Flyfishers Inc Issue #15

SPRING SUMMER 17/18 ISSUE #15

FROM TH E EDI TOR What a funny old spring it’s been. Gone are the traditional devastating floods forcing anglers to sniff out all sorts of weird and wonderful nooks and crannies just to drift a fly, and here come the talks of potential droughts and a few guides praying for rain already. You can’t bloody win! It all depends on where you are though, there are still pockets of flooding being bought on by localised thunderstorms but they are generally short and sharp and anglers have been able to get back chasing out finned friends very quickly.

So as you would expect the early season fishing has been nothing short of phenomenal in some places with reports of lots of dry fly action and good numbers coming to the net which in itself can be a double edged sword.

High success rates and good weather conditions now means the fishing will get harder that much quicker through seeing more pressure early season so bear that in mind next time you head out, you could be fishing stupid long leaders, crazy thin tippet and teeny tiny flies sooner than you think…

Have fun out there!

Chris.

CONTE N T S 8 22 36 54 60 62 80 10 0 11 4 1 32 1 46 15 4 16 4 176 1 80

G E T T I N G T H E D R EG S B R O W N TO W N MY MONGOLIA I ’ D R AT H E R B E F I S H I N G F LY F I V ES SOUTH ISLAND ROAD TRIPPIN’ TA U R A N G A K I N G S Q & A ST R I P E R S I N D E L A - W H E R E ?

ANDRANANGOO COLD WINTER CHROME MEN IN FLIGHT S C O T T G S E R I ES R E V I E W S GEAR JUNKIE F LY S W AT G U YS W H O D I D ST U F F

F O R S E C O N D - G E N E R AT I O N WA D E R M A K E R M I C H E L L E H E LV E Y, T H E R E WA S N E V E R A T O R C H .

MAK E R WAD E R

SEWING SKILLS A MOTHER WOULD BE PROUD OF.

H E R M OT H E R , L E O N A , W H O S P E N T A D E C A D E I N N OVAT I N G A N D E X E C U T I N G T H E W O R L D ’ S B E ST WA D E R S AT S I M M S . H E R E , I T ' S A H E R I TA G E R O OT E D I N H A N D C R A F T E D Q U A L I T Y. PA R T O F A P R O D U CT L I N E A G E D E F I N E D B Y H A R DW O R K I N G P E O P L E W H O D R I V E T H E P R O C E S S . O N E T H AT F E E LS FA M I L I A R . A LOT L I K E FA M I LY.

M I C H E L L E H E LV E Y ,

U N FLI N CH I N G W OR K ETH I C I N H E R I TE D FR OM

SIMMSFISHING.COM

A B I L I T Y T O R U N W I T H I T. A W I N D FA L L O F

P R O D U C T I O N S P E C I A L I S T,

J U ST A N E E D L E A N D T H R E A D A N D A N I N N AT E

# WADERMAKERS

GETTI N G THE DR E GS T E X T & P H O TO G R A P H Y / / S t u H a s t i e

“AT THE END OF PLAY, WHOEVER SCORED THE MOST POINTS GOT TO CHOOSE, AND POCKET, THEIR 60/40 SPLIT OF THE FLIES; LOSER GETTING THE DREGS.” “Shit, he just ate a dry!” the enthusiastic young voice hollered in my left ear. “Language!” I retorted with a smirk on my face. I’ve only met Hugo and his Dad briefly once before, and this was our first time on the water together. This was also the first time that Alex, my 15 year old son, had met the slightly younger Hugo. There seems to be a shortage of young blood entering the sport these days and I thought that Alex would do well to have a kindred spirit to share his journey with. I was hoping the fires burning within their bellies would spark a friendship. And so the language was excused. When the first fish you spot for the day greedily slurps something off the top, quite frankly, if you don’t get excited about that, you just don’t get it. I think we’re going to get along just fine.

The fish was sitting in shallow water at the head of a nice long run into a good pool. It had ‘Brown Trout’ written all over it, so I called it. Hugo was sure it was a Rainbow. The thought crossed my mind of a little wager, but I thought better of it. Usually the best way of settling this argument is to put a hook into it, and see what it looks like in a net. Same deal with how big it is. So far this season, Hugo had only caught Rainbows, and judging by his instagram feed, some very respectable fish too. He was yet to touch a Brown though, and he really wanted to do that on a dry. There’s something about Brown Trout and dry flies that ticks a lot of boxes. Maybe this could be the fish for him; sitting in shallow, looking up and swinging freely. Perfect. He was first up, so chose a dry dropper combo of a Back Country Wulff and a Kryptonite Caddis.

To keep things interesting, I had a fun challenge for the boys. I had 10 different flies for them to use throughout the day. A good mix of drys and nymphs, light and heavy, and all extremely fishy. Their challenge, which they willingly accepted, was to fish the flies exclusively, and whenever a fish was successfully landed, the fly was retired from the selection and the angler scored a point. No one could claim the right to a fly, just whichever rod it was tied up on was the rod that was used, which also made the day even more interesting with a lefty/righty mix. At the end of play, whoever scored the most points got to choose, and pocket, their 60/40 split of the flies; loser getting the dregs. Of course there was the catch that if the fly was stuck in a bush on the far bank or on a rock deep at the bottom of a pool, it wasn’t going to make it into their flybox.

The first couple of casts were off the mark or clipping the willows behind, but soon enough the Wulff dipped and the Caddis was driven home. With the taste of steel the fish floundered about, revealing it’s Rainbow flank.

It was a good thing I didn’t make that bet. The fish then found it’s head and raced to the top of the run, decided that wasn’t the place to be and turned and bolted for the pool, line sizzling through the water and Hugo frantically stripping to keep up. In the ensuing bedlam the fly line got wrapped around the tip of the rod and with the fish making a b-line for the pool, the rod lowered and the tip section popped right out of Hugo’s rod, and that too was making it’s way toward the pool. Once the fish made the security of the deeper water, it turned and settled down, allowing us the opportunity to reassemble the rod, but just as Hugo started to get some tension back to the fish, the hook pulled.

Fish - 1, Anglers - 0 It looks like it might be a fun day.

BROW N TOW N P H O TO G R A P H Y / / Yo s h i N a k a g a w a

“IT’S HARD TO DENY THE ALLURE OF THE BROWN TROUT AND THE CHALLENGES THEY OFFER” 1867 marks ground zero for the release of brown trout in New Zealand and some crazy things have happened over the last 150 years thanks to the liberation of these bars of fishy gold. Obsessions formed, lives changed, hearts broken and lots of remote places of our beautiful country seen by people who would normally have no other reason to venture into these zones other than the pursuit of these noble fish.

Whether your goal is a trophy in the 10lb+ range or just pulling a fish of any size from a new peice of water it’s hard to deny the allure of the brown trout and the challenges they offer.

Kiyoshi Nakagawa is one man who is relentless in his pursuit of these wonderful creatures where every fish is a trophy regardless of size, but rest assured there’s plenty of the magical 10lb+ fish that have fallen victim to Yoshi’s skill and guile with a fly rod and camera.

H ARRO

G Series The all new classic from Scott

ReAct

ReAct

ReAct

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RECOIL GUIDES

ReAct GUIDES RECOIL

ReAct RECOIL GUIDES

ReAct FIBERFUSE RESIN

UNIVERSAL GUIDES FIBERFUSE RESIN

UNIVERSAL GUIDES FIBERFUSE RESIN

UNIV

Not just a reintroduction – a reinvention.

MY MON GOLI A T E X T / / J e f f Fo r s e e P H O TO G R A P H Y / / A s C r e d i t e d

“THIS SUMMER I WATCHED A TROUT ANGLER HOOK A 14” LENOK, WHILE THE ANGLER WAS BRINGING IN THE STRUGGLING FISH IT WAS EATEN BY A LARGE TAIMEN.” It usually unfolds something like this - Temperatures begin to drop alongside the daylight hours, rivers begin to close and my guiding schedule slows.

