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December 2014 - Issue 111
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Canal ThumpersBeaten by the ButcherSalmon Early Starters
NOVEMBER 2014
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The Fairmead Experience www.fairmeadlodge.co.nz
NEW ZEALAND
NEWSHUNTING
&
THE
FISHINGPAPER
Lukes Midas Touch
Story pg 33
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www.thefishingpaper.co.nzTHE FISHING PAPER - DECEMBER 20142
Transducers: the Humble Servants
MARINE ELECTRONICSWith Sean Ryan [email protected]
A key component of sounders, there is a range of types, shapes,
materials and sizes of transducers, and they all have positives and
negatives. Most importantly, you need a transducer that best suits
your boat and what you want to achieve with it.
Transom mounted transducers are generally suited to trailer
boats up to 8m. How it is installed is critical - aeration issues
need to be sorted and, depending on hull angle design at the
transom, you may need tapered plastic to set up the dead rise
correctly. Some brands have adjustable settings that allow them to
flick up if hit by an obstacle. Tension them correctly, as a
smashed transducer will ruin your weekend fishing and hurt your
wallet, if they are too tight (I can vouch for that)! You can lose
performance at high speeds and you need to be constantly vigilant
for debris floating in the water, but they are a fairly robust
option.
Through-hull transducers are considered the most
reliable and are produced in a range of materials suitable for
installation on any type of hull. They are mounted on the exterior
of the hull and require a fairing block to ensure they are both
correctly aligned and fixed securely. On a trailer boat the
position will be dependent on the trailer construction so there is
no difficulty re- trailering and no damage to the transducer while
loading or travelling. If you dont take this into consideration,
then you may end up with two holes in your hull instead of one!
In-hull transducers are mounted inside the hull and shoot a
signal through fibreglass and down into the water. They are the
most maintenance free and perform at high speeds; the trade-off is
some reduction in performance with depth and target discrimination.
Care needs to be taken when installing these to insure there is no
air trapped between the transducer face and the hull, and the
fibreglass is in good condition. Generally better suited to boaties
more
interested in depth for safety reasons and fishing is not so
important.
Most brands have 200 and 50 kHz frequencies in the same
transducers. A rule of thumb is 200 is good down to around 100m but
can be affected by dirty water conditions and 50 is better for
depths over this. If fishing in 30-50m 200 kHz will get the job
done. Other frequencies are available.
Power is another factor with average units being 600 watts
(great for hobby fishers), but you can get 1 & 2kW units. The
more power the better the performance in depth and discrimination.
You need to consider this in relation to budget and how seriously
and deep you fish. CHIRP is another option which I have previously
covered and something to seriously consider if fishing is your
biggest passion.
Time taken at the time of purchase can ultimately save money,
and grief when you need it least.
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www.thefishingpaper.co.nz ISSUE 111 - THE FISHING PAPER 3
Simrad NSS evo2 Family
EASY FINANCE AVAILABLE
Sean Ryan +64 221574 [email protected]
www.fluidelectronics.co.nz
Order yours now or get more information by calling Fluid
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-
www.thefishingpaper.co.nzTHE FISHING PAPER - DECEMBER 20144
It was a nice Friday afternoon down at the Twizel canals where I
was trying out some soft baiting techniques with my family, using
Gulp! with a size 1/8th jig head. The canals have been getting a
lot of attention of late because of the amount of fish seemingly
being caught and the sheer size of some of the monsters. However,
its not always easy and on this day we didnt get a take until late
afternoon.
Out of nowhere my dad, Graeme, struck hard. FISH ON! The fish
went mental trying to get away. We saw glimpses of it and we
knew straight away it was bigger than the magic 10 pound. Line
peeled and Dad fought back, gradually getting the upper hand as the
monster tired.
As it came to the net, excitement was mounting and I think Dad
was trembling with anticipation. It was enormous - a huge fat
rainbow - so we wasted no time getting it to the scales. Dad was
stoked with his catch; it went 18 pounds on the dot.
To top off a great day, I caught an 11lb salmon and my younger
brother caught a 10lber!
Cody on the CanalBy Cody Simpson
Christmas FACTS
Norwegian scientists have hypothesized that Rudolphs red nose is
probably the result of a parasitic infection of his respiratory
system.
Most of Santas reindeer have male-sounding names, such as
Blitzen, Comet, and Cupid. However, male reindeers shed their
antlers around Christmas, so the reindeer pulling Santas sleigh are
likely not male, but female or castrated.
