Hutt Valley Anglers Club - New Zealand Federation of Freshwater ...

succeeded in putting a couple of them down. Bill was fishing a size16 Goddard Caddis dry fly with a size 18 possum and elk emergertied off the bend of the hook with about 15 inches between theflies. One of his targeted trout rose and took something beside hisdry fly. He paused then struck slowly but firmly. He was hookedup to this fish. It ran all over the pool and was difficult to hold,then it dawned on Bill that this trout was probably foul hookedbecause it was punching well above its weight. He had muchdifficulty controlling where it was going but it appeared to behooked around the head if not in the mouth. It was quite darknow so Bill switched on his headlight in order to see what he wastrying to net. The fish surged downstream and took Bill part wayinto the next pool before he was able to turn it and persuade thefish to come back upstream. His dry fly was suspended out of thewater and over the dorsal fin so his emerger had to be around thehead (or perhaps hooked in a pectoral fin). He had been fightingthis trout for fifteen minutes and was slowly gaining. It appearedto be a hen of not more than six pounds. His headlight wouldscare the fish off every time he brought it close to the net. Thenjust when it seemed inevitable he would get it into his net the hookpulled free and the trout dissolved into the darkness. So he willnever be quite certain where that trout was hooked. Once again asmall gaped hook had pulled out under pressure.He set off downstream to join his companion. Ben had seen theheadlight fifteen minutes earlier and assumed Bill was trudgingdown the river to meet him at the car. In fact he had beenstanding in midstream trying to land that powerful fish. His matewas wondering why the journey was taking so long. It’s a strangething this darkness when things seem completely different todaytime.Doughty Shield CompetitionThis was held one week after theWellington Regional Fly fishingCompetition on the same stretch ofriver. Seven HVAC club anglerscompeted over two and a half hours offishing by each angler. Fishingpartners and beats were drawn beforedeparture from Upper Hutt.The river level was lower than the previous week and the amountof algae growth in that week of sunny weather was quiteHutt Valley Angling Club Incorporated—December 2013 11