I love autumn fishing in New Zealand, the slower pace of things is a nice change after a long summer of chasing fish until the sun sets. But I quickly begin to lose focus and find my mind drifting back to those warm summer days again. I exchange the pheasant tails and the 2mm bead heads for the buck tails, long synthetic fibers and 6/0 hooks that have been gathering dust on the bottom shelf of my tying desk. There is something extremely gratifying about lashing half a chook to a 6/0 after seven months of tying pheasant tails and hare and coppers. I pack my bags, say goodbye to my loved ones and hop on my first flight north. There’s not a major time difference between Mongolia and New Zealand, only about 4 hours. But where I live in New Zealand is nearly 45 degrees South and where I spend my summers in Mongolia is 50 degrees North. That’s a whole lot of latitude in between the two. So a few flights later I find myself navigating the smoggy streets of Ulaanbaatar. It’s a funky city with a very Soviet feel.

It’s on a north to south grid layout with a massive central square designed with cold war propaganda in mind. I know my way around UB pretty well by now and have some favorite restaurants that I spend my time at in between last minute preparations for the season ahead. Soon enough, it’s time to catch a domestic flight about 1500km to the north west of the city where our cavalry of old Russian military vehicles and a few surprisingly shiny land cruisers await. This is where it all starts to feel real.

Pe t e r Fo n g

J e f f Fo r s e e

The duffels are loaded into the back of the machines and we head away from the village and across the iconic Mongolian steppe. We travel for about an hour on the last paved road we will see until we make our way back to the airport in a few months. We spend the next six hours bouncing past impressive herds of funny looking sheep, cashmere goats, yak, cattle and of course, horses. There are nomads on horseback and we start to see the first gers (or yurts), that before my first trip here I only ever came across in text books and documentaries. This is Mongolia The steppe is as graceful as a landscape comes. Endless with rolling green hills and a Kodachrome of wildflowers. You can’t help but to be overcome with the feeling that you could walk or ride for 1000km in any direction.

It’s no wonder the nomadic lifestyle is the mainstay, even in 2017. After a military check point that seems to be in the middle of nowhere you start ascending and descending mountain passes, the terrain becomes more rugged and what appears to be a river valley comes in and out of view at the tops of some of the passes. This is one of the most beautiful river valleys that I have ever laid eyes on. I’ve often said that I’d travel all the way here to float down this river even if it didn’t have any fish in it. Thank God for me, that’s not the case. As the snow melt and rains make their way down to the freestone river valley they sweep away the fallen larch needles that in turn transform the river into a tea coloured, streamer fisherman’s paradise. As the season progresses and the rains slow the river begins to drop and morph into a captivating emerald green colour. The endless meadows stretch on for kilometers at each river bend and on a hot windy day in July you wouldn’t make it 30 paces without having to dodge a few unwieldy grasshoppers. The geology of the valley is something I prefer to just be fascinated by instead of really trying to understand. Over the 150km that we float, it changes from towering limestone cliffs stretching 200 meters’ vertical from the river’s edge to crumbling granite bluffs that seem to have been there since the beginning of time. The reality is, this ancient land probably hasn’t changed much since Chinggis Khan and his armies were taking over the eastern world. In fact, it feels like they could come around the corner at any moment.

Pe t e r Fo n g

J e f f Fo r s e e

Fly fishing for taimen can be about as frustrating as the sport comes but being connected to one of these fish is as rewarding as it gets. There are all kinds of probabilities just like any fishery but ultimately, taimen do what taimen do. I haven’t spent a lot of time fishing for steelhead or musky but I think it’s safe to say that you can go ahead and throw the taimen into the ranks of “The fish of 10,000 casts.” It’s all about covering water and finding a player. Think pre Tinder, it takes real time and effort. Especially if you want to find a good one. It’s perhaps what I love most about the fishery.

Whether I am guiding or making the casts myself I have a genuine hope with every single cast that is made. I honestly stop breathing sometimes when I am watching a gurgler struggle across the surface of a nice looking pool. Even if we haven’t moved a thing since the day before. I know he’s down there and I find myself hoping that the serenity of the place will suddenly shatter with an explosive surface take. Taimen are predators of the fiercest distinction. I’ve seen them throw water six feet up a cliff wall chasing a grayling to its demise. They will sometimes do full cartwheels out of the water in pursuit of a surface fly. I’ve watched them come back to a fly four or five times before they are eventually hooked or lost. They ambush attack as solo predators and actively hunt in groups. This summer I watched a trout angler hook a 14” lenok, while the angler was bringing in the struggling fish it was eaten by a large taimen. The angler played the taimen for a full five minutes before the fish simply opened his powerful jaws letting the poor chewed up lenok go, never actually being hooked himself in the first place.

Taimen fever is rampant in western Mongolia so the lenok and grayling fishing can often be over looked. If it wasn’t for the meter plus heavyweights that pray on these smaller fish, fly anglers would travel all the way here just for them. It’s what dry fly fishermen dream of. In the middle of the summer you can tie on a size 8 chubby Chernobyl and leave it there until it becomes so chewed up that it won’t float anymore. I’ve never seen fish so happy to eat a dry fly. Watching the sunlight pierce through the oversized dorsal fin of a grayling while he attempts to ferry away from the boat on a clear summers day is sight to behold. The lenok look like a trout from a faraway world with their downturned mouths and exaggerated markings but have similar habits to the brown trout right here on planet earth. They will also put up a scrap as feisty as any salmonid in their weight class.

Like any fishery it has its days but floating down a river as scenic as this one on a warm day with a five weight and big dry fly is about as close to pure joy as one can get. There really is no struggle, it’s just good clean fun.

J e f f Fo r s e e

J e f f Fo r s e e

J e f f Fo r s e e

J e f f Fo r s e e

Pe t e r Fo n g

J e f f Fo r s e e

Before I know it, the deep green larch needles begin to change into a lime colour that can only be followed by a short autumn and a long winter.

Our fishing days become a little bit shorter and evening fireside sessions become a little bit more common. It seems like overnight that we trade in our sandals for warm wool socks and mostly waterproof waders. It’s a bitter sweet time of year for me. After three months of living in a tent and being away from home there is a big part of me that is desperate to get on that first flight south. But there is another part of me that will miss life on the river. Living and breathing the river is a pretty streamlined way of living. It’s almost military in routine and I get a lot of joy out of what becomes the new norm out there. Mobile phones are generally lost deep inside of anglers’ luggage, likely sandwiched somewhere in between the other equally useless items like deodorant and wallets. Putting your rain jacket on to go to the toilet and having a wash in the river become as regular as the autumn mayfly hatch. I’ve become a seasoned veteran at synchronized teeth brushing and peeing. The biggest dilemma of the day is typically whether we should fish gurglers or streamers and it turns out that a warm beer is just as satisfying as a cold one if the nearest ice is two months away. I miss my family but I also know I will miss my family on the river when I go. The bonds that are forged among a group of people, fishing guides and camp staff, that spend months on end together, fighting the elements, working hard, overcoming challenges side by side and enduring the good times and the hard times is seldom matched. It’s a lot to leave and that’s before mention of the fish. I am completely captivated

by Mongolia and the pursuit of hucho taimen. But this river is going to have a meter of ice on it soon so I know I need to pack my bags. I also know I’ll be back.

J e f f Fo r s e e

J e f f Fo r s e e

Pe t e r Fo n g

I’D RATH ER BE FISH I N G

My name is Matt Berquist and I work for Fish City Hamilton. I’ve been there for just under a year working in the showroom selling fishing gear and helping people with advice and gear. I love the diversity of it and the different people you meet which gives you the opportunity to learn something new off everyone you talk to. Then being able to pass on the knowledge that I have and meet people who share the same love and passion for fly fishing that I do is awesome. I’ve always been fishing since I can remember and took fly fishing on as another challenge to better myself. I never knew it would change the way that I approach any water and now I find myself constantly thinking “how can I catch that on a fly rod?” I’m lucky enough to be able to get out fishing at least 5 days a week whether it’s a quick stop off at the local on my way past or a big day mission. Right now I would be happy to get on a plane to go fishing anywhere. To take a sleeping bag, a good attitude and find new water is my kind of adventure. For me any day out fishing is an ideal day fishing.

