Trout stream Insects

[Southshore]

For those who fish the Canterbury spring creeks and tributaries, I've been reading up research papers on these venues, which incidentally most have resident trout. I've always wondered why one little spring creek I've fished for many years produces small but very fat and round brightly rosetted brown trout of around the one pound mark - now I know. It was not unusual to catch & release half a dozen using a #16 Dads Favourite on every outing. These venues have a stable clean water flow and loads of trout food. In some nearby Christchurch streams the insect and other species count was 58 or more. The main ones were snails, caddis, stoneflies and mayflies. Add scuds and damsels and the food becomes a feast. The caddis are interesting as there are several cased and free-living ones in the waters. As the water level in most of these tributaries rarely goes deeper than 60cm I've had to tie up a whole new bunch of lighter weighted nymphs. Because spring creeks tend to be crystal clear, the fish are picky and easily disturbed. Use a longish leader, a very small or no indicator or a dry fly and small nymph like a PT on the dropper, this will keep your nymph out of the weed. At least we know where to go when the rivers are dirty and a good alternative to lakes.

[Andy W]

Southshore - I would be interested to read your diary for the past summer season. My observations of our CHC spring creeks show a situation of very few small fish (one of 6 in a day), and the fish in general were larger this season. I was smoked by a 4 lb'er the second day of the season, and subsequently didn't use my 4-weight on that spring creek after that date.

The spring creeks are a changing scene. 20 years ago, it was the norm to catch 15 fish no larger than 1 lb on opening day, largely fishing blind through likely seams and eyes. Closer to home (south of the Waimak say) fewer fish were present, and you could pick up sighted and un-sighted fish. The sighted tended to be larger.

Now, if I see 5 fish, and land 2 of those (fishing with a mate), I am happy. Mostly I found I am casting at second hand fish even when fishing mid-week, or Friday. I have also gone 4 trips to the same spring creek this season and neither spooked or saw, or caught zip.

[Southshore]

I don't have a diary and rarely carry a camera (sometimes my wife comes along with hers to photograph birds), but I see where you're coming from. I did notice two things fishing a spring creek not far from here, spotted very few fish big or small. In the 90's this creek produced small (but pretty) little browns around the one pound mark upstream (before it became a golf resort) and the fish got noticeably bigger as you went downstream towards the mouth. My last fish there in summertime didn't see or touch a thing. There are more anglers on the creek today, mainly because the access is easier; once it was quite hidden and secretive with a lot of cover. I won't be going back. I'm sure you know the place I'm referring to but I have found that the river it flows into, especially upstream in the braids are producing good rainbows around the 2-3lb mark. PT, Ymak caddis, Rainbow Warrior all work well there and I'll be using the killer bug new season. Big rivers have been very unstable and if only they would stop flooding we could get some really good handy fishing in. Nothing wrong with your 4 weight Andy, I fought and landed two big rainbows around the double figures with my lovely little Redington #4. Here's a pic of one of them. It sure is a changing scene and we are going to have to work harder to find new places. Big river mouths are always good but only when the whitebait and silveries are running but I'll be doing a lot more of that this year, just above the two main road bridges. For salmon these days I travel to Twizel to target them catch them and smoke them. Cheers.