Better when it's cooler

OPINION: Warm summer temperatures are good for the cricket but they are not that good for trout fishing, writes Maurice Rodway in this week's Trout Fishing.

Two of Southland's greatest assets – its farming and trout fishing – rely on coolish temperatures and frequent rainfall. River flows are low now, with the Mataura showing its bones as it is well below its mean annual low flow at Gore. High daytime temperatures push up river water temperatures. Recently these have peaked at close to 20degC.

Fortunately, although many people will grumble, cooler weather is on the way and as you read this you will need a jersey to wrap up in. This will be good for trout and the mayflies they are so fond of feeding on.

Deleatidium mayflies are a creature of cool water, too. They are most active in the spring and then again in the autumn. As we creep closer to Easter they will start hatching and so it will be time for anglers to take advantage of the weakness of trout for this little delicacy.

Generally, immature mayflies emerge from the stones of the riverbed and hatch into sub-mature adults called duns in the mid-morning. This is the best time to catch trout feeding on them because this activity occurs in riffles and bouncy water that disguises the angler's line and less-than-perfect mayfly imitation.

In the afternoon and evening the adult mayflies are little slips of life that drift on the still waters in the tails of pools, after they have spent their energy mating and laying eggs. They lie in the glassy water among flecks of foam and yellowed leaves. Trout have time to study them and can easily tell the difference between the real thing and a hook. Evening fishing is challenging and soothing. A trout caught in the red reflection at the end of an autumn day is a great reviver.

RIVERS AND LAKES: The Fish and Game Southland NZ Council report on river conditions yesterday (cumecs in brackets): Eglinton at Knob's Flat: Normal and clear. Upukerora: Normal and clear. Whitestone: Normal and clear. Upper Oreti at Three Kings: Low and clear (2.7). Lower Oreti at Wallacetown: Low and clear (6.2). Mararoa at Weir Rd: Low and clear (8.6). Mararoa Weir discharging: Normal (16). Upper Waiau at Queens Reach: Normal (232). Lower Waiau at Sunnyside: Low and clear (26). Upper Mataura at Parawa: Low and clear (5.3). Lower Mataura at Seaward Downs: Low and clear (18). Waimea at Mandeville: Low and clear (.1). Waikaia at Mahers Beach: Low and clear (5.7). Upper Aparima at Dunrobin: Low and clear (2.0). Lower Aparima at Thornbury: Low and clear (4.1). Hamilton Burn at Waterloo Rd: Low and clear (.2). Makarewa at Counsell Rd: Low (2.6). Otapiri at Otapiri Gorge: Low and clear (.2). Mokoreta (Wyndham) at McKays Rd: Low and clear (2.7). Upper Clutha at Cardrona Confluence: Low and clear (117). Lower Clutha at Balclutha: Low and clear (280). Pomahaka at Burkes Ford: Low and clear (3.2). Waipahi: Low and clear (.5).

LAKE LEVELS : Te Anau: Medium – 201.9m. Manapouri: Medium – 177.2m. Monowai: Medium. Waituna Lagoon: Closed to the sea.

Don't spread didymo or other aquatic pests: check, clean, dry.

» Maurice Rodway is the regional manager of Southland Fish and Game and an Environment Southland councillor.

- © Fairfax NZ News

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