Fly fishing in New Zealand

 

Never in my wildest dreams did I think I would have the opportunity to fish in New Zealand.  It is worth it to travel halfway across the world and fish here!  Picturesque rivers with gin clear water, and enormous, magnificent wild trout.  We were on central North Island which is primarily rainbow trout territory.  Some of the best trout hunting and sight fishing for the wary 8-10 pound plus stout rainbow trout.  

Mt. Taranaki.

Mount Taranaki is the second highest mountain in the North Island, and it is a monumental geographical feature of the region.  The word Taranaki likely reflects the Māori connection to the land, describing the iconic volcanic mountain in New Zealand, Mount Taranaki.  Mount Taranaki, stands at 8,261 feet, a majestic and iconic stratovolcano in New Zealand.  It’s not only the second highest mountain in the North Island after Mount Ruapehu, which rises to 9,177 feet, but also holds great cultural and spiritual significance for the Māori people.

Some of the most picturesque remote landscapes.

The foliage and flora found around the rivers on the North Island of New Zealand thrive in moist, nutrient-rich soils including plants like New Zealand flax, kahikatea, cabbage trees, mānuka, and rushes often grow along the banks of the rivers. Other native plants include New Zealand sedge, Māori onion, toetoe, purua sedge, cutty grass, tussock grass, and jointed wire rush.  The ecosystem is an incredibly rich that supports a variety of fish, native birds, and insects while also playing an essential role in the water purification and erosion control.

The incredible bug life in the river.

The morning skies were darkened overcast with an intermittent drizzle.  The water was crystal clear and the river bottom bejeweled with colorful large river rock.  Our guide, Adam Priest, from the Mount Taranaki area prepared us for a full day of miles to explore and fish onto one of North Island’s stunning rivers.  The river scenery was so breathtaking, I had to consistently concentrate on my wading in the river and where Adam was.  Stop where Adam did as these huge, wild rainbow trout are guarded and would flee a favorite riffle or pool immediately.

The scenery is magnificent and very remote.

Precise, quiet casting upriver to the trout, or the game was over.  A successful take and hook set required careful skills to fight and bring in these stunning wild trout.  The play of these trout was exhilarating, but needed ample opportunity to unleash, otherwise, it was a losing strategy.  If he ran, you hurdled along. The art of netting always comes right down to patience.  The first fish in the net seemed unbelievable, but an absolute moment of triumph!

New Zealand longfin eel live in the rivers and creeks.

Upon enjoying the unique plush flora, fernery, forests and coastal gardens, I discovered the New Zealand longfin eels.  They live an incredibly long life with recordings of females reaching 106 years in age and weighing up to 52 lbs.  They spend their lives in the rivers, lakes, and streams before migrating to the sea to breed.  They can grow quite long up to 79 inches in length.  Magnificent creatures if you asked me.  They may attack trout as one of my trout I caught had a bite to its tail.

This rainbow trout bit by a longfin eel.

A successful thrilling day of wading and stalking the trout!  A return to the to the hotel for a hot shower and some fish and chips for dinner.  A day full of amazing memories!  A day fishing on the North Island of New Zealand is definitely a goal or dream one would like to accomplish; I highly recommend it!

Digitalis Purpurea

The play of these trout was exhilarating!

Miss Mayfly Moxie Waders Pants and Boots Review

I had wondered if there is a women's wader pant specifically designed just for women.  Take a look at Miss Mayfly I am very thrilled to discover these fantastic women's wader pants, the Miss Mayfly® Moxie Wading Pant© are a comfortable women's wader pants that fit just right for women!  These comfortable waders are a great fit and have a padded high waist that is adjustable for size.  Good mobility in the knees and waist for wading and capability in covering a lot of river.

Winter is approaching with colder conditions where I have room in my wader pants for warm layering.  

Miss Mayfly® MOXIE Wading Boot©, Rubber- Blue are a comfortable lightweight wader women's boot with a comfortable fit, good insole foot support, and with a durable rubber sole.  I wear a 7 1/2 women's shoe with a nice comfortable fit in a size 8 of this boot. I love the grabby boot lace holders!  I cannot tell you how frustrating it is to have your boot laces come undone!  The lace holders keep everything in place and secure.   A grippy rubber sole with compatibility for cleats.