Codys salmon shines!
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STORY
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www.thefishingpaper.co.nz ISSUE 111 - THE FISHING PAPER 5
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It was a perfect spring morning when I turned into a layby on
the diversion section of the Wairau River and, as far as I could
tell, I had the entire place all to myself. Sunday mornings at
6:30am sees most folk still in the land of Nod and this had to be
to my advantage - no one about to spook feeding trout or disturb
the gentle mood of the morning.
I leisurely made my way down the true right bank for almost a
kilometre, taking care to use scrub cover in case I disturbed any
trout before I could fish to them.
I sat down on a fallen poplar for a few minutes to watch the sun
rising out of the dead-calm waters of Cloudy Bay. Quite at peace
with the world, I unhurriedly assembled my rod and selected a size
18 Adams dry fly which is my number one choice when Wairau trout
are surface feeding.
I noted that the suns very low angle was casting my shadow well
up the track I had just come down. As it rose it would swing my
shadow across the land - not the river. I had chosen the true right
bank because the left would have seen the sun eventually cast my
shadow on to the river - not a good option if you are endeavouring
to ambush trout.
A few moments later I saw movement at the start of the track I
had just wandered down and inwardly groaned. What looked like a
small dog was bounding along but every so often it paused and
turned to the rear. Doubtlessly
its owner was following up and would likely spook each and every
trout I was hoping to ambush. My best laid plans looked like they
were going to be history. As the dog moved towards me I could see
that it had enormously long ears but wait, there was a second dog
following. As they advanced I perceived they were not dogs but very
large hares. I almost laughed. I had never seen hares running
together. It surely had to be the influence of spring and the mad
March hare syndrome. Mating hares are renowned for their crazy
antics and the duo heading towards me were probably engaged in a
courtship ritual. I waited, motionless, until they were little more
than a rods length from me. The very low angle of the sun was
blinding them and they appeared to be quite oblivious of my
presence until I abruptly swished my rod at them. In a flash they
bolted up to the stop-bank and vanished. I focused my thoughts back
to trout and commenced the long upstream beat.
Over the next four hours I spotted several decent trout but they
were very fussy feeders. My little Adams failed me and in spite of
numerous fly changes, I never so much as got a touch for my
trouble. Whatever the trout were feeding on was not represented in
my fly box. I was defeated but not despondent. The delightful
little swallows and a couple of hare-brained creatures had turned a
duff-day into one which has remained very memorable - even if it
was for the wrong reasons!
Spring Morning On The WairauBy Frank Cartwright
With a calm forecast after such a long run of windy days, the
family headed into Tasman Bay during late November and berleyed up
in 20m. Then we waited.
At ten-to-eight in the morning the first of the snapper hit, but
the bite time was short - exactly half-an-hour later it all
stopped. However, during that magic spell, the fish were all good
size and the action lit up, with reels humming and the kids having
a ball. The snapper gave Sophie and Matthew good runs on their
lines, taking five-minutes or more to get in.
On sighting the size of her big snapper, Sophie decided to
release it as it was a good breeding size and, as it turned out,
filled with lots of roe. She wanted to save the fish, being the
animal lover she is, so we took a quick photo for Dawnbreakers Club
points and let the snapper go. Unfortunately, the bladder wouldnt
release and the fish could not turn itself over to swim back under;
we left it for about five minutes before backing the boat up to
collect it and keep it from a painful death.
We caught five snapper, mostly averaging around the 55cm length,
with Sophies fish measuring 65cm. Two gurnard and several small
kahawai were also added to the list - after finding a huge school
working on our way back in.
It was a good day in our fishing office - Mondays can be like
that!
Sophies Choice Snapper!By Chris Jobe
Matt Jobe with a nice Tasman Bay snapper.
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www.thefishingpaper.co.nzTHE FISHING PAPER - DECEMBER 20146
OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEKDont forget your FlyBuys card. The only fi
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East Coast Beaches Ablaze with FishBy Daryl Crimp
November saw a flurry of activity off the South Islands east
coast beaches, with surfcasters tucking into some good catches of
rig, red cod and elephant fish, a particular hotspot being south of
Timaru.
Jason Chamberlain from Waimate was fishing Morven Beach over a
rising low tide with his favoured Fin-Nor rod and reel rigged with
a long dropper and banana prawn for bait. He uses 20lb braid main
line and 6/0 recurve hooks and 5oz breakout sinker on his terminal
rig.