Landing a fish is a bonus. Any free time I get is pretty much spent on the water whether it’s the ocean or a puddle but on other days I spend time with friends, girlfriend and family. I try not to get too hung up the “correct” way to do things in fly fishing and target anything with a fly rod. Nothing has to be perfect or to the books. Don’t be too focused on what fish will take what fly. Almost any fish can be caught on any fly if presented in the right manner. Find new water, make the most of what you have in front of you and love what you do.

I’D RATH ER BE FISH I N G

My name is Jimmy Dee and I’ve been working at Hunting & Fishing Waikato for almost a year now. My day starts out with a big coffee, usually a cast or two in the car park then it’s inside to open up at nine o’clock and start my day making sure all the flies are stocked up and looking tidy and having a yarn to customers about where they have been fishing and how the fish have been in the area. The coolest part about being in the industry is meeting others that share the same passion and seeing the look in people’s eyes when they have come away from the shop feeling like they have been given the help they needed to fuel their days out on the water.

I’ve met some interesting folks who are in the industry also and it’s a great privilege to be able to work along with them and being able to have a jam with some of the coolest and latest gadgets is always a welcome bonus as well. I guess I stumbled upon fly fishing by accident as I’ve always loved mucking around by streams. I used to fish for eels and do a bit of coarse fishing growing up but I moved to the Pirongia area about fifteen years ago and ended up living on a property that had a beautiful little stream running through it. One day I was wandering along the banks and I noticed something (I thought it was an eel) taking things off the surface. I spoke to an old man who lived there most of his life and he had fly fished the stream many times over the years, so that afternoon without having any clue what I was doing grabbed my dad’s twenty year old fly rod a length of scrounged nylon and a dry old flaky fly of some unknown description and botched some form of thing I’ll call a cast and managed to get a take.

To be honest it was over before it even began but I got a glimpse at what was quite a decent sized rainbow trout and in that single moment I knew I had started something that would be impossible for me to stop. So several years later and way too many dollars spent on fly fishing gear I’m making a living out of sharing in other people’s fly fishing journeys and hopefully helping them on their way. All going well I get out a couple days a week but I’m lucky to be living in such an awesome spot where I can just fish my own back yard after work on daylight savings time to catch the perfect mayfly hatch time. Quite often I’ll drive the couple minutes journey into Hamilton city and cast flies to the diverse coarse fish we have in our urban lakes and river. An ideal days fishing for me doesn’t have to be an epic back country adventure, I guess that’s why I love coarse fishing so much. There’s something special about getting to the local café, grabbing a cuppa to go and wandering the banks on a crisp morning sight casting to big wary brightly coloured creatures that swim around Hamilton Lake.

Or casting a two hander swinging big flies to brown trout in the Waikato River surrounded by concrete jungle, decorated with beautiful art work from the local night time artists. I think the most important thing to make a great fishing session become a perfect one is company and there are a few like-minded Hamilton peeps who love it for what it is and make it what it is. Outside of fly fishing I do often wonder if there is anything else to life but I’m quickly bought down to earth by watching my kids grow up so quickly and that helps me to just enjoy these moments as they roll on by. My style of fishing is, well, just that! It’s my style of fishing I just love going out with my fly rod and seeing where I end up. There’s been more than a few situations where I’ve had to ask myself what the hell am I doing here? But to be honest those quite often become the places I keep going back to and if I really had to sum up my style of fishing into one word I’d call it “Ghetto”! For me fly fishing most definitely isn’t just trout fishing, we have such a diverse range of different options out there that are fun and offer a whole new world of challenges and hopefully accomplishments. If I could go anywhere now to fly fish it would have to be the USA to go chase small and large mouth bass, the places you end up chasing those would suit my style of fishing. Tench and carp have compelled me to totally think outside the box to get them to even look at a fly, let alone take it which has in turn improved my trout fishing game tenfold. Perch are awesome little ferocious critters that make for exciting streamer and popper fishing, and rudd are the closest thing you will ever find to a Pokemon in real life so stop staring at your phone to find one.

So get out and enjoy the sun, or the rain, and find your water, it’ll be right under your nose…

F LY F I VES MA RC CLI N C H

Marc Clinch AKA Clinchy is now kicking into his second season of full time guiding out of Tongariro Lodge and Poronui Lodge alongside some of the hunting guiding he does. One of the happiest guys out there, he’s got a level of froth second to none and we’re predicting a big career ahead of him. Here’s a few quickfire Q&A’s from the man himself.

5 BEST FI S HIN G MOME N T S 1. Sight casting to kingfish on the flats 2. Landing a kingfish on fly 3. Personal best rainbow trout on a cicada fly 4. Catching my fish trout on the fly with some good mates 5. Catching a brown trout on the Manic Bum Fluff stim dry fly

5 FAVOURITE F IS HIN G D E ST INAT IONS 1. Tauranga Harbour

2. The Tongariro River 3. Anywhere that takes longer than three hours to walk to 4. The Mohaka River 5. The south island (one of these days)

5 FAVOURITE F LIE S 1. Chubby Chernobyl

2. Anything Lucas Allen ties 3. The classic Hare & Copper 4. Swishers Foam PMX in tan 5. Green Quill Caddis

5 S UPERSTITION S O R HA B IT S 1. Coffee in the morning 2. The odd excited noise when we hook a fish 3. Fishing barbless hooks 4. Curse words when I lose a fish 5. Beers at night

5 PI ECES OF E S S E N TIA L G E AR

1. Loon nippers

2. Manuka stick wading staff 3. Smith Optics sunglasses 4. Personal locator beacon 5. My Scott Radian 9’6” six weight

S OUTH ISLA N D ROAD TRIPPI N ’ T E X T & P H O TO G R A P H Y / / Ti m A n g e l i

“I REALISED AT THE TIME THAT THIS TRIP WOULD LIVE IN MY MEMORY FOREVER, NOT NECESSARILY FOR THE FISH WE CAUGHT, BUT FOR THE EXPERIENCES WE LOGGED.” It’s often said that variety is the spice of life, and I’m a firm believer that the same holds true in the world of fly fishing. There’s a special bond between a fly angler and their favourite section(s) of water, and while I’m no exception to that statement, the excitement of exploring the unknown often trumps the safety of visiting a favourite haunt. So when last Christmas and New Years aligned with a clear schedule for both myself, and good mate Simon Chu, it took very little enticing (read: “none”) to get me on a plane headed south for a 10-day road trip around some of the best water the South Island has to offer.

At the onset of the trip, we made an agreement to not only visit some of our favourite haunts, but also to check out new water, for both of us.

It wasn’t exactly an easy task considering Simon had spent well over a decade plying the waters of the Mainland, but we ultimately stuck true to our plan. Sure, we spent a few days visiting favourite rivers, but even on those days, we explored new pools, walked the atypical bank, and made a point to approached the water with a different mindset. And on the other days, we both relished in the joy of exploration that can only ever be experienced once on any particular stetch of river.

Variety truly is the spice of life, and this trip was no different. From the vibrant red spots adorning the flanks of ‘wee browns’ residing in oftoverlooked, small, lowland streams, to chasing the seemingly annual whispers of mouse-munching monsters, we enjoyed it all. Each morning, the car was pointed toward whichever direction we felt the urge to explore, and each evening we returned to collapse at basecamp, too tired and weary to do much more than cut a couple of thick slabs of scotch fillet into a hot pan, and relive the highlights of the day while we enjoyed each bite.

I realised at the time that this trip would live in my memory forever, not necessarily for the fish we caught, but for the experiences we logged. The fishless days reside in my memory as vibrant as the days we lost count, but it’s the laughter that rings most clear in my mind, from my incident with an electric fence to my endurance sprint toward the only tree in sight, with bog roll tucked safely in my pocket, but unfortunately not as ‘safely’ as I had thought. As we head into the height of what is already shaping up to be an outstanding trout season, the days already seem to be evaporating before my eyes everytime I look at the the calendar.

