told to go to the top of a hill and look down into the
valley. There I would see a pool and in it were trout. If I cast the spinner into the pool I
would catch a fish. So I did and returned to the farmhouse with the fish. A day or two
later I was handed an old .303 rifle and was told to go to the same hill and if I looked
down into the valley, I would see a deer, and I was to shoot it. I did that, too, then went
back to get a tractor with forks on the front and brought the deer back to a shed where I
gutted it under supervision. I was in my early teens, and from that time until a decade
later I could not understand why people would talk about the hardships of hunting and the
skills of trout fishing. From personal experience I knew they required neither.
At the same time I was reading Swallows and Amazons by Arthur Ransome, and was
intrigued by the Lake District life and wanted to read other works by the same author. I
came across his Rod and Line in the library, and his account of fly fishing, its frustrations
and difficulties I found fascinating, but it wasn’t till I was an adult that I had my first
taste of fly fishing on the Wainuiomata River. From then on I was hooked, both by the
physical act of casting, and by the life of the river. I discovered mayflies and caddisflies
and their delicate grasp on life, their fragility in an often violent and tempestuous habitat.
I resolved to imitate them and purchased a fly tying kit and a book to guide me.
That was when I
discovered the skills
of fly fishing. I
followed the
instructions of John
Veniard, Keith
Draper and Tony
Orman. Orman
introduced nymph
fishing into New
Zealand in the
1970s, and created a
probably unintended
revolution on the
Tongariro River
when the new skills
of nymphing up
stream met the
traditional wet fly methods casting downstream. In the early days it was illegal to use
lead in the tying of nymphs, and it took many turns of copper wire to impart enough
weight in a fly to take it to where the fish were.
27

We used extra long leaders, sometimes out to 5 metres or more to allow the nymph to
sink. Casting such flies was hard work until carbon fibre came on the market, but some of
the old glass rods were beautifully balanced and marvelous to cast. I used a Fenwick 8
weight and could put 30 yards past the tip on a good day, but the diameter of the rod’s
first section built up huge air resistance, and a day’s casting would leave me with an
aching shoulder.
On smaller rivers I used a Trent 6 weight, considered a real lightweight 40 years ago. A
kea on the Crow River chewed the cork off the grip and forced me to buy my first
Killwell carbon fibre rod, and the difference in weight and ease of casting was pleasantly
obvious. Carbon fibre has become commonplace in rod design, but in the early days of its
use it was not uncommon for breakages to take place at critical times. I was fishing the
Tauranga Taupo with my new rod when half the tip snapped during a back cast. Apart
from a slight jolt I never noticed it and put a heavy shoulder into the forward cast. The
rod tip flew through the air and clouted me on the ear. My companions found it hilarious,
but after a week of hard fishing two more had broken, both American brands. Killwell
replaced my rod immediately and I was back on the river in a day. The American rods
had to be returned to their manufacturers and took months.
I also found that
the flies I tied
looked nothing
like the store
bought ones
other anglers
used, though I
was never
disadvantaged
on the river or
the lake by the
odd concoctions
I tied. While
size mattered it
was as much the
action of the fly
in the water that
caught fish. Dry
fly fishing was
different. Quality hackles and colour were important and matching the hatch evened up
the odds.
Anyway, my fishing days have come full circle, and I am once again approaching the
river first encountered in my callow youth. Les and I walked to the river carrying
spinning gear in our bags. It was more an exploratory trip than a serious fishing venture,
so I was not too disappointed when I found that I had left my reel behind. I still had my
camera and I took pictures of the pools and runs and Les casting a zero gram spinner into
28

the pools. We frightened half a dozen good fish over the next few hours but I think a dry
fly in the evening will have the best chance of success.
It’s probably a bit late in the season to get really serious about it. Autumn rains will raise
the water levels and some of the pools may well become un-fishable, but next season
we’ll come with fly rods and serious intent.
EDITOR’S NOTE
Recently there has been a fair bit said about ensuring public access to our waterways, and
fair enough to, but with that access comes responsibility. So here are a few reminders of
our responsibilities to the landowners through whose property out favourite river may
run.
1) If a gate is open or closed, leave it that way.
2) Do not take a Dog onto farm land without the express permission of the
Farmer, and even then only if it is trained to not harass stock.
3) Do not light a fire on farm land without the express permission of the
Farmer, and even then only if it is safe.
4) Walk around, not through, Stock or Crops.
5) Do not tear branches off overhanging trees because they ‘get in the way of
your casting’.
6) Take your litter home with you.
7) If you have permission to take your car onto the property then ensure that
it is parked in such a way as to not block access to gates.
8) Do report any stock in difficulty to the Farmer.
FISHING FUNNIES
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(Opinions expressed in this Newsletter are those of the individual contributors and not neccessarillary those of North Shore Flyfishers Incorporated)
MEMBERS FEEDBACK
We, your committee, are always trying to give you what you want.
But are we??
In order for us to do our job properly we need to have your feedback, positive or
negative. For example, have you been on a club fishing trip? Did you enjoy yourself?
What would you change, if anything? Club nights – what would you like to see more of?
Less of? In short, talk to us.
The contact details of all your committee members are listed at the end of every
newsletter. So if you have something on your mind let us know.
Thank you - Your committee
NSFF CLUB MERCHANDISE
Cap – $15.00 Inclusive of GST
Green or Beige, one size fits all, with embroidered badge.
Embroidered Cloth Badge - $7.50 Inclusive of GST
Brushed Brass Metal Pin Badge - $12.50 Inclusive of GST
If anyone is interested in purchasing these products please either place an order at Club
Nights or at Hunts Sports.
Meetings held the 3 rd Tuesday of each month at 7.30pm:
Milford Cruising Club, 24 Craig Road, Milford, North Shore City
NORTH SHORE FLYFISHERS EXECUTIVE
Club Patron - Ian Hunt
President - Dave Symes 486-6257 Takapuna dssymes@xtra.co.nz
Secretary - Roy Richardson 415-8950 Coatesville roy@location.co.nz
Treasurer - John Cuthbertson 413-6993 Greenhithe john.cuthbertson@nz.pwc.com
Magazine - Duncan Frew 021 648 956 Torbay iconp@ihug.co.nz
Committee - Phil Gates 480-2334 Northcote phil@mitgat.com
Members Brendan James 021 595 305 Mairangi Bay cheekyrooster@gmail.com
Hamish Murray 021 807769 Milford HMurray@civica.co.nz
Dennis Smith 376-3375 Herne Bay de.smith@xtra.co.nz
Jules Wyatt 09 420 5699 Warkworth jsmw@xtra.co.nz
North Shore Flyfishers Incorporated: P.O. Box 31-387, Milford, North Shore City
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