With the tide pushing, Jason didnt have long to wait for the
action to hit. A big bend signalling a solid hook up. The fish put
up a huge scrap but Jason, who never smiles much, remained good for
the task and eventually won the battle, beaching this grunty 14lb
elephant fish.
It was later beer-battered with Speights and self-raising flour
and deep-fried in rice bran oil - beautiful!
Locals report a very good start to the season, in fact, its on
fire down south.
Jason Chamberlain bends this big elephant into a smile!
www.blackmagictackle.com
BEST BY TEST
Black Magics expanding range of freshwater products has produced
a real winner with the introduction of their Jellybean lure.
The Jellybean is a 5cm soft plastic lure with a very flexible
and lifelike transparent body. Unlike many similar lures, Black
Magic has cast this one around one of their chemically sharpened,
high carbon steel Japanese fly hooks. They are ready to use
straight out of the packet.
Another great feature is its paddle tail. This gives Jellybeans
a particularly enticing swimming action making them a very tempting
mouthful for hungry predators (visit www.blackmagictackle.com and
look under freshwater/lures to view a video of a swimming
Jellybean). Although Jellybeans were designed with trout fishermen
in mind, they have also attracted a number of saltwater anglers.
Despite being built around a freshwater
hook, they work well on a range of bait fish species and, of
course, kahawai cant resist them.
The current range features six natural colours, from blue to
smelt to baby brown, and the hook is wrapped with holographic
thread providing that added attraction.
There are a number of ways to fish with Jellybeans. Some anglers
like them rigged up for jigging with three Jellybeans to a rig.
They can be used on a spin set up, but a small split shot in front
of the nose makes casting, this otherwise lightweight lure, a lot
easier. They can also be used on a fly rod with a sinking line, or
nymphing for searun browns. Harling is also a viable option.
You can buy your Jellybeans at leading retailers as single
lures, but Black Magic is currently working on a packaged version
where you can buy them in fives.
Black Magic Jellybean
Christmas FACTS
Ancient peoples, such as the Druids, considered mistletoe sacred
because it remains green and bears fruit during the winter when all
other plants appear to die. Druids would cut the plant with golden
sickles and never let it touch the ground. They thought it had the
power to cure infertility and nervous diseases and to ward off
evil.
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www.thefishingpaper.co.nz ISSUE 111 - THE FISHING PAPER 7
With the tide pushing, Jason didnt have long to wait for the
action to hit. A big bend signalling a solid hook up. The fish put
up a huge scrap but Jason, who never smiles much, remained good for
the task and eventually won the battle, beaching this grunty 14lb
elephant fish.
It was later beer-battered with Speights and self-raising flour
and deep-fried in rice bran oil - beautiful!
Locals report a very good start to the season, in fact, its on
fire down south.
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www.thefishingpaper.co.nzTHE FISHING PAPER - DECEMBER 20148
Catching a monster snapper - priceless!
Hesitation Leads to Priceless Fish By Grant Price
The three of us were enjoying some great November fishing off
Rabbit Island, Nelson, with a good haul of pannies by sun up. Rene
Visser, Reece Jones and I were fishing shallow water with a good
berley trail attracting and holding the fish. Most of the damage
was being done by ledger rigs under the boat - nothing fancy, just
hooks, sinker and bait - but I had also tossed out a stray-line way
out the back of the berley trail. With a large chunk of fresh
mackerel I was prospecting for a big moocher.
The bite died right away and we contemplated moving to another
spot but just as we were about to pull up the pick, the snapper
came back on the feed; nothing big - all around the 35cm. Then the
big hit; it just grabbed the mackerel and ran. In only eight-metres
they put up a stonking fight: line peeling, drag screaming, and
adrenaline pumping. When it came to the boat and finally flopped on
the deck, we were all stoked. Twenty-three pound of Tasman Bay
snapper - priceless.
What is the Best Bait?
One of the most often asked question in angling circles is, What
is the best bait for?
Currently, with rig showing up inshore in good numbers, land
based fishers are questioning the dietary requirements and
preferences of the spotted smooth-hound.
Enthusiastic Marlborough surfcaster, Vic Wysockyj, in his usual
dramatic fashion, answered the question emphatically. Crabs
anyone?
Vic Wysockyj annswers the sixty-four million dollar
question.
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www.thefishingpaper.co.nz ISSUE 111 - THE FISHING PAPER 9
Vic Wysockyj annswers the sixty-four million dollar
question.
