Splashy technique tempts fussy feeder

TROUT FISHING

Some rivers and streams in Southland have so many trout that it’s like being at an aquarium. The lower Aparima is like this. So is the Waimea, and parts of the Mataura. A good day on the upper part of the Oreti estuary, when the river is clear and the sun is shining, reveals many fat trout too.

They are hard to catch. Maybe this is why they are so abundant. I have counted 100 good-sized trout in a day’s fishing on a 4km reach of the Waimea. Catching three to four of these is all I expect. I can only keep two. Many of the trout will have already seen me as I walk streamside. Their bow waves are a telltale sign of that. Others will ignore what I have to offer. After a few casts they become suspicious and slink away.

On Saturday I fished the lower Aparima. Its water was clear and trout were everywhere. A cast to them with a smelt lure was treated with disdain. One chased something around in the shallows almost at my feet. A more athletic angler could have pounced on it. I flicked the lure next to its nose. Not a bit interested.

Perhaps something a bit different would do? Something smaller and browner, something that could be a bully or a cicada.

I walked a few metres along the grassy bank and had a few casts out towards the far bank. Nothing showed any interest. Then almost close enough to poke with the rod a nice 1kg trout took up a position just out from the bank. A short cast splashed the fly down on its nose. The fish snatched the lure and after a spirited dash around the pool was soon on the bank. The lure was well down its throat.

Others have mentioned this technique. Well, ‘‘technique’’ is a rather generous description. ‘‘Splash, bang, yum’’ might be a better one. But it can often work where trout are fussy, and in rivers where there seem to be no end of them.