Use discount code: CATTOY for 10% savings!  

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Don't forget about fishing the scuds in the cold months

 

With the colder weather moving in and Old Man Winter is just around the corner, some of us may want to continue bundling up and fishing through winter.  Scuds are crustaceans that dwell in many habitats but are oftentimes in the shallow water areas on aquatic plants, river bottom leaves, and silt of cool tailwaters, springs, lakes, and ponds.  Scuds are highly nutritious and an excellent protein source for the trout. 

Fishing between weed beds can be very productive 
with some careful maneuvering.

Weeds beds are a favorite habitat for scuds, trout will often be grouped up around the weeds and river bottom areas and easily become pushed in the river current.  They are present year-round constantly swimming up and down the water column. 

One of my favorite year-round patterns to fish at
some of our favorite tailwaters.

A great fly pattern to swing by the trout all times of the year including the colder months.  My recipe in tying the scud in tan:

Hook:  Togens 3x heavy hook size 16

Thread:  UNI-Thread 8/0, tan

Back:  Scud back 1/8" clear

Thorax:  Dubbing for Scuds and Sowbugs, tan

Head/tail:  Antron yarn, tan

Segmentation:  UTC Ultra wire, gold extra small

UV:  Solarez Ultra thin, clear

Scuds come in various colors including olive, grey, greens, tans, and orange.  Scuds turn an attractive green at the late part of their lifecycle.  Scuds transform into orange in color when they die, and they can be vital to imitate in tailwaters with fluctuating water flow. When the water level drops, scuds can become stranded in the streambed, and as the water level rises again, the dead scuds are swept into the river and an easy meal for the trout.

The best way to fish a scud is a dead drift just as you would with a nymph.  Fishing within the weeds is complicated, but something you don't want to miss.  Casting into the larger channels between the weeds could hold lots of trout with the occasional hidden beast.  Fish the different parts of the water column as well as the casting into the riffles.  Fooling the trout with a tumbling scud in faster waters can be quite exhilarating!  See you on the river!

A fantastic brownie fooled by a tan scud.

Water Temperature and Trout Metabolism

 

One of the first things I like to do when I arrive at the river is retrieving my thermometer from my pack and check the water temperature.  Trout are ectothermic, or cold-blooded and their metabolism is affected by the temperature of their environment.  As temperatures rise and fall, enzymes of the trout that control the speed of their metabolism undergoing different adjustments.  These changes result in increase or decrease of the trout’s metabolism.

Tailwaters generally holds a consistent
temperature year-round.

As water temperature rises, trout’s metabolism increases, leading to a higher demand for food to fuel their energy needs.  At these higher temperatures, their oxygen requirements increase.  Trout have a specific temperature range where their metabolism is most efficient, often around near-freezing temperatures for their lowest metabolic rate.  As temperatures rise, their metabolic rate gradually increases until it hits an engaging hunger curve point (around 55–65°F for most trout species).  Beyond this point, if temperatures continue to rise particularly above 70°F, their metabolic rate declines rapidly as the trout experiences heat stress, potentially leading to lethal conditions.

In most streams, particularly freestone rivers, water temperatures tend to rise significantly on sunny days, especially during warmer seasons.  However, tailwaters and spring creeks often maintain more stable temperatures.  Tailwaters benefit from water released from deeper, cooler parts of reservoirs, while spring creeks are fed by groundwater that generally holds a consistent temperature year-round.  This stability creates a more favorable environment for fish and aquatic insects.

Vegetation along stream banks can significantly
lower water temperature by blocking sunlight.

Vegetation along stream banks can significantly lower water temperature by blocking direct sunlight. More shadows usually mean cooler water temperatures.  Larger bodies of water generally have a greater capacity to absorb and distribute heat without a significant rise in temperature. Smaller streams, with lower volumes, can warm more quickly and be more susceptible to temperature fluctuations.  The angle of the sun affects how much solar radiation hits the water. This varies by season, time of day, and latitude.

A successful fishing day for the crew
fishing in January fishing pocketwater.

