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Nick 
Group: Members
Posts: 297
Joined: Jul. 2005
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Posted on: Aug. 31 2009,23:04 |
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Inspired by Chris's post on fishing the rip I have a couple of pictures of places I've fished in the last season and am wondering what else to try.
This first picture is of a high country river that I fished mid summer. It was the first time I'd fished a river of this type and found it frustrating at times due to only finding trout where I spotted them. There should have been fish in the pool like the one below but I didn't pick up anything blind fishing which amazed me. Basically my tactic was approaching the pool slowly concentrating on the red rings for trout that I could spot. At times there would be a fish in places like those however at times there weren't so I'd work the main flow with a big dry and small nymph or a couple of heavy nymphs, usually a stonefly pattern and a small hair and copper or pheasant tail. The problem I found was I'd totally lose site of the dry or the indicator when using the nymphs. I also lost count of the number of nymphs I lost!
The second pool I have fished many, many times and am yet to pull a fish from it depths, something that has puzzled me for a loooong time. It is a river that gets a lot of pressure but I've caught fish in more challenging places. As you can see there is a small whirlpool created ( the black arrows ). I usually try a big dry with a small nymph, a couple of nymphs and even a streamer. I have seen trout in the whirlpool but haven't managed any of them. I did have a big boy follow a streamer to the edge one day ( which keeps me trying this spot ). I generally concentrate on the blue circle in the pic but have the same problems as the pool above where I'll lose sight of my dry or indicator within seconds of getting it on the water.
I'd be interested to hear other peoples’ thoughts.
Cheers
Nick
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| Post Number: 2
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scottrods
Group: Members
Posts: 2760
Joined: Dec. 2005
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Posted on: Aug. 31 2009,23:44 |
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I have the same problem as picture 2 on a river above Hanmer, where a trophy habits a pool and sits in the whirlpool.
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Jonathan
www.overland.co.nz 4x4 hire 4 NZ
><(((º>`•.¸¸.•´¯`•.¸><(((º>¸.
•´¯`•.¸. , . ><(((º>`•.¸¸.•´¯`•.¸><(((º>
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| Post Number: 3
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Chris Dore
Play hard!
Group: Members
Posts: 3879
Joined: Jul. 2005
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Posted on: Sep. 01 2009,00:34 |
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Hard to pic the scale of the size of the river in pic 2 - Id probably just come in from the rop and launch the woolly buggar on a depthfinder line.
Have you tried getting deep beneath the white water in the top pic?
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FFF Certified Casting Instructor
SCOTT Pro Staff
www.CHRISDORE.com
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jomeder
Group: Members
Posts: 920
Joined: Sep. 2007
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Posted on: Sep. 01 2009,00:54 |
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Hi Nick,
I reckon that whirlpool situation has to be one of the toughest to fish, especially if it's a really sucky one and the fish are sitting low down. I know a couple of those which have fish in them and it's always difficult. It usually defeats me but occasionally I get lucky. I've had some success with streamers. If it's slow it's not so bad, you just need to make sure you don't approach it in the direction the fish is looking, sometimes they sit "backwards".
Regarding losing sight of indicators and dries, have you ever seen a Langlands style indicator fly? There is some info and a picture here. I find these float really well in turbulent water and are a bit easier to keep track of. I tie them in various colours, including some with fluoro orange or green on top for whitewater situations like in your picture, where plain white or cream doesn't show up so well. I've caught masses of fish using these indicators. Before I started using them I used to have the same problem of losing track of indicators, either yarn or flies. When Martin Langlands showed me them and how to fish them it really revolutionised my fishing. This was mainly fishing in rivers like your top picture too.
Regards,
Jo
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| Post Number: 5
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Steve
Group: Administrator
Posts: 1223
Joined: Jul. 2005
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Posted on: Sep. 01 2009,00:54 |
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Nick one tactic with white water like that is to aim to land your indicators/flies on the smooth bits first, where you can see them, if the fish are feeding actively chances are they'll move to the fly, it's alway hard to pick out an indicator in the white water and they tend to sink anyway, so don't cast into it till you've covered the other bits, particularly if you favour white indicators like me!
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Steve Gerard
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NZCicada
Make mine Dry!
Group: Members
Posts: 1382
Joined: Mar. 2006
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Posted on: Sep. 01 2009,02:16 |
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This is a bloody good question and one that really rang a bell with me as some of the very best fish come from such spots. I have developed a few techniques you might want to try here but I am in CHCH tonight on a borrowed computer so won't be rude and sit for a couple of hours typing my reply, but when I get back to the north island tomrrow i willtake the time to write down what has worked for me.
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FFF Certified Casting Instructor
Umpqua Signature Tier
Sage Pro
www.saltwaterfly.co.nz
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| Post Number: 7
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kiwitroutbum
Simon
Group: Members
Posts: 640
Joined: Nov. 2006
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Posted on: Sep. 01 2009,19:47 |
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Are you speaking in Chch Clark?
if Clark is speaking it will be worth getting along for those tips! 
Ditch the indicator and stick on the heaviest fly you have. Perhaps use a dropper above it and get a ice loooong leader. Fire it into that whrilpool and try to maintain conatct. You might be surprised! Don't bother with a long cast. Try to be sneaky
If you loose your flies in those whitewater situations, again ditch the indicator and try to maintain conatct or trip your flies through the prime zone. The belly of line under your rod tip is critical and it should not belly.
Fish sitting in the whitewater don't do drag. ;)
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| Post Number: 8
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Nick
Group: Members
Posts: 297
Joined: Jul. 2005
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Posted on: Sep. 01 2009,22:14 |
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Hey Guys thanks very much for all the replies. It's always great getting different things to try out and I appreciate all of the advice.
Chris - I've tried getting below the white water to the point where I have lost many nymphs from them getting caught on the bottom. Also I have the problem where I lose sight of my indicator / dry. I like the idea of a sinking line, will have to give it a go.
Jo - I hear what you are saying about the fish sometimes sitting the wrong way, I've been caught out heaps. I do know places where it's possible to predict which way they'll be sitting as they are usually in the same place. I love the look of those indicator flies. In fact I remember that post and was going to tie some up but totally forgot about it. I'll certainly give them a go as they look the business.
Steve - makes sense about fishing the smooth water first. I reckon I've probably been a bit guilty of getting into the white water too soon.
Clark - I look forward to hearing your ideas when time allows.
KTB - I like the sound of that technique and will certainly be giving that a go.
I have fished similar types of those whirlpool scenarios and have been lucky at times, particularly if a trout is taking dries or is likely to take one. Generally I have been able to maintain a low profile and hide behind various things like trees etc. I'll wait until I know the trout is close enough to the surface to take the fly pretty quickly. I'll also use one of my more buoyant flies as it doesn't take long for it to sink after it hits the surface. As KTB says also you don't want to have too much line out if possible as it will get sucked down quickly. I still remember a nice little brown that nailed a dry like this. The fly literally hit the surface right in front of it and it grabbed it super fast. Good job it did because it wouldn't have been long until it went under.
Hey thanks again to everyones input, there is certainly a lot of food for thought there!
Kind regards
Nick
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Tore
Group: Members
Posts: 885
Joined: Jul. 2006
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Posted on: Sep. 02 2009,06:18 |
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I too look forward to learning about Clark's approach here!
Nice looking water by the way. Can't wait to get back "home"  .
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