Fishing News index>July 2007

To say that in the North from a lack of water to provide angling opportunity is ridiculous as the whole of New Zealand will be well of the weather bombs that this region has suffered.

March started the deluge with its ferocious 1 in 150 year flood, which pretty much affected all of the regions Trout streams, and rivers.

Fish mortality would likely have been high as a vast majority of this flood event was fast and unexpected with record rainfall dumps in important upper catchment areas. River and stream systems throughout the region resembled cleaned drains given the velocity and speed with which this event happened.

Unfortunately waterways with very little in the way of bordering vegetation and trees received tremendous damage which will have only made these systems more vulnerable to future events.

Given the nature and the predicted increased occurrence of these rainfall events it would be safe to say that land use and soil conservation is high on the priority list for local body organisations. To often it is the case of the land being mistreated to make way for development or farming interest? Whilst we cannot stop progress it is obvious that we must retain some form of structure around/along waterways to prevent subsidence and to slow torrential rainfall runoff.

Pre 1970 aerial photographs in comparison with today show the unabated destruction to vegetation and buffer areas that in the past have helped against such destruction.

What does this all mean for the angler?

For a start the signal is clear that fish habitat is being washed out to sea.

Constant unregulated silting of waterways from runoff destroys subsurface structures until they eventually won’t hold any form of aquatic habitat. No food no fish!!!

Loss of spawning gravels and breeding areas from continued destruction invariably means that we greatly reduce fish stocks and worst of all eventually lose self-sustaining fisheries.

We can’t change Mother Nature, but we can mitigate our effects on these important ecosystems. The threat of global warming is causing catastrophic weather events around the world and we don’t look like we are going to escape unscathed.

July is a month most Northlander’s will want to forget. Another weather bomb has struck the Northland region only this time the damage is even worse.

Already sodden, Northland was just recovering from the March deluge when we received this latest event. Record rainfall figures and once again fast damaging floodwater will have absolutely devastated some waterways. Closer inspection and surveying of some of the worst affected rivers and streams will need to be undertaken to assess fish stock damage.

At a regional level our Council may have to consider restocking some waters given the severity of destruction in some catchments. The severe destruction of already damaged spawning habitat and a loss of this seasons spawning effort will reduce future fish stocks. Time will tell once we break into the spring period.

On a brighter note the regions reservoirs and lakes are fishing well with above averaged conditioned and sized fish being taken. The overall comment trickling back through our office is the impressive eating quality of fish caught.

Fat prime fish are the norm and are proving relatively plentiful especially at the Kai-Iwi lakes.

Anglers targeting the Lake Taharoa are catching limit bags and seem to be taking most from boats although very good specimens are being landed by shore based anglers. Smaller wet flies or nymphs seem to be doing the trick but smelt imitations will be just as effective.

Lake Waikare has an abundance of visible shoaling Inanga (native whitebait species) present, which is prime trout food.

Interestingly this same lake was inundated with Gambusia in previous years and trout were seen as the only way of regulating this pest fish’s numbers. They have a devastating effect on our native fish species because of their propensity to attack and eat larvae and juvenile.

A perfect example of an introduced species used to control an introduced species in order to protect a native species.

On a final note this years Kai-Iwi Lake Trout Fishing Competition kicks off at the end of July and is run over 2 days (28th and 29th).

Judging by the fish being landed at present it promises to be great with a high angler/catch ratio. Over $5000.00 in prizes is up for grabs so anglers can expect great dividends from fish landed.

All manner of categories are being catered for so bring the family and enjoy a weekend at this scenic destination that we consider the crown of our northern trout fishing destinations.

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