Fly Fishing with Chris Dore
Your FFF Certified Fly Casting Professional
April - NZ's Mayfly bonanza!
Ask any southern local his favourite time of the year and April will most likely be the reply.
I love April myself, to the extent that I usually keep a couple of weeks aside from guiding simply to break out the georgeous wee G2 5 wt and sample some of NZ's finest match the hatch dry fly action myself. Free rising brown trout sipping on emergers and tiny spent spinners leave my fiance wondering if I will ever come home. This is the cream of the southern dry fly scene, and lucky for you, I do still have limited days available!
As the autumn sets in and temperatures drop the terrestrial activity of summer disappears and the massive, synchronised deleatidium hatches return to the mighty Mataura, and other lowland tributaries.
The rivers are at their low autumn levels and the days normally begin crisp and clear, with blue skies and a plesant chill to the air reminding us that winter is just around the corner.
Nymphing the riffles can produce a great start to the day if suitable flies and effective techniques are employed. This gets us into the swing of things whilst we eagerly await the surface sport to commence.
As the grasses warm the spinners take flight, and its not unusual to hit a mid morning spinner fall which takes us ri
ght through to the afternoon
hatch.
As for the hatches, What can I say? You can almost set your watch by them. Previously barren pools come alive as their surfaces erupt with voraciously sipping brown trout. Reading the rises, recognising and following along as each stage of the hatch changes is essential for succcess, and it becomes a matter of impeccable fly selection and making each presentation count.
Having a dozen or more fish rising repeatedly within the space of ones living room can be nervewracking indeed: How you handle the excitement is up to you!
Read more about the tactics we employ and the autumn experience in my revealing article 'Matching the Hatch - Cracking the Code of the Mataura' and check out my April offer below.
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And if you think it stops there you're mistaken, my friend! Autumn sees the large, backcountry browns making their way towards the headwaters of our main rivers, and into the smaller tributary streams. The fish become rather territorial as they feed intently to pack on the pounds for the long winter ahead. Whilst dry fly and nymph presentations will still work on these fish, sight fishing with streamers really comes into its own. Triggering a predatory response, the hits to a stripped streamer can be electric - Watching a large fish chasing your big bugger can be mind-shattering. Its all adrenaline here, and some of the larger fish of the season are often encountered at this time.
And I still havent mentioned the large, sea run browns which migrate up our more coastal tributaries! We will keep a little quiet about that.
So come on down and do as the locals do. April offers some of the finest fly fishing opportunities NZ has on offer, from choosy, mayfly sipping browns to fiesty backcountry bows. Put yourself in the picture with one of NZ's best, and contact Chris today!
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Autumn Special!!
As I enjoy nothing more than spending autumn days upon the river I am happy to offer the following for the month of April:
Book two or more consecutive days in April and recieve a 10% discount off your total guide fee!
We will base ourselves in the southland hub of Lumsden to put us closer to where the April action is. Less drive time = more fishing!
Availability is limited so contact Chris now to secure your preferred dates!
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Reccomended anglers accomodation in Lumsden is available at
