Another feature of fishing at present is the prevalence of trevally. There are good numbers in the Motuihe Channel, and they can be caught on regular baits like chunks of pilchards drifted down the current. But they prefer shellfish bait, or lures like soft baits and jigs.
Once regarded as good only for bait, trevally are highly regarded for sashimi, smoking, or as fish and chips. Some people also like to poach the fillets in milk. But they do have soft mouths and the hook can tear out when lifting a fish into the boat, so a net should always be used.
Freshwater
Harling is picking up at Lake Taupo, which is good news for trout anglers after recent seasons of quiet smelt activity. But it is all over by 9am, so it is important to be on the water at first light. The traditional harling rig is a long trace of about 15 metres of light monofilament, perhaps 3kg breaking strain, connected to a section of fast sinking line which will sink to two or three metres. Some people use old fly lines, but a section of 10 metres of lead-core line spliced to backing will also work well.
Flies are smelt imitations in small sizes, which could be yellow lady, green orbit, parsons glory or grey ghost. Two flies can be rigged. Large diameter single-action reels like those for deep trolling make retrieving the line more efficient than small fly reels. The trick is to follow a drop-off or the edge of a weed.
Jigging in deep water has also improved after a quiet period, and dry fly fishing in the evenings on the Tongariro River is popular. It should not be long before large brown trout move into the lower reaches of the river, which provides exciting fly fish-ing stalking the banks and spotting the shadows lying close to the edge.
The browns are there to take advantage of the cicadas which fall into the river, and a large dry fly presented carefully can provoke a strike.
Tip of the week
An effective way of immobilising your boat and trailer is to remove a wheel and lock it away separately. The chances of a thief having a spare wheel with the corresponding size and stud pattern are remote.
Bite times
Bite times are 11.50am today, and tomorrow at 12.10am and 12.35pm. These are based on the moon phase and position, not tides, so apply to the whole country.
More fishing action can be found on Rheem Outdoors with Geoff, 6.30am Saturdays, TV3, and at www.GTTackle.co.nz.
