March

On a rare day off at the start of March, I found myself on Woods Lake with Philip Weigall, where we landed some beautiful fish to six pounds. The fishing was still very good in the middle of the month and the grasshoppers on the lowland rivers were as thick as I have ever seen them. There was also a little more water in the rivers and this just added to the fishing.

Harry Simpson was back with wife Helen for an extended stay in the western lakes. The weather was set fair and the trip a memorable one. Water levels were extremely low by this time “out west” and the fish seemed to be in groups. There was plenty of dead water interspersed with intense action. Fish were lost, missed and caught. On one occasion we had fish tailing profusely before stopping to eat an ant off the surface. Don’t be fooled, though, as we covered miles of water to find the good fishing that we did.

By the end of the month, the fishing was still better than expected. Duns were still hatching at Penstock and fish could be polaroided on the brighter days. The rivers were extremely good and fish numbers were high.

At this time I had the pleasure of guiding Anne Sommerville and Susan Haggard. They are two very well travelled and experienced anglers who, like many, wanted dry fly fishing. In spite of some very poor weather, they both caught lovely fish from Great Lake and Penstock. One of Sue’s fish from Penstock was a wonderful Brown that ate a well-placed dun pattern. It was hooked in the sunshine and landed in a sleet storm. Both ladies fished very well and were rewarded accordingly.

By the end of the month, some rain had fallen and fish were starting to colour up for their winter spawning runs. Not all fish were this way inclined, although some males were very dark. Wet fly fishing is again productive at this time with flies fished slowly producing the best results right through to the end of the season.

April »