It must be time for another road trip…

CENTER AXIS ROD & REEL CASTING IS BELIEVING

TAURAN GA K IN GS Q &A P H O TO G R A P H Y / / A s c r e d i t e d

“THE KINGFISH ARE RUTHLESS KILLERS USING THE RAY AS AN AMBUSH AND WILL PEEL OFF TO ATTACK ANY UNSUSPECTING PREY.” Now in his third full time season as a legitimate saltwater fly fishing guide, Lucas Allen of King Tide Salt Fly is getting the game on the Tauranga flats dialled. Bringing together his years of experience before the life of guiding and his recent dedicated time on the water with clients, his wealth of knowledge and experience is all adding up to making chasing kings on the Tauranga flats THE premiere saltwater fly fishing option in New Zealand.

We got in touch with Lucas to chat about a few things Kingfish and get some insight into what’s going on with what is shaping up to become one hell of a heavy hitting sports fishery on the fly.

Chris Sharland

Stu Hastie

BEFORE WE GET STARTED LET’S G ET A Q U IC K H IST ORY O N THE TAURANGA H ARBOUR K I N G S F ROM T H E T IM E T H E Y WE R E FIRST UNCOVERED TO W H AT’S H APPEN IN G ON T H E WAT E R TODAY. New Zealand has a great way of adopting things late in the game, but when we finally do it’s embraced with such huge enthusiasm and drive that you wonder why it wasn’t a “thing” many years earlier. The likes of Nikolaj Mathiesen, Dick Marquand and Clark Reid are all to blame for inflicting countless hours of hunting salt water species that until recently were just a hushed chat over a beer.

TALK US THROU G H TH E RI G MAROLE OF GE T T IN G S E T U P A S A SALT WATER F LY F I S H I N G G UI D E AND GE T T IN G A BOAT SURVEY ED FOR OPERATI N G I N W H AT IS A VE RY N ICH E ENVIRONMENT.

Stu Hastie

Where do I start? Having a bona fide commercial operation certainly gives you credibility as a professional operator, so it was a no brainer to follow the hard path and do it properly when I originally set up. Thankfully Maritime New Zealand have a pretty water tight auditing system that sorts the wheat from the chaff. At the end of the day it’s other people’s lives you are responsible for and taking short cuts is not an option.

Chris Sharland

Stu Hastie

Stu Hastie

RUN US THROUGH A T YPI CAL DAY ON TH E WAT E R WIT H K IN G TIDE SALT FLY. It starts in the days prior, email correspondence, long range weather scanning and planning options for the day. The night before I’ll load up any extra items and go over pre voyage checklists. Usually by 2300 I’m making lunch (the best sangas this side of Te Puke), a quick check of the weather and hope the kids don’t wake up during the next few hours.

The day starts early with a pick up or meeting clients at the ramp, having a good number of ramps to choose from means we’re normally fishing within 5-10 minutes of launching. The rest of the day is spent peering into the water willing a fish or three to appear. Accommodating people is a fine art, everyone’s different in all aspects and this needs to be taken into consideration to provide a day they will enjoy and remember for years to come. We have a pretty cool fishery and I love showing people it’s many facets. Right now the Pohutukawa are starting to flower and tossing flies under their red flowers for cruising Kingfish is a real treat.

Once the day wraps up it’s back to the ramp for goodbyes or drop offs.

Then home to wash the boat, re rig gear and set up for the next day.

Thankfully the little fulla knows where the deck brush is along with my treat stash, it’s amazing how much work gets done with a biscuit payment.

And then there’s the paperwork but I won’t bore you with details.

THE HARBOUR I S REC OG N I S ED M OSTLY FO R IT ’ S R AY R IDIN G KINGS, COULD YOU PLEAS E EX PLAI N W H AT T H AT M E A N S FO R THOSE THAT DO N ’T K N OW AN D TH EN P E R H A P S E M B E L L IS H A LITTLE MORE I N FO ON S OM E OF TH E B E H AVIO UR YO U ’ VE OBSERVED OVE R TH E LAST COUPLE OF Y E A R S ?

The Yellowtail kingfish often follow large black stingrays around the sandy shallows, this makes for a great target as groups of kingfish hustle for a ride. It’s thought that the rays see the kingfish as a warning system for predators and don’t mind the company. On the other hand the kingfish are ruthless killers using the ray as an ambush and will peel off to attack any unsuspecting prey. Picking their body language and behaviors over the years has made a subtle difference in presentation, although as with most fishing on some days you just can’t buy a bite so the first cast really has to count.

The other common rays on the flats are eagle rays. These don’t tend to have kingfish in attendance due to their skittish movements. They’re also more angular and come in lighter shades normally. Just look for a black tyre being dragged along the sandy bottom at a walking pace and you’re on the right track.

Stu Hastie

AND THEN THE RE’S TH E F REE SW I MM E R S , TA IL E R S A N D BYCATCH.

Those free swimmers are tricky, they’re so well camouflaged you often see the yellow tail first then realize there’s a fish in front of it! As kingfish are quite curious and attracted to noise they will happily come and check you out time and time again, it’s how you approach them from this point that will determine the outcome. I hate to say it but that answer also changes depending on the fish at the time.

Seeing a pack of yellow tails wafting around begging you to come closer is awesome. The fish will be grubbing about, often with their heads down so presenting a fly is an easy game and spotting them from further away is a huge benefit.

Another favorite observation is watching packs of kingfish crash bait. My pick being one swimming the beach line creating a big bow wave while flushing baitfish. As they herd towards an obstacle perpendicular to the beach all hell breaks loose as the rest of the pack move in also. If you don’t hook up as that happens just throw a fly again and hang on as the scraps are picked up.

Snapper are also a worthy fly target although shy at times and wary of heavy boat traffic on the flats. Occasionally we stumble across schools holding in shallow pockets as they move off the flats.

Don’t forget the kahawai, these critters are such a fantastic light tackle adversary. They are sometimes fussy, sometimes too easy and jump like a tweaked out rainbow. Of course there’s a multitude of other species to target, if it eats food you can probably get it to eat a fly at some point.

TIME TO GIVE UP S OM E I N FO FOR OUR R E A DE R S . WH AT ADVICE WOULD YOU G I V E TO S OM EON E WH O WA N T S T O H IT THE HARBOUR EI TH ER ON FOOT OR BOAT B UT WO U L DN ’ T HAVE A CLUE W H ERE TO START? Grab a maritime chart or scope google earth for likely areas that are accessible to you, then pick a few spots and start learning them. Most harbours and inshore waters look daunting at first but by breaking down a few key spots you’ll take some of that big water intimidation away, leaving you free to focus on fishing. Sometimes the fish won’t be around, don’t give up, you might have just missed them for the day or they’re not due to swim past until you leave. When it all comes together you’ll quickly forget all the countless hours prior that which seemed like a waste of time.

Lu c a s A l l e n

Chris Sharland

Chris Sharland

WHAT GEAR D O I N EED TO G ET OUT T H E R E A M O N GST IT ?

Most fly fishos will have banged a few casts across the Tongariro at some stage, believe it or not that trusty 8wt can get salt water on it and not die a horrible death. If you’re looking at dropping some coins then start with the Airflo Coastal set. Perfectly constructed to throw some bigger lines and flies while being a little forgiving in action yet robust enough to put the hurt on when needed during a fight.

Onboard King Tide we use either the Tidal or Meridian range from Scott fly rods. These rods are specifically designed for salt water work, cast like a dream and are real workhorses. Reels should be silky smooth, have minimal start up inertia and a sealed drag that holds up to multiple brinings.

Lamson Speedster and Hatch Finatics are my pick to handle things and their larger arbors hold a decent amount of backing. I’d say 95% of the time we’re fishing the Airflo Flatsmaster as it’s perfect for popping quick casts, banging the wind or just throwing bulky flies around all day.

Lastly, don’t skimp on the little things. Cheap leader and hooks are my pet hate. I’ve used Hatch fluoro religiously the last two seasons and have been impressed so far with its knotability and abrasion resistance.