Streams that are wider and shallower heat up more quickly because a greater surface area is exposed to sunlight relative to the volume. Narrower, deeper streams tend to stay cooler as less water is directly exposed to solar heating.  Warmer ambient air temperatures can increase the heat exchange between the air and the water.  Summer days or prolonged warm spells could lead to warmer water temperatures.  Faster-flowing water tends to mix more efficiently and may stay cooler than slow-moving water, which is more likely to stagnate and heat up.

Welcome winter fishing.

While we are headed into winter, carrying a thermometer isn’t just for summer.  Temperatures 32 to 35, maybe for little activity.  As water temperatures head to 36 to 40 degrees, there may be some pick up in trout activity.  45 degrees, the fish are moving around and in larger pools and runs.  Temperatures headed to 50 degrees, the trout will move into shallower waters such as riffles.  The temperatures the trout are into their peak metabolism rate of 51 to 60 degrees.  Trout will be holding most everywhere in the river but the fastest water.  With winter fishing, focus on fishing the slow and deeper waters.  When the water temperatures rise during the day, fish the shallow riffles and pocketwater.  When the water temperatures drop below 32 degrees, time to head home for a hot shower.  See you on the river!

My brother fishing with me in December.

Living the Dream

My boyfriend and I had dinner last Saturday evening with some great new friends at their house.  A charcuterie board full of crackers, cheese, salami, jams, honey, cashews, macadamia nuts, and pasta toppled with chunky spicy sausage tomato sauce and crispy French bread.  The evening was filled with an endless conversation of joviality, sharing, and happiness.

The trout live in beautiful places.

I had returned from a camping and fishing trip from the Yampa River near Steamboat Springs.  An extraordinary fly fishing retreat catching lots of sizable brown trout. It was a great way to maybe top off a good guiding season.  Last July, I recently resigned as a full-time registered nurse, a decision I finally leapt for after 4 1/2 years of brood, contemplation, and distress.  I have been apprehensive if this decision was wise.  After all, I have been a registered nurse for over 18 years, and it seemed logical that I must satisfy this professional career until I retired.  So many nurses always answered back to me when I asked how they are, they often replied they were "living the dream."  As nurses, are we really living the dream?

During the pandemic, I was one of the few nurses who showed up for work despite the fact so many nurses abandoned ship, called in, or simply were too fearful to work in Covid.  Management called and texted me every day I was off, pleading me to come in and work because there were no nurses.  As hard as it was to say no, I knew I was doing the right thing for myself.  I was suffering internally of a profound depression of anguish and gloom.  One of my roughest days of the pandemic working on the Covid unit was putting down 3 patients to rest.  Gary the night nurse who came in to relieve me ran up to me, and I collapsed with tears.  He just held me until I could try to stop crying.  I'm tearing up typing this as I feel like I am reliving the most challenging part of my nursing career.

I hid the pain and tears at work.

I recalled having a mandatory nursing meeting with management.  I listened intently to their perspective of the pandemic and what else can we do to survive this.  After listening to what they had to say, I rose my hand to tell them what I was going through.  I did not know if any of the other nurses and CNAs were having similar experiences, but I would advocate.  I choked as I tried to speak, and I broke down in tears from the melancholy and mourning of all the patients we were losing.  I cried every night I came home from work.  I lost the passion to get myself out to the rivers to fly fish, only to find myself sitting in my living room with the lights off.  Work provided us profession counseling.  A hospice nurse insisted and demanding I return to the river and fish.  It was utterly everything I had to pack an overnight bag, fly rods, waders/boots, and drive to fish the Yampa River.  To get away where there was no cell service, but myself, the river, and the trout.  I did, and I never felt so much life come back to me.

I made it a consistent habit in returning to the rivers to feel a sense of wellness, life, and happiness again.  I realized, I had to keep fishing to make it through this pandemic.  

Loveland Ski patrol training.

On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization characterized the outbreak as a pandemic.  I was on the volunteer Loveland Ski Patrol patrolling the mountain on this day.  The very next day, all the ski resorts closed for the season.  The following ski season as with nursing, very few ski patrollers came up to patrol.  I met and always surpassed my required days on the mountain as a ski patroller due to the great shortage.  I rendered a ton of days of myself to assist during this outstretched pandemic. 

