New Zealand
February 1st

A short session - one hour tops on Lake Hawea ... first by the campsite.... five rainbows and two browns taken on pheasant tail nymph - both small, best one pound, but plenty of fun! Also two rainbows and a brown from the Hawea River - again only small.

February 2nd

Went down to the Clutha River today, which is the outlet for Lake Wanaka. The first half mile or so it flows quite gently and contains many trout. Most of the ones I could see were browns up to about two pounds. Some were really close in. I did try to catch some but as soon as my fly and line touched the water they were away....... Not for long though as they would swim round in a big circle and then go back on station.

Anyway, eager to catch something (preferably bigger) I took a walk downstream to the first set of rapids. From a high bank maybe 30 to 40 ft up I spotted a decent fish in a giant powerful eddy, taking something every now and then! I couldn't identify what fly so I tied on a caddis imitation and climbed down the decidedly dodgy slope!!!!

I was getting desperate now, risking life and limb. Anyway I managed to get down in one piece..... From water level I couldn't see the fish, but I had noted it was in some slackish water between the main flow and the eddy. Then after a while I did see its head as it rose. Mentally marking its position I had several casts, but speed of the currents were playing havoc with presentation. The only thing I could think of was to try a large nymph.

This I did and on the second cast as it swung around I felt a heavy thud and almost instantaneously a rainbow leaped two foot clear of the water, then it ran towards me and leaped again. I struggled for a while to keep it from the main current as it would have been impossible to stop once there, and from
my position couldn't have followed!!!! After leaping once more I finally landed it... feeling very happy the fish was returned and I packed up for the day.

JULE

Clutha River, outlet for Lake Wanaka		Clutha River Rainbow trout