With Lake Hutchisons female tench already starting to spawn, I
had decided to make the most of it by trying to catch a couple of
fish that hadnt yet fully spawned out.
I arrived at the lake in the evening hoping to catch two or
three of these hard fighting fish. The sky was overcast and there
was a strong easterly wind blowing over the lake. I chose to fish
against the wind on The Point because tench follow the wind as it
pushes food items in the direction it is blowing.
I used a 21gram small shotgun feeder attached to a four-inch
hook link, with a grain of unflavoured popped up fluorescent yellow
artificial corn on a curve shanked size 12 hook; by using a IQ D
rig. For ground bait I used layer mash and breadcrumbs, which also
had the juice from canned corn in it. I cast out, turned my bite
alarm on and waited.
I choose to fish around 10 metres out and
it wasnt long before the first tench fell victim, which turned
out to be a 3lb male. After a couple more tench, the bites went
quiet. I kept putting sweetcorn and the ground bait around my
feeder to try and hold a shoal if they cruised past.
During the last hour of light, my bite alarm screamed off so I
picked up my rod and I was in to what felt like a reasonable fish.
It was jagging left and right, taking a bit of line and producing
big head-shakes, so it lead me to think that I had hooked in to a
male tench. I lifted the rod and as it came up from the bottom, I
saw it was a good perch. I also noticed that it was just hooked
right in the corner of its scissors and was scared at this point
that it would shake the hook. However, I managed to get the fish to
grace the landing net. It weighed 2lb 10oz, which is a new personal
best.
Tench Moments on PerchBy Tyler McBeth
It may have been a corny catch but it was Tylers PB.
Jaw-Dropping TroutBy Craig Grant
I hooked this fish in the upper jaw while fishing the lower
Taylor River near Blenheim. It couldnt close its mouth.
The high water levels have taken out most of the weed in the
river and deposited a layer
of gravel in the section of river above the Hutchinson Bridge.
It is not worth fishing as there is no cover for the trout and
there has been significant erosion of the river banks making the
stream shallower and wider.
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Christmas is just around the corner.Do you have your
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I have vast experience with all brands of outboards.
I can offer full servicing and repairs, rebuilds, wiring,
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BEST BY TEST
Email your story to editor@thefi shingpaper.co.nz
Stories should be 300-400 words
Congratulations to Grant Fowler. Grant is our December winner of
the Snapper Pack. His story, Beaten by the Butcher is on page
15.
-
www.thefishingpaper.co.nzTHE FISHING PAPER - DECEMBER 201410
Captains Log: Beam me up spotty
I was popping back from a hunt a couple of weeks back, minding
my own business, when I had the most bizarre experience. It was
quite a long trip because Id ducked out
the back of Sweden for a moose. In the course of my travels I
discovered the world is full of idiots. Normally they are quite
harmless and can be mildly amusing, like the lanky guy who thought
I should give up my aisle seat on the plane, with no-one in front
of me, to him just because he couldnt sit for long periods with his
ankles around his ears. I did offer to let his girlfriend sit on my
lap so he could stretch out, but he wasnt open to lateral
thinking.
However, idiots can become a problem when you put boots and
badges on them; that makes them Important Idiots and thats where
the fun begins.
The trip home took forty hours during which time I successfully
navigated four international airport security systems and cleared
all customs seamlessly. Then came New Zealand. At Auckland Domestic
Airport I was paged to go to a counter where an Important Idiot was
waiting for me. Demeanours changed dramatically when I mentioned my
name: smiles were replaced with aghast stares, frenetic activity,
group huddles and hushed whispers. I was then escorted into
cavernous bowels of petty bureaucracy with the warning they had
found live ammunition in my luggage.
Now Im not making this up, but it was like a scene from an old
Monty Python movie. The security guard ushered me through a heavy
solid door, into a dark room with no windows. In the middle of the
room was a stainless steel table with what looked to be an
interrogation light above it, shining brightly down on my suitcase.
A tall guard, arms tightly folded across his chest, was standing
over it. It was unopened.
Whats going on here? I asked.Weve located live ammunition in
your luggage!Im allowed to carry ammunition in my checked
on luggage, I countered.In a packet, he said. Not a loose single
bullet!
Its a cartridge and its harmless for Gods sake!Its Dangerous
Goods, he argued.Not without a rifle wrapped around and a
firing
pin smacked against the primer!Arguing proved futile. He cocked
his head toward
a computer scan in the corner, without taking his eyes off my
bag - and, yes, there was a lonely 30.06 cartridge buried somewhere
in my belongings. I was made to search for it and after much
fruitless digging, I twigged to where it was. I pulled out the
large pillow-like inner bag that contained my hunting clothes.