The Burnt French Fry coming soon
spring/summer 2025, Discount Flies.

The world underwent from this pandemic as well as the healthcare industry.  We all did our very best.  As a registered nurse, I still felt the battering with how patients and patient's families wretchedly treated healthcare workers.  While I always believed I was making a difference, I found myself tolerating so much remorse from patients and patient's families for things that were beyond my control.  My intentions as a nurse have always been the desire to help.  Unfortunately, nurses who did come in often worked short on top of management placing some of their tasks to lighten up their load.  I worked every weekend since the pandemic, worked major holidays, because nurses wanted to spend it with their families. I understood this wholeheartedly, but when could I have a weekend or holiday off?  

Being a fly fishing guide has been amazing.

A dependable nurse who nevermore called in sick, performed the position to the highest level, and completed all my patient cares, charting, and putting out fires on weekends and holidays before management came back on Mondays.  I pleaded for a holiday rotation and if I could possibly have every other weekend off.  Nurses where I worked were granted weekends off, new hires got every other weekend off.  With the most seniority of all the nurses and nearly 6 months of inquiring gratifyingly for even every weekend off, management stated they would try to get one weekend off a month for me, "but that doesn't seem possible."

I was fishing to stay sane with nursing.

3 seasons ago, I had the pleasure coming onboard as a professional fly fishing guide with Blue Quill Angler.  People respected me more as a fly fishing guide than as a registered nurse.  Go figure.  I have no sorrows parting from a profession I felt like I did not matter.  I craved for my life back and a sense of accomplishment, satisfaction, and happiness.  How does this pertain to dinner with friends the other night?  I don't want to fish because I am trying to survive a demanding profession, but rather that I am passionate and savor what fly fishing is all about.  To fish because I enjoy it.  Not because it is requirement.  Fly fishing is sport and passion I can partake and cherish with family, friends, and clients.

Some incredible friends I have met in fly fishing!

It is true.  I really am living the dream.

Fall Fishing

Fall in Colorado offers a unique and breathtaking fly fishing experience. The crisp air, golden Aspen leaves, and snow-capped peaks create a beautiful backdrop for anglers. During this season, trout become more active in preparation for winter, making the fishing particularly rewarding. Popular rivers like the Arkansas, Gunnison, and South Platte offer great opportunities to catch brown and rainbow trout.

Fall in Colorado's rivers is indeed a prime time for anglers, particularly those targeting Brown Trout during their pre-spawn period. The trout become more aggressive and hungry, providing excellent opportunities to catch them, especially using streamer patterns. However, it's crucial to respect the spawning process once it begins by avoiding actively spawning fish and keeping away from their redds to protect future populations.

Orange egg tied with McFlyfoam, hotspot with
Solarez UV color resin fluorescent red

Targeting other fish, such as Rainbow Trout or non-spawning Browns that take advantage of loose eggs in deeper runs, is a great strategy during this time. See you on the river!

Cat's Caddis Larva aka the Green Cheeseburger now available at Discount Flies!

Cat's Caddis Larva aka Green Cheeseburger

I am very excited to announce that Cat's Caddis Larva fly pattern, aka Green Cheeseburger is now available online at Discount Flies!  This fly is available in colors:  olive, caddis green, sand, and chartreuseb to come.  Sizes available are #14, #16, #18, and #20.  No secret, this has been one of my #1 flies on the rivers, creeks, streams I fish and guide at year round!

Keith caught this fantastic brown
 on Cat's Caddis Larva.

The Green Cheeseburger came to life on a day fishing the Eagle River in Colorado with a little caddis larva I found clinging to my waders.  I carefully took a deep look and studied the larva of its features, color, and characteristics.  Before returning home from the river, I drove straight to Charlie's Fly Box where I strolled the aisles grabbing materials of what I believe would create this imitation of the caddis larva.  I may have tied 3 or 4 of these caddis larva and returned to the Eagle River the next day to fish it with an overwhelming success!

A beautiful rainbow trout from the Eagle River.