GIV ES US A FEW OBS ERVATI ON S OF HOW YOU H AVE S E E N THE USAGE OF T H E F I S H ERY CH AN G E OVE R T H E L A ST T H R E E YEARS WITH THE S H ARI N G OF PERS ONA L A N D P RO M OT IONA L ACTIVIT Y THROU G H S OC I AL M ED I A .

A few years back you’d have the harbour flats to yourself for days on end, occasionally bumping into another fly angler and sharing a real-time yarn.

Often we would be told “there’s no trout here dickhead” by the old brigade or looked at funny. Now days it’s picked up the tempo as word gets out quickly via social media. Personally I have a love/hate relationship with it.

Sure, embrace the fishery and enjoy it with others, that’s what it’s there for. But on the other hand there are heroes who expect years of intel for nix because they have x followers. I really think we need to be careful with info sharing, social media is a powerful tool that some people don’t have a good grasp of. Plus, getting hounded for harbour info at 3am via Facebook is bullshit!

R e n e Va z G u s La p i n

WITH THE POPU LARI T Y OF TH E TAURANGA H A R BO U R K IN GS GOING FROM ST REN GTH TO STREN GTH E AC H S E A S ON T H E R E COMES IT S NEW I S S UES OF CROW D I NG O F FOOT ACC E S S POINT S AND MORE BOAT S WORK I N G T H E FL AT S . WH AT ARE SOME KEY FORM OF ETI Q UETTE P E OP L E M IGH T WA N T TO KEEP IN MI N D I N ORD ER TO M I TI GAT E A N Y P OT E N T IA L ISSUES? Good old fashioned courtesy goes a long way in this game. Don’t drop in on someone’s drift or path of travel as if it doesn’t matter. If a flat looks busy go somewhere else, you’ll probably have a better chance away from the crowds anyhow. Most importantly, remember to enjoy and respect the fishery and the people you share it with regardless of their fishing methods.

FINALLY LET’S W RAP TH I S UP W I TH YOU R P R E DICAT IO N S FOR THE UPCOM I N G S EAS ON .

It’s shaping up to be a ripper, we’ve had by far the best spring in a long time and the water temps are already well above their average. There’s a lot of baitfish around, in turn the harbour is only going to load up further with all manner of life. If it’s anything like last year we’ll be fishing hard until late May - one of my top months as the condition the fish are putting on before winter is unreal.

We have a pretty exciting season ahead so if you want a piece of the action it’s best to get your dates sorted early to avoid disappointment.

CO N TAC T LUCA S ( P R E F E R A B LY AT 3 A M ) FOR BOO K I N G S US I N G T H E S E L I N K S

Lu c a s A l l e n

STRIPER S I N DELA - W H E R E? P H O TO G R A P H Y / / A l e x a n d r a N i e l s e n T E X T / / G u s La p i n

“A FEW BUDS AT THE LOCAL CRAB SHACK LATER, WE LEARNED THAT THESE STRIPERS WERE THE HOOD RATS OF THE AREA.” When you hear the name Delaware, what’s the first thing that springs to mind? Wayne’s World? Banks? Absolutely nothing? Don’t worry you’re not alone, a large chunk of US citizens don’t even know it’s a state, let alone the first state to have signed the US Constitution. History aside, a recent trip took us to the east coast of the United States for some “business” totally unrelated to fly fishing. Although as expected, the 8 weight Meridian found its way into my duffel.

With the help of Bob, local legend, crab wrangler and all round cracking lad, we managed to get access to some land conveniently sandwiched between two wildlife sanctuaries. The morning conditions were pristine as we picked our way up the estuary targeting small schools of Stripers on the outgoing tide. An interesting fishery to be sure and one that seems to be under-utilised throughout this region for fly fishing. A few Buds at the local crab shack later, we learned that these Stripers were the hood rats of the area and come spawning time, the 50lb plus females make their way into the system, so it’s fair to say we’ll be returning. Delaware definitely isn’t a fly fishing destination, at least it wasn’t on my radar. But I can guarantee you that we’ll revisit this place.

Experiences like this remind us that with a little local knowledge and an ounce of effort, the fly fishing opportunities on this planet are endless.

Isn’t that why we all do it? I’ll leave that with you to decide…

HATCHOUTDOORS.COM

FINATIC FLY REELS PREMIUM FLY FISHING PRODUCTS MADE IN THE USA

PHOTO BY MARK LANCE

ANDRA NAN G OO (GOO SE CR E E K ) P H O TO G R A P H Y / / N i c k R e y g a e r t TEXT// Shannon Kitchener

“IT LOOKS LIKE A HOLE IS LEFT IN THE WATERS SURFACE WHEN THEY INHALE YOUR FLY, AND ONCE YOU HAVE HAD A GOOD SURFACE BITE IT WILL HAVE YOU ALWAYS WANTING MORE.” “A fish from the history books” are the words that The Godfather of fly fishing, Lefty Kreh, used to describe the Saratoga in Goose Creek which is in Rod Harrison’s sports fishing video “A New Frontier“ from the late 80’s, and now I know why. Andranangoo Creek, which is the traditional name of Goose Creek, is only small river system that is fed by a spring up in the flood plains and ends up flowing into the Afafura Sea at the top of Melville Island. Melville and Bathurst Islands make up the Tiwi Islands and are off to the North of Darwin. The islands stretch 8,320 square kilometers and have many creeks and river systems that have mostly remained untouched, something that is so uncommon today.

THE IN VITATION

After watching Parallel Lines last year at the Rise film Festival the CEO of Macquarie Bank Guy Reynolds asked if Nick Reygaert, founder of Rise, would like to come up to see the Tiwi Collage’s Guide Program an initiative for the college student to become a guide at the lodge that Guy Simmons and Mathew Hayden Australian cricket legend are proudly involved with.

Jacob Parmigiana and I were also invited along to be a part of the journey and stayed at the college for a few days with the guidance of Jason Ryan, the head foreman of the collage and keen fisherman along with one of the young gun students in the guide program, Anthony John Lorenzo Guy. After the short flight from Darwin we landed onto Melville Island and went straight to the cultural centre to be shown through the art gallery and museum by Pedro Wonaeamirri. While having a yarn to him he mentioned that it was his father that had taken an American and Australian fly anglers (Lefty and Harro) to Goose Creek and explained that he is now the custodian of Goose Creek. I asked him two questions, 1) can we have permission to fish his land? And 2) would he like to be taught fly fishing? Thankfully he said yes to both!

T H E LEGEN D

The hour long drive down the red dusty road seemed to slip away as thoughts of the adventures ahead ran through my head. It was that vision of Lefty and Harro all those years ago that had me always wanting the fish this creek. As soon as we arrived at the boat ramp Pedro was out of the ute and talking in Tiwi to the ancestors letting them know that he was there and had us with him. His voice echoed over the creek and through flood plains. The water was the colour of tea but to him it was clear and the lily pads and flowers lined the edges of the creek, just as I remembered from the film.

SWA M P I E S & SA LT I E S

Barramundi for me is a fish that I will never tire of catching on fly. They are a true Australian icon and the Goose Creek Barra live up to their mainland cousins. With no commercial and recreational fishing allowed this is as good as it gets, with large amounts of them in the salt and fresh water. Goose Creek is surrounded by flood plains that are needed to make a great Barra fishery, with the fresh and brackish parts lined with paperbarks, lilies, bull rushers and drains that flood out from the plains and the saltwater adorned with great snags and mud banks. This is where the great work of the guide program and local knowledge had Anthony casting into all the likely spots producing a fish a cast in some spots and multiple double hook ups.

The session I loved the most is when we had the Barra boofing surface flies, there is no better sound then the implosion of a Barra. It looks like a hole is left in the waters surface when they inhale your fly, and once you have had a good surface bite it will have you always wanting more.

TOGA TIM E

Australia is the only place in the world that has Saratoga, an ancient fish that is well documented in the indigenous art works of Northern Australia.