There, deep in the folds of material, right at the bottom of a
cavernous pocket of my jacket, lay the offending item.
Here you go, I said, Fill yer boots... get rid of it.What
happened next left me speechless. Both
security guards were mortified at the thought of having to
dispose of it because it would mean calling the police, I would be
held in custody for the day and they would have a mountain of
paperwork to do. So they hatched a cunning plan - so cunning you
could pin a tail on it and call it a weasel. They would make it
safe and I would be free to travel home - and they did.
How?They wrapped it
in a paper towel and popped it back in my bag, in the top of my
hunting boot that was stuffed to the brim with socks! I kid you
not.
It adds new meaning to the old terrorist saying, A tissue, a
tissue - we all fall down!
The Important Idiot Syndrome
Fishing the South China Seas earlier this year, we were jigging
and bottom fishing in 200m, so I took the opportunity of testing
the Special Edition Okuma Makaira reel matched to a CD Fast Jigging
rod, rated 250 400g.
It proved a good testing ground, as we spent a total of three
long days fishing numerous spots in differing conditions and almost
all deeper than 150m. It was physically demanding so a prerequisite
was light, balanced gear that could comfortably be used for long
periods. This combination didnt disappoint.
The fast jigging rod from CD was 1.56m long, made from
uni-directional graphite with Nano-like resin systems to give it
extra strength while remaining lightweight. It certainly was light
and when coupled with the Makaira, nicely balanced and a delight to
use over long periods. I found the action medium-firm, and suitable
for slow jigging as well, in the 200g+ range. There was plenty of
strength right through to the rod butt, allowing you to really load
up when necessary, and the action
was very smooth.Both the rod and reel are
ergonomically designed and aesthetically very nice, with
high-end finish. As a combination, they work well together. The
reel is a compact size for jigging, fitting comfortably into a
medium paw, and the levers and drags system appear solid and work
smoothly. I caught quite a number of fish using this gear and
enjoyed it immensely even using it for all my bottom fishing as
well.
Overall: a good quality product that incorporates good design
features with sound ergonomics to deliver a smooth action and good
balance. Lightweight construction married with strength has created
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www.thefishingpaper.co.nz ISSUE 111 - THE FISHING PAPER 11
Kayaking with Chris West
FIRST IMPRESSIONS:Makaira Special Edition Reel & CD Fast
Jigging Rod
An unfortunate side effect of kayaking can be wrist pain. This
can range from tightness in your wrists and forearms through to
crippling pain. Typically, people experience wrist pain after a
long days paddling, or if they are new to kayaking and have
over-exerted themselves. Here are a few tips for avoiding wrist
pain and injuries.
GripHaving a tight grip on your paddle shaft makes
your wrist and forearm muscles work harder, which can lead to
wrist pain. To reduce this, modify your paddle technique a little.
You do not need to grip the paddle tightly with your top hand (the
hand closest to the paddle blade that is not in the water). As you
paddle, open your top hand as it pushes forward. This may take a
bit of thought, but after a while it will become natural.
Over-using Your WristThe more you move your wrist during a
paddle stroke, the more likely it is that you will experience
wrist pain. On a paddle the blades are usually set at different
angles to each other. As you paddle you twist your wrists to ensure
the paddle blade enters the water on the correct angle. The greater
the offset angle, the more twisting your wrist does. If you are
having wrist
trouble consider trying a paddle with less offset. When you are
paddling take a look at how you
use your wrists. Ensure that you are not moving your wrists more
than is required. During a paddle stroke, your wrist should stay in
close to a neutral (straight) position for the majority of the
stroke.
Paddle DesignIn addition to the offset of the paddle, there
are other factors which can cause wrist pain. Ensure that you
are not putting too much strain on your wrists from trying to use a
too big a paddle. This can be either a paddle that is too long, or
has too large a blade. For the majority of your paddling, each
stroke should be keeping the kayak moving at the same speed, rather
than accelerating the kayak with each stroke.
Some paddles feature a bent shaft. The idea of a bent, or
crankshaft is to keep your wrists in a more natural position. If
you have a look at your wrists you will notice that when relaxed,
they look like they naturally inclined outward a little. A bent
shaft paddle allows you to hold your paddle with your wrists
aligned more ergonomically.