The Green Cheeseburger fished so incredibly well that day, I knew I had to tie more!  I fished this larva at every river, creek, and stream with consistent amazing catches.  If I could catch lots of great fish on this fly, surely my guide trips with Blue Quill Angler could make excited clients happy!🎣

A beefy rainbow chomped on the
Green Cheeseburger at the Blue River.

I shared with my fly tying friends how to tie the Green Cheeseburger, and I am very happy to hear of their success in filling their fishing nets with great catches.  I have been fishing this caddis larva the last 4 years from the S. Platte River:  Deckers, Cheesman Canyon, Eleven Mile Canyon, Tomahawk, the Dream Stream, to the Blue River, to the Yampa River in Steamboat Springs, to the Arkansas tailwaters in Pueblo, also to the Arkansas River, to the North Platte River in Wyoming:  Miracle Mile, Fremont Canyon, Grey Reef, to the Eagle River, to the creeks:  Clear Creek, S. Boulder Creek, Bear Creek just to name a few places this trout pastry has fooled the trout.

A fantastic rainbow I caught from the Blue River
on the Green Cheeseburger.

I will be tying at a number of fly tying expos, fishing events, and the Fly Fishing Show, Denver.  I will be regularly updating my events calendar of where you can find me fly tying.  Please stop by, say hello, and share your fishing stories of the many big fish you caught on the Green Cheeseburger!

Fly tying at the Troutfest

This fly pattern, I have year round great success including in the heart of winter.

Stock up on some of Cat's Caddis Larva aka, Green Cheeseburgers for your fly box at Discount Flies!

Peter caught this brownie on Cat's Caddis Larva.

The Matchstick Midge.

I also want to share of my Matchstick Midge also available at Discount Flies!  This midge evolved while I was fishing on the S. Platte River by myself.  They were very abundant in the waters which pushed me to drop in to pay a visit to Charlie's Fly Box to tie an imitation of this midge.   Such an effective midge I discovered.  

Thank you for your support!  See you on the rivers!

Cat's Caddis Larva.

The San Juan Worm

 

The San Juan Worm.

Spring rains and the snow melt in the Rockies raise the rivers and creeks spilling into adjacent grassy banks carrying sediments and organic matter slightly muddying the waters.  The San Juan worms dwell in the dewy, muddy banks along our rivers and streams.  As the rivers rise, these aquatic worms and terrestrials are often dislodged and washed into waters and become a highly nutritious food source for the trout.

San Juan Worm in various colors.

The San Juan worm are extremely effective because they imitate one of the natural food sources of trout.  These worms are often brown, bright red, or pink in color resembling the appearance of annelid worms found in riverbeds.  Trout are opportunistic feeders particularly in rapid water conditions where food sources are plentiful.  The San Juan worm pattern is designed to imitate these worms typically tied with chenille and hook to resemble the simple, segmented body of a worm.  

Worms, worms, worms!

Many aquatic worms are hermaphroditic, meaning they have both male and female reproductive organs. They are able to reproduce both sexually and asexually.  Sexual reproduction involves the exchange of sperm between two worms, while asexual reproduction often involves fragmentation, where a part of the worm breaks off and regenerates into a new worm. This is an amazing characteristic of many aquatic worms are their ability to regenerate lost body parts!

The worms start their life as an egg.  The eggs are often laid in clusters of the substrates in freshwater rivers, streams, and ponds.  They are encased in a gelatinous substance that provides protection from predators and from environmental conditions.

Trout spaghetti.

After a period of incubation, the eggs hatch into larvae.  The larval stage is not much different from the adult form in many annelids, but they are smaller and less developed.  In the juvenile stage, the worms grow resembling as an adult.  Their diet consists of decomposed plant vegetation and animal matter.  During this stage with feeding and growth, their skin is shed multiple times as they grow in size.  Upon maturity, these worms are fully developed and ready for reproduction.

The San Juan worm has rated as one of my favorites to fish.  An incredibly, easy tie and so effective!  This is especially true during our runoff season with high flows on the freestone rivers and tailwaters.  See you on the river!

This cutthroat trout took my San Juan worm.