The key is to keep a berley sending out the "come here" message in an unbroken stream. It serves the same purpose as the delightful smells wafting from a coffee shop. It gets the attention of the customers. But you don't want to actually feed them.
In deep water the berley bag can be attached to the anchor rope, just ahead of the chain so it is slightly elevated above the bottom. Or it can be deployed on a light rope.
The problem can be replacing the berley bomb as a lot of rope may be needed, and there is nothing more troublesome than having coils of light rope all over the deck while hauling it in to check and replace the bomb.
One smart solution is to use an electric fence winch like those employed with long-lines. It can be fitted with a pole to sit in a rod-holder and heavy monofilament or braid line with a weight on the end will have less drag in the current than rope.
Replacing berley bombs is easy. Simply use a cable tie to attach a fresh berley to the line, add a small weight, and it will drop down to the bottom. No need to wind it up each time.
The other trick is to secure the berley line somewhere up near the bow of the boat so it does not tangle the fishing lines.
Heavy berley pots made from galvanised iron rings and mesh are popular, and there is are models which collapse so they take up less room when not in use.
In strong currents or deep water extra weight can be added by putting a rock or brick in the bottom of the pot. You don't want the berley line being pushed back in the current and tangling with the fishing lines.
As well as berley, it helps to add groundbait to the system. This comprises chunks of bait, like old pilchards which have been thawed and used, then refrozen. They will be too soft to use as bait, coming off the hook easily, but are fine when tossed out in pieces. This should be done sparingly, but regularly.
Another trick in deep water is to anchor upcurrent from a reef or rock and start fishing at dead low tide, tipping plenty of berley over the side.
This will sink straight to the bottom, and when the current starts moving it will be pushed along the sea bed towards the reef, pulling fish out of the reef towards where your baits are set.
If the bites are coming regularly and then they dry up, the berley will have run out. Check it and pop in a new one to keep the action going.
Fresh water
With the level of Lake Taupo dropping the fly fishing at deep water stream mouths like the Tauranga-Taupo and Tongariro Rivers should pick up.
The key to fishing such spots is to be in the current, and it can be difficult identifying where the current is when the lake is high.
One clue is the yellow leaves washed downstream, and they are easily spotted as they roll along the sand on the bottom.
The boat is anchored so the stern is sitting where the lake bed falls away into deep water.
A fast-sinking line is needed, and a long cast over the drop off will sink down to where the fish are lying.
Fly patterns such as Red Setter, Mrs Simpson and Woolly Buggers are popular, and during winter an orange globug can be used, and retrieved very slowly.
At night the fishing can pick up when the moon rises, and flies with movement like Hairy Dog or Woolly Bugger are preferred, fished with a slow retrieve close to the bottom.
The same approach works well on Rotorua lakes with a sharp drop-off such as Lakes Tarawera and Rotoiti, but the retrieve is usually a lot faster.
Dawn and dusk are the favourite times for this type of fishing, and it can be very productive.
Tip of the week
Some successful anglers will use two berleys at the same time when straylining with floating baits, one attached to each corner of the boat on short ropes so they don't tangle the fishing lines. It is a good idea to thaw one overnight so it starts working as soon as it is submerged.
Bite times
Bite times are 6.10am and 6.35pm today, and 6.55am and 7.20pm tomorrow. More fishing action can be found at GTTackle.co.nz.
