Well it was wonderful to have a weekend without the dreaded wind! Winds last month were measured to 150km around Mossburn and no wonder they have just put a windfarm in down there! It was time to get down and dirty with some "paddock" fishing. Southland is blessed with some amazing trout fishing and we consider any stream or river worthy of a name, as having enough water to carry a fish or two.
I took the 6wt 9ft ZXL for another spin and it was a lot more rod than I normally would have chosen for this waterway. By choice, I would normally choose an 8 or 8'6 rod in 4 or 5 wt. I was pleasantly suprised by the subtlty and small stream fishability of this ZXL! In a burgundy hue, the rod is finished with immaculate cork and a small cigar grip. Generation 5 technology has not made this rod significantly lighter, in my opinion, than the original SLT. However, it is a light rod with a "softer" feel than the Z Axis but a positive butt section with fish on and plenty of power to push even a coneheaded streamer to the other bank. Accurate and responsive would be other terms that come to mind. I feel it has the ability to cast with just the leader out, which I had to do numerous times, and as the day wore on and I needed to push out longer casts it was capable of pushing out 60ft with ease and delicacy. I own plenty of rods and tend to favour a slower action. This rod suits my style of fishing and many of the streams and rivers down here in NZ. I'm in no hurry to return this ZXL as if you could only own one rod, this may be the one. Then again I want more than one rod so will be trying the 8'6 5wt next!!
We had plenty of opportunity to catch fish over the weekend. A few anglers about apparently but we saw no one and certainly no footprints. Access was just up from the bridge and we had leisurely starts both mornings. The fish were caddissing and this is one of my favourite flyfishing opportunities! Tailing trout scudding along the bottom and giving their positions away with flashing sides. We landed a bakers dozen on the first day and fishing further upstream the next day , put 1 shy of 10 in the net. How many busted us off or were missed on the take was anyones guess but lets say plenty! I had one take a streamer walking back to the car and my mate said the nylon crack sounded like a rifle shot.
It was certainly more challenging on Sunday as the day was brighter and accuracy and presentation were paramount. It was nice when a few duns came off mid morning and this lasted till about 3 or 4 in the afternoon, before the wind picked up. The fish were in amazing condition and although the biggest we landed went only 5lbs, several hogs were spotted but eluded us. Just 2 days of exceptional fishing and it looks like the season is really underway. Reports from other rivers such as the Waitaki and tributaries are all positive and it looks like another bumper!
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