I'm Sean, an aussie living in Canada for the last 5 years.
I'm visiting the south Isl in April (6-16th) for my 3rd fishing trip to your great Country.
Just thought i'd introduce myself and reach out for any tips and advice.
My last 2 trips were down in Southland and fishing the Mataura, Waikaia, Oreti.
First trip was great, and we had good weather.
Second trip rained out and the rivers were blown. It forced us into Mavora lakes and lake TeAnau.
I booked guides for a couple of days both times, some good, some bad, some hampered by weather.
This trip I'm looking to explore the Westcoast and Nelson regions.
I've caught my share of small fish <4.5lb and Sight fishing for large browns is what I am after.
Looking to get into fish better than 4.5lb.
I've been watching Mike Kirkpatrick vids for inspiration
(tried to book him, but he isn't available)
Also, I'm reluctant to book any other guides as i've been disappointed before. (guide had me blindfishing all day)
Also I don't want to book so far in advance that I don't know what the weather will be doing.
So my leader question is to those of you who use a poly leader in your construction.
(tried searching the forum but couldn't find anything)
found this on old forum from kiwiboy back in 2010, but cant find him to PM him.
If anyone can help me with this type of setup, that would be great.I'm with Andy, I havent had problems with them spooking fish although I too add a tapered leader to the end of an 8ft floating. I have a few reels so tend to connect my poly leaders and tapered leaders permanantly with a braid "sleeve" as opposed to an eye which help me wind all the way through the guides without any resistance or added bulk. Also helps when a fish runs and your joins on the reel....nothing to catch and break off that nice shiny tip ring.
An 8ft poly, 9 ft tapered and 3 ft tippet keeps my fly line miles from fish and can turn over in wind.
We dont actually tie the mono out of the poly leader to the tapered leader, we join it with a braid sleeve made up from unwaxed braid. we slide the 2cm long sleeve over both the poly leader (plastic outter coating) and the butt section of the tapered leader with both sections meeting in the middle of the 2cm long sleeve. Both ends of the sleeve where the leaders entre are bound with tying thread and glued, the middle of the braid sleeve where the lines touch is also bound. This creates a smooth permanant joint. We do the same from fly line to polyleader.
Are you using a pike or salmon floating polyleader to avoid the stepdown to 12lb step up to 40lb butt on the tapered leader problem??
and how does the braided join work, can anyone point me to a youtube vid?
Also, I have a pretty good idea of the rivers I want to fish, but i'd buy a buy a beer and parma for anyone who is willing to meet up and share some local knowledge.
(as in, don't fish there, impassable gorge etc.)
sorry about the long post
cheers
Sean