We have two mainland species the Leichardti that are in the eastern flowing rivers of Queensland and the Jardinii that are in the rivers that flow into the Gulf of Carpenteria of Queensland and Northern Territory. The only other place is on Melville Island. This was Jacobs first time up north so he was amazed at their fighting abilities and was in awe of their great patterns and colours. There was one fish in particular that I will always remember of Jacobs and that was the biggest of the trip. He placed a great cast along a tree lined section with lily pad on the left and almost as it hit the water the line came tight. To see his face when he saw the size was priceless and he quickly had the fish under control after a great tussle. Jacob was over the moon when he had it in his hands.

I had previously caught the two mainland species so was more than happy to fish this great creek but what I witnessed was the best Saratoga fish that I have ever seen. After hearing stories from Jason and Anthony about ‘Toga hitting frogs and duck lures I had tied up a bird fly to give a go and I had a toga smash it on the first cast. The next couple of hours was insane with us casting so many different flies, including a NYOP and double hand stripping the flies as fast as we could back to the boat with the ‘Toga making bow wave after them and hitting them so hard that many would launch themselves out of the water with their prize in their mouth. In the end we stopped counting but it was well over 20 and something that I will never forget.

T H E LO DG E S

There are three lodges on the Tiwi Islands that are now in full ownership of the Tiwi people. The Barra base that started in the 80’s and was made famous for the great barramundi fishing is sadly not in operation any more.

The Melville Island Lodge is the main lodge that takes clients. The last is the Johnston River Camp which is very remote and you get to fish some of the most off the grid river systems on Melville Island. This is an area that I will be looking forward to exploring more next time we go back to follow up reports of lots of Threadfin Salmon, Mangrove Jack and loads of Barra.

For anyone that has an adventurous nature and wants to see remote untouched Australia landscape and fishing at its finest, just as Lefty and Harro did back in the 80’s, then this is a place you need to visit.

BLO

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FROM SALT AND STREAM, STRAIGHT TO YOUR SCREEN. WWW.FLYSTREAM.COM

COL D W I N T E R CH ROM E P H O TO G R A P H Y / / M a t t H i n c e & A n d r e w H a r d i n g TEXT// Andrew Harding

“WINTER IS COMING SOON, TIME TO CATCH UP ON THE RIVER WITH GOOD FRIENDS, A BEER IN THE PUB AND SWAP STORIES OF THAT 4LB TAIL-HOOKED RAINBOW WHO STRIPPED 100 YARDS OF LINE IN A BLISTERING RUN.“ It’s an easy one to pinpoint what draws me to the central North Island during the famed winter months, it can be a miserable and hospitable place at the best of times, cold, wet and just plain hard, so it’s sure as hell not the weather. It’s not the fish that draws me here either, whilst basically a Steelhead in appearance and run-characteristics, they are often not large

by New Zealand standards, in fact I’ve yet to land a rainbow over 7.5lbs on the Tongariro and it’s is definitely not the methods use Unwieldly rigs, long leaders and shuttle-clock sized indicators, your cast going skewiff at the slightest of breeze. A fish-fight, stifled by the heavier gear which necessitates the turnover of said rig, and the often long reaching casts, are a physiotherapists dream on return to the “big smoke” where most of us reside. I do know why I keep coming back year after year though. Quite simply it’s the companionship and camaraderie that comes from pulling together like-minded individuals from New Zealand Over, all set on itching their “off-season” scratch. It’s such a unique fishery and method, even calling it fly fishing is pushing the boundaries! A form of specialised ‘lobbing’ might be a more adapt! But fun it is. So much fun. The conversations from across the river, shouted bravado, encouragement all the while standing shoulder to shoulder with a stranger who shares a common bond. The friendships often lasting, the swapping of advice invaluable and handed down through fellow anglers more than one might think.

Not a day would go by during the winter runs where you don’t see two anglers approach a pool, one will assume the lead, arm extended indicating where the lie is in the pool, information passed down from fellow strangers years prior, now the noob is the expert, a fly fishing super-hero in the eyes of his prodigal sidekick, whom the following season, puff chested extends his arm, and points out the lie to a new generation of experts. Summer comes, the river takes on a different character, the flows decrease, golden hues light up the foliage and small Rainbows litter any bath-tub sized pocket they can find. Large hooked-jawed browns of trophy proportions begin their lazy passage into the shallow tributaries to procreate. Large buoyant Cicada’s drifted down vegetated banks drawing a huge snout from the depths, 30 degree heat and the constant crunching of broken wings and exoskeletons underfoot add to the experience. This is the time, this is life at it’s finest, but there is nobody about to share the experiences with, something’s missing. Gone are the anglers, replaced by the occasional tourist, the serenity broken with a “got any bites”. Winter is coming soon, time to catch up on the river with good friends, a beer in the pub and swap stories of that 4lb tail-hooked Rainbow who stripped 100 yards of line in a blistering run. It was never seen, “but well over 10lbs he was” rings out at increased volume in the hope the group at the other table will chime in with their own recollections from the day. A friendship blooms right there at a table in the Turangi Tavern. Friends who guide on the pristine mountainous back country waters of the South Island, “It’s not really my kind of fishing” they proclaim… they come, they smile, they laugh and they vow to return the following winter, is it the fishing? No, is it something very unique to the central North Island? Absolutely. A magical place bathed in mate-ship, friendships forged, the old wetliners are gone… but the memories will forever remain for those fortunate to grace her mighty banks, you’re a great friend Tongariro.

MEN IN FLIGHT

T E X T & P H O TO G R A P H Y / / M a t t Tr i p e t

“WE ARE COMMITTED TO SHARING AMAZING LANDSCAPES AND LIFE-CHANGING EXPERIENCES WITH AUSSIE MEN WHO NEED IT THE MOST.” “How easy will it be?” It’s a typical question I am asked by a client getting ready for a long day guiding on the river.

“From my experience, it can be pretty hard.” Is my standard response, always shadowed by a grin.

The question I ask myself regularly is, “how easy do we make the adventure?”

Do we make it so easy that everything just works perfectly off a script? Or do we allow ourselves to be challenged by venturing into places we never considered possible within ourselves? Places that offer so much more than can be measured in the dimensions of a fish.

Therefore, I’ve always hesitated taking the challenge away from my clients.

The challenges to me are just like the pages in a book. Read and turn every page, and the last page will always mean so much more!

What wild places can teach us about ourselves hasn’t been more important than now. The saturation of the digital world and that the notion of discovering places from a comfortable armchair and virtual experiences has now become customary.

Since launching The Fly Program 18 months ago, we are very proud to be commencing a community program that facilitates getting Aussie men into the outdoors, having real experiences with a fly rod and having real conversations – The Men In Flight program The Men In Flight Program aims to assist Aussie men with the resources that support healthier lives, physically and mentally. Men who may have faced stress, anxiety and/or have been exposed to a difficult event in their life can be nominated by themselves, or by a member of the community into a program by visiting our website at www.flyprogram.org.au and following the link ‘Community referrals.’

All nominated participants are reviewed through The Fly Program’s screening process to ensure that our program meets the needs of the individual.

Through partnerships with organisations such as the Manic Tackle Project and funding from NSW Recreational Fishing Licences, we are able to heavily subsidise program expenses for participants. In fact, over the next 6 months The Fly program will directly invest $58,000.00 supporting men into programs in the 2017 and 2018 season.

We are committed to sharing amazing landscapes and life-changing experiences with Aussie men who need it the most. To assist The Fly Program raise the required funds to host this amazing program you can make a tax-deductible donation, or sponsor someone by following the link ‘Donate Now’ on the website.

The Fly Program is very proud to have Manic Tackle Project as a founding partner.

B OOK N OW AT — www.flyprogram.org.au · inf

GUIDING & LODGING PACKAGES —

T H R E D B O VA LL E Y L A K E C R A C K E N B A C K R E S O R T & S PA

The Fly Program Guiding & Lodging Packages raise valuable funds helping us to serve more men in our community.

