Reel Life - February 2017
At last, some settled weather (one fishing writer used the catchy phrase "summer-like” conditions) – has arrived, and many anglers have hooked into some great fishing.
The trout are focused on large terrestrials and at least one region reports seeing one of the best cicada seasons in years.
As one of our Reel Life writers eloquently puts it, cicada fishing is exhilarating – trout can be seen abandoning their post at the bottom of a deep pool, skyrocketing towards the surface and literally smashing the fly.
In the central North Island, Lake Rotoiti has rewarded boaties with some "solid” catches: some big fat rainbows have been hooked, with long-time fishers calling it the best for some time. Some other lakes have done it tough with the cooler than normal water temps.
If you're fishing Lake Arapuni in the Waikato, please let our Auckland / Waikato office know if you catch a wild fish – staff need the details for their research.
Heading south, the salmon season had a hard start but has looked up!
There were 75 salmon and 18 trout entered in the annual Rakaia River Salmon Fishing Competition. That was more than three times the total number of fish caught last year, 48 salmon caught on the first day alone…more than 600 anglers fishing the comp.
In Otago, reports from the back country confirm that anglers are catching good numbers of fish and they're in great condition. And boat anglers are having some good success on all the region's major lakes.
P.S. - This month's cover pic shows some of those salmon fishers at the mouth of the Rakaia.
P.P.S - If you think you've got a freshwater fishing image worthy of featuring on our 'cover', email it to Richard Cosgrove for consideration.