Angling Report: March 2004 Lake Brunner Fly Fishing Report

March was another challenging month for fishing, with minor floods at regular intervals down most of the rivers. There has been none of the usual low flows/crystal clear waters and the weather has been drab all month. This was similar to February, another unprecedented run of poor weather, pastel skies, misty days, drizzle, and more than our fair allocation of winds. The customary afternoon westerly breeze seems to have started much earlier most days - sometimes at mid-day instead of 3-4pm.

5th - 7th March

Theron Makely and Jim Grubbs, travelling independently, shared our services for a couple of entertaining days. Both were newcomers to the sport - Jim had never cast a fly rod before, whilst Theron had had some previous experience. Theron managed to land a nice brown trout on Lake Haupiri on the first evening, after missing several takes. The next day was one of those rare days when every fish wants a turn in the net... and what a wonderful learning opportunity that was, with a total of 7 fish in the net whilst mastering casting, distance and accuracy, as well as fish management skills with big trout on the rod! Weather was actually quite good, probably the best few days of the month.

Theron Makely	Jim Grubbs

Jim managed several fish as well. For most guides, this is the most rewarding aspect of guiding, sharing those special moments of accomplishment with nice people in beautiful surroundings.  

 5th - 7th March

Dale Meier & Charlie Adams dropped in for 3 days fishing. This turned out to be a very productive, record breaking visit visit, although the first day was a little tough with only 3 fish landed. On the second day, 82 year old Dale moved into 2nd place overall for the most fish landed in one day with an impressive 19 fish! When Charlie's total was added, this placed them in 3rd overall place for the most fish landed by two anglers from the drift boat on Lake Brunner, and Dale's 19 is the highest total we've recorded for one person on Lake Brunner. Day 3 saw a further 6 fish added to the tally on Lake Poerua on a dull and overcast day.

16th - 23rd March

Tom Simms and Dan Masdeo arrived on their first fishing trip to NZ. Weather continued unkind, with rivers dirty for the first two days, confining us to the lakes where we managed 15 the first day, and 11 the second. The third day allowed us to land 9 on the Ahaura, followed by a tough day on the upper Grey with only one fish landed. The final two days were 6-8 in the net, overall the boys had to work very hard for every fish. 

Dan holds up a fine, fat Lake Brunner brownie - he ran out of hands, hence the this impromptu pose.	Tom holds an Orangipuki River trout, caught in a lull during heavy rain, with the river rising fast.
Dan displays a talented skirmish with the net to produce...	and the guide holds up another... this one rose softly on the far bank in deep water, but took a weighted nymph
a nice fat hen fish on the Ahaura.	This Lake Brunner trout succumbed to Tom's wiles
Dan with a 2kg brown on the Orangipuki, taken on a #10 Royal Wullf	...as did this plump little darling on the upper Grey.

Angling Report: March 2004 Lake Brunner Fly Fishing Report

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