Founder Matt Tripet is a IFFF CCI and experienced guide in the Thredbo Valley, NSW Snowy Mountains.

fo@flyprogram.org.au · Matt Tripet: 0407 960 216

S C OT T G SERIES

NEW ZEALAND REVIEW BY// Mike Kirkpatrick

“IT CERTAINLY CAST WITH ALL OF THE PRECISION AND DELICACY YOU’D EXPECT OF A HIGH END ROD.” Silky. Silky. Silky. Did I mention silky? Well if silky is something you find attractive in a rod, then look no further than the new and award winning Scott G Series fly rods. I found myself on the phone chatting with Chris from Manic Tackle, “Care to test out the new and improved Scott ‘G Series’ 8’8” 5wt Mike? Although I tried to sound cool and not overly excited about the prospect, I failed miserably with a “Hell yes!” which cut Chris off midsentence... My ability to remain cool under pressure? Fail. Hopefully the rod will perform better than me. The reason for my excitement was that I’d cast a few of this rods predecessors - the G2 series, and loved them.

The rod arrived by courier just as I was heading off on my opening day trip with a couple of mates. Cosmetically, the rod has a half wells grip of quality cork, a matt black reel seat over a textured pattern wood base.

The blank is the normal Scott un-sanded scrim in darkish grey with brown wrappings. The ferrules are the ‘internal spigot’ style which complements the almost retro feel. It certainly is a nice looking rod. Time to take her fishing…

The wilderness river we had picked to start our season is not really conducive to a presentation style rod that the G Series is designed to be, but we strung it up on opening morning, eager to put her to the test. It certainly cast with all of the precision and delicacy you’d expect of a high end rod. Silky…there, I said it again. It is very different in action to the modern fast action rods that seem to proliferate these days, but that is what is soooo good about it. It makes you want to pick it up again and again, just to simply cast. Effortless smooth slow strokes and soft drops, with mending a delight, needing only subtle wrist flicks to place the line where you want at will. We fished to the first four fish with it (between myself and mate Hans), hooking all four and landing three. It was so much fun playing large browns with this presentation rod, but it maintained enough power in the fast water to bully them in when needed. This is an improvement on an award winning and long enduring rod in the Scott stable. It is not a fast ‘throw to the back fence’ rod by any stretch, but it doesn’t pretend to be - rather it takes all of the other wonderful aspects of rod design and lets you go places not that common in a faster is better modern angling world.

To sum up the Scott G Series 8’8” 5wt, it does what it is designed to do as well as any rod I’ve used. It is simply delightful to make slow rhythmical casts and mends with full control - it almost seems to give you more time to fish accurately as it makes you slow down.

Silky - did I mention that?

S C OT T G SERIES

A U ST R A L I A N R E V I E W B Y / / M i c a h A d a m s

“WHEN I LOOKED THROUGH THE NEW LINE-UP OF RODS IN THE G SERIES I EARMARKED THE 8’8” #5 AS MY IDEAL DRY FLY ROD” It’s hard to improve on perfection, I guess it’s impossible? The Scott G2 8’4” #4 is the best fly rod I’ve ever cast, and in my opinion easily the best dry fly tool I’ve come across. So, improving on this perfect specimen seems a task too far.

The latest series from Scott is their G Series rods that claim to be the latest development in Scott’s line of presentation rods. It’s kinda like what the Radian series added to their fast actioned S4 series.

After a lifetime of saltwater fly fishing and indicator nymphing, my casting style could have best been described as aggressive and agricultural.

Everything dry fly presentation isn’t! I’m sure my mate Rene Vaz has cringed more than once while exploring a river with me, watching me present a parachute adams while I’m thinking it’s a clouser!

However, over the past three years my passion has been dry fly only in small rivers and chalk streams with big fish that require one cast. You might say I’ve become adept at casting dries, I even wonder if I can still punch out a clouser anymore?

After such a period of time casting predominantly one rod you both grow a level of trust that is foreign to a fly fisher casting many different rods.

You have complete trust in the rods action and where the fly will travel. It’s almost surreal! The mere thought of retiring this rod with the introduction of the latest G Series replacement was almost too much to bare. But, I had to see the latest offering from master rod technician Jimmy Bartschi myself...

My first cast of the latest G Series was on a trophy chalk stream and instantly I noticed a couple of key points. This rod is in my opinion significantly stiffer, partly in the tip section but mostly in the mid-section of the rod.

I would say that the stiffer tip gives far more direction to the cast but doesn’t necessarily feel too stiff or lack feel and touch to presenting a dry properly. The mid-section is another point however which I haven’t quite got my head around from a dry fly perspective. It’s a lot more aggressive than the G2 equivalent. The G2 is far more critical of bad casting and weather. Poor timing and rod tip travel show up and wind gusts can knock you out of shape.

There’s no question that the latest G Series casts further, holds its line better in windy conditions, turns over bigger flies and like I said, has more direction in the tip. Are those all advantages though?

Here’s what I reckon. If you’re already a really good dry fly caster or you’ve had a stack of time to get to know the G2 like I have, you’ll probably still prefer this rod. If like most fly fishers, you’re a more used to casting in all kinds of conditions and not a purist dry fly fisherman then the G Series will be the ideal rod because the transition isn’t so vast. The G Series will also be comfortable if you’re back country and decide to tie a heavy nymph on a long leader whereas the G2 will hate you, and you may even hate yourself!

When I looked through the new line-up of rods in the G Series I earmarked the 8’8” #5 as my ideal NZ dry fly rod factoring fish and river size and the addition of heavy winds. Having now fished the smaller cousin, I feel this rod and action would be the bomb.

GE A R JUNKIE

HAT C H FINATI C GE N II

The lads at Hatch have updated the Finatic with a new sealed drag system, lighter weight frame and a super rad handle that won’t stick even if your one of the dudes who’s not that great at cleaning stuff. The new Finatic II builds on the super reliable, “if you had one reel what would it be” ethos.

NE W SIM M S G3 GUID E RA N GE

The iconic Simms G3 Guide range has been updated for 2018 with new waders, boots, jacket and vest. Thoughtful improvements and changes have been made across the range so you’re best to get into your local Simms dealer ASAP to check it all out.

YE TI HOPPER 1 2 COOLE R

At Manic we have an obsession with great quality products that make you proud to own. In the cooler category (Esky’s and Chilly bins as we’d like to say down this way), there is no product that will make you happier than a Yeti. These things are built bear proof so that you can keep your beer cold and safe for longer.

SC OTT G S ERI E S

Think smooth action, delicate dry fly casts and then couple that with incredible tip control, on the spot accuracy and sweetest handmade finish on the market. All of these things combine to make the new Scott G series. All put together with the best components and carbon fibre available and backed by the industries best rod warranty.

SIM MS SOL ARF LE X S UN TOPS

Simms’ men’s SolarFlex® Crewneck has your back when a sweltering sun or hot, stagnant air threaten to send you indoors and cut short your afternoon on the water. Hard-working COR3™ features arm you with odor-fighting, sweat-wicking protection, and a UPF 50 rating against harmful rays. A high-backed collar keeps your neck shielded from the beating sun.

SIM MS DRY CRE E K RA N GE

The Dry Creek pack range is made for those who are serious about keeping the gear dry while they put themselves into potentially compromising fishing situations. No more drowned cameras, soaked fly boxes and stuffed smart phones here. Heavy duty, comfortable and up to the task.

KEL L ER’ S PEAC H F UZ Z

The Kellers Peach Fuzz is one of the new kids on the block in the Manic Fly Collection and is fly we’re really looking forward to giving more of a run on some of those easy to distract rainbows. Tied on jig hooks to aid with czech style techniques but they go just as well tied off a dropper. There’s plenty of other cool things going on with the Peach Fuzz too like tungsten bead to get down quickly, sparse body with just enough flash and a CDC hackle all combining to get the fish’s attention. Rainbows are good like that. We’ve got three colours all available in sz12, sz14 & sz16. Give them a crack this season!

AIRF LO FORGE FLY LIN E

A durable, high floating guide line, or line for those who switch scenarios daily between smaller waters requiring accuracy and presentation, to brawling backcountry rivers where long leader turnover is king. The two tone colourway from the sweet olive head to the hi viz yellow running line lets you know where the head ends, and allows clients to nail the sweet carry length for turning over at distance every time. Throw in the reliability and performance of Airflos SuperDri coating and you have a winner that wont break the bank.

