Fly Fishing with Chris Dore
Your FFF Certified Fly Casting Professional
Chris Dore is a recognised freshwater fishing writer and has been a regular contributer to a number of New Zealand angling publications over the past 15 years. Chris' writing focusses on the instructional aspects of trout fishing from the viewpoint that 'lifes too short to not catch fish - look outside of the square for improved success'.
The following is a selection of Chris' origonal articles from various publications, and random thoughts, experiences, trip reports and advice can be found on Chris' fly blog
Please note, Chris Dore holds the exclusive copyright to these articles, and written permission must be sought by anyone wishing to use these writings either in their entirity, on in excerpt.
Matching the Hatch: Cracking the code of Southlands Mataura river
They say that 10% of anglers catch 90% of the fish. This is never truer than when fishing the Mataura around Gore...
High water is a regular feature of springtime, wether the result of heavy rainfall or snowmelt washing down throughout the day. Fly fishermen with the “know how” can do very well in higher flows, with the added benefit of often having most of the river all to themselves...
Low Water and spooky fish? Summertime Tactics Revealed
So have our southern rivers been low of recent or what? So many people are complaining about fish being too hard to catch, but on closer inspection it usually comes down to angler error or failure to capitalize on the conditions...
Prey Images and Primary Triggers
Good things are happening at present down here trout wise, and as we move into the Southern mayfly bonanza of autumn, I’m looking towards our smaller rain fed waters to keep me entertained with surface feeding fish. There’s something amazing about a small stream mayfly hatch - Snouts poking up towards the surface, leaving tiny, effortless dimples upon the water... this is wee emerger country...
Irish Tactics for our Southern Lakes
Winter is settling into the Queenstown area but not everyone is tuning up the old snowboard. Whilst many of our southern rivers are now closed for the winter there is plenty of excitement still to be had in our larger Southern lakes...
An Overview of the Double Haul
Hauling directly increases line speed and also adds load to the rod, although the latter is to a minimal degree. The double haul is simply pulling down with the line hand on the back cast, and pulling down again on the forward cast. This really has a profound effect on ones casting and creates better control of both short line and distance presentations...
'Go To' Flies Revealed - Part One: Design
As many of you will have noticed through my writings, over the past decade my ideas on fly design and effective patterns have developed a lot. One could say I have gone the full circle.
I believe this to be an essential trait of any fly fisherman, and the ability to keep an open mind, adapt, and accept new ideas where applicable and implement them appropriately will ensure one keeps up with the game...
'Go To' Flies Revealed - Part Deaux; The Beasties Themselves
So we have talked about what I look for in a fly pattern and my ideas on effective trout flies – quality, not quantity. Versatility, and the ease of tying: If a fly takes more than a couple of minutes to tie, it’s easier for me to buy them.Lets take a look at some of the patterns I use, my go to flies and see how simple, yet effective they are on our South Island trout...
After posting a topic on the New Zealand Fly Fishing Forum in relation to fishing our larger southern Stillwater’s I received a few emails from readers that really hit home; the average kiwi angler has never really had the opportunity to get out there and play with a range of equipment...
Anglers are forever looking for ways to give themselves the edge over trout, and one of the most popular ways is in fly development...
If you find trouble fishing in the wind, then chances are you have had a very frustrating season thus far.
This doesn’t need to be so. With a few simple techniques, and some basic, good form fly casting, we are about to make your life a whole lot easier...
Chris' flyblog - NZ's most informative insight on local trout fishing tactics, conditions and events.