SIMMS SURF S HORT S

Simms’ laid back Surf Shorts keep you moving in comfort from warm, sandy beaches to windy open waters. The shorts have a streamlined style with a traditional fit and plenty of details that bring you all-day comfort. Quick-drying fabric with UPF 50 sun protection wicks away water and shields you from harmful UV rays. A fly box friendly zip pocket keeps your gear close on the go.

WAT ERWORKS FO RCE S LII B L ACK The evolution of Force Superlight reels arrives with a new line storage format, enhanced CNC machined structural development and more fluid, refined styling. And now available in black.

GAL LOUP’ S AN TACID

Well the brown beetle are now truly taking to the wing however we don’t always wait until beetle season to tie on a terrestrial. Galloup’s Antacid is a favourite of Chris Dore’s from the grassy, front country streams to the high country wilderness. Its subtle, uber buggy and fish everywhere just love them.

AIR FLO BLADE PE RFORMA N CE FLY ROD

The all new for 2017 Airflo Blade series of rods is the top end of the Airflo range designed by Rene Vaz specifically for NZ and Australian markets. Continuing the tradition of the premium Airflo range the Blade series is a lightweight, fast action, high modulus weapon that is finished with the same high end componentry that you would find on a $1,000 rod.

SIM MS T EES

The new tees from Simms have arrived just in time for summer. Available in four colours and printed on 100% organic cotton, these tees have been sourced by us here at Manic Tackle Project so we could find that ultimate NZ fit. Collect them all!

WATERWORKS LA MS ON COBALT

When the Lamson team gave an open ended brief of their designer Mark Ferris to start from scratch and build the best saltwater reel on the market. The result is Mark changed the game as he has on so many occasions bringing out the only fly reel on the market with an IPX8 certified waterproof drag system, which can be calibrated, has more drag than a Friday night on K road and is built to the highest tolerances ever seen in a fly reel.

AIR F LO AM BUSH GLA S S RO D

Put the fun back in your fly fishing without having to commit to throwing down the big bucks.

The new 3pc Airflo Ambush fibreglass fly rod is here to satisfy that bendy stick urge when you’ve had enough of your daily driver.

SIMMS FREESTON E BO OT S

Our FreestoneÂŽ Boot has a proven record of durability and traction in rocky rivers around the world. It provides the support underfoot and at the ankle for negotiating slick, unseen river bottoms. The synthetic uppers take the abuse of brush, rock and water in stride, while a cushioned midsole and partial neoprene lining provide all-day cushioning and warmth.

C& F GRAND SLA M SA LT WATE R FLY BOXE S

Because one box is never going to be enough. Waterproof with a large capacity the C&F Grand Slam’s are saltwater fly boxes for all occasions

LOON HEAD CE ME N T S

Never mix epoxy again! Loon single stage Head Cements are perfect for building glossy heads and bodies. With a variety of options available you’ll never be out of ways to add that extra 5% to your creations at the vice.

SIM MS CAPS

Fresh off the boat the new range of Simms caps is looking the business for keeping you sun safe this summer!

R ATTLE POP P ER A take on the classic crease fly, but noisy. Kingfish love a static fly and adding a little dinner bell to the pause seemed only right.

CUPPED FACE: Chugs and bloops as it should, but also incorporates an air chamber that exhausts a nice wee smoke trail out the rear.

FOAM BODY: Not too thick so the fly sits in the water, not on it.

HOOK: Thicker gauge to handle the marker pole brutes and act as a keel to the fly.

TAIL: Stiff and bushy! The texture and subtle flash of SF once again preferred. I get sick of poppers bouncing and tried to engineer this fly to have a little grip in the water. A slightly longer tail with crinkly water grabbing tendencies help keep the fly in the zone.

TIP: Try it on an intermediate line with a straight section of fluoro. This aids the diving action and keeps the fly in the water, not bouncing off every bit of chop.

FLY SWAT

RAT T LE PIP ER As with most reliable flies this has been tweaked and tuned over many years. The final pattern has a few key features that make it a top performer in my box.

BEAK: All Piper have beaks right? A hot spot UV orange for attention. The beak also acts in a way to minimize tail wraps by starting the materials as far back on the hook as possible.

RESIN HEAD: adds weight in the right area to give the fly just enough “dip� on the pause. Kingfish love pauses, plus the eyes are going to stay in place day in, day out.

THE RATTLE AKA ACOUSTIC BURLEY: Piper make a clicking noise, what better than a rattle to emulate this. After shattering glass ones I settled on plastic. Enclosed in heat shrink they have the right amount of stiffness to carry the fibres rearward, once again helping prevent tail wrap.

TAIL: Piper rely on their highly reflective sides as camouflage. SF fibres translucency mean I only really fish grey, the tapered silhouette giving the fish something to key in on.

TIP: As soon as this fly hits the water it calls for attention at both ends of the line. Get it swimming straight away and hang on for the ride.

GUYS WHO D I D ST U F F Without our talented crew of like minded Manic Tackle mates we wouldn’t have much of a mag to share with you. Cheers guys!

GU S LA P IN

Our good mate, collegue, personal casting instructor and AFL tipping guide. Gus will be heading up our Australian operation by the time this is out so we’re all super stoked to keep him in the fold, even though he is a pretty average cricketer by Manic standards.

LU CAS A LLEN

Rene’s personal pincushion and hook sharpness tester, Lucas is well known at the man of the moment when it comes to Tauranga Harbour kingfish. We’re stoked to have had our small part in his journey to get to this point and we can’t wait to see what the future holds. It all starts now.

JE F F FOR SEE

Alaska > Mongolia > Wanaka > New Caledonia and back to Wanaka again, Mr Jeff Forsee gets around. We’re looking forward to seeing where he’s off to next so we can share another one of his exotic fly fishing trips with you guys in Flyfishers Inc #16.

TIM A NG ELI

The man, the myth, the beard. Another Flyfishers Inc regular that we couldn’t do without, constantly fishing whether it’s in Aitutaki, swinging on the Tonga or getting down in the back country, Tim is out there getting it done. Lucky for us he packs a camera and knows how to use it.

YOSHI NA K AG AWA

Yoshi Nakagawa is as dangerous with a fly rod or a camera. Yoshi is our buddy running the fly fishing department at Hunting & Fishing North Shore, pop in and make him your buddy too.

STU HA STIE

If you don’t know who Stu Hastie is by now then you must spend your life with your eyes wide shut. His images are some of the best out there and we’re not just talking little old New Zealand, he’s good on a global scale. That’s pretty good! We’re very lucky to have him as a regular contributor to Flyfishers Inc.

MIKE KIR K PATR I CK

Year on year voted “N.Z’s Most Handsome Guide” Mike also has the Nelson region riverways tattoed on his back llike the guy from Prison Break. Flyfisher, hunter, videographer, photographer and body builder he is indeed to the total package.

S HAN NON KITCH E N E R

Fisherman, artist, fly tyer, film star and destroyer of all things creepy and crawly.

Shannon was lucky enough to head to the Tiwi Islands for an amazing fly fishing experience and we were lucky enough for him to share it with us.

ANDR EW HA R DING

It’s not often we’re one degree of separation away from a Youtube sensation but here we are. Andrew Harding AKA Flyfisher AKA Troutboynz has fished most of NZ and you’d be hard pressed to mention an area without him having something to say about it, does this man even work?

MATT TR IP ET

How many of us can say we’re actually changing and saving lives through sharing the world of fly fishing with others? Matt Tripet can and we think he’s a legend for it.

MATT HINCE

The “Laurel” to Andrew Hardings “Hardy” Matt Hince is a veritable banter spewing machine. Put him, Harding and Mike Kirkpatrick together on the river or in a campervan and you really do have the Three Stooges of the fly fishing world.

MICAH A DA MS

Mr Adventure Angler himself, always jetsetting around the world off on epic fishing missions. Loves a cheeky red or two.

G O OD BY E

M i k e D a v i s o f R o t o r u a H u n t i n g & Fi s h i n g s e n d s o n e b a c k f o r a n o t h e r d a y.