Lastly, a heavier paddle will create more stress on your wrists;
the less weight that you wrists need to control when paddling the
better.
Wrestling with Wrist Problems
Taranaki TupperwareBy Kelvin Wright
Opunake is not often fishable because of weather but this day it
was a cracker. We launched and paddled for 1.5km and pulled up in
5m of water.
Berley over the side and it was all go, with biggest challenge
getting them on the boat before being smoked off into the rocks.
But we had a great day with snapper, kahawai and blue cod on the
menu.
Gradually the paddle fitness has been coming up and more
recently we have been visiting the offshore spots, targeting groper
and deeper water snapper spots. Some of these paddles are quite
long range with trips 7-10km offshore, and up to 35km being paddled
over the summer trolling for tuna. Obviously you need to pick your
days for these trips but they are always done with more than one
paddler and most are fully equipped with PLBs, hand held marine
radios, and cell phones. The kayaks themselves are incredibly
stable, quite wide and have plenty of storage - although you have
to plan ahead and be lean with your packing, as its still a kayak
at the end of the day. With large centre compartments, eight
rod-holders, and bait bins etcetera, they are well set up for
fishing.
After having several larger boats there are a couple of distinct
advantages of fishing from a kayak. Low cost - $2500K set up and
ready to fish with electronics on board. Cheap to run most days
about six stubbies will see you right for fuel. Very little
cleaning, it takes about five minutes to pack up after a day out,
and if you cant be bothered so be it - the plastic aint corroding.
Another slight bonus, if you can call it that, is a bit of fitness
on the side. With that being said there has been several times when
we have left it a little late to come back and ended up with a
tough paddle in 15-20knots of chop and swell that made a 7m hard
top look pretty attractive.
Despite the extra effort required, the kayaks do handle those
conditions okay, provided the paddler doesnt run out of steam.
Planning around weather needs to be a
bigger part of your preparation. A comfortable paddling speed is
about 6km/hr, so at times it could be a two hour plus paddle home
hence heading home before the change comes through is a good
idea.
We have had several hook ups on big sharks, which often results
in a short trip as you get towed along! Hence, if youre serious
about playing big fish you need to think ahead and take one or two
sea anchors to throw out and add a little more drag to your fish.
Im really looking forward to the summer and the kingfish numbers
increasing. Kingies are a fantastic fighting fish and my favourite
fish to catch, so there are bound to be a few tours behind a kingi
this summer.
Some of my mad kayak fishing mates are planning to try and live
bait for a marlin from the yak this summer. It will be a team event
but one that Im silly enough to be keen on being involved in. It
will either be a horrendous cock up (most likely outcome!) or a
legendary trip that will no doubt make the local rag, but either
way it will be an adventure.(Courtesy of Tautuku Fishing Club
Newsletter, Dunedin)
Opunake catch- snapper, kahawai and blue cod.
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www.thefishingpaper.co.nzTHE FISHING PAPER - DECEMBER 201412
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Stray-lining is a versatile and effective way of targeting
shallow water snapper and, with a few tweaks, it can be adapted for
deeper water as well. The basic idea involves presenting bait as
naturally as possible by using the minimum weight (if any at all)
to reach the bottom, while allowing the bait to drift naturally
with the current, down to the fish.
THE GEARBoth overhead and spin sets can be used, and both
have
advantages. Spin sets are easy to use, easy to cast and have the
option of the Baitrunner feature, while overhead sets give you more
sensitivity and control on the drop. Use rods in the 66 - 7 range
and a reel that has a nice smooth drag and holds at least 200m of
your preferred line weight. My current sets are a little Okuma
Coronado Baitrunner on an X-Factor 6-10kg rod and 6kg braid for the
light, shallow stuff and an Okuma Cortez 5 on a Cortez 10-15 kg rod
with 12kg mono for the heavy stuff. Both are brilliant and have
dealt to some serious fish, and have me covered for nearly any
situation.
THE RIGThe basic rig is effectively just a running rig with the
sinker
below the swivel, with J-style hooks as opposed to circle hooks;
you need to strike rather than let the fish hook itself. Hook size:
bigger is generally better - the smallest I would recommend is a
6/0. The barb needs to be well clear of the bait, and large hooks
reduce the chance of gut hooked small fish. Mostly, I use
8/0 or even 10/0 - snapper are very aggressive feeders and you
will still catch a 30cm fish on 8/0 hooks.
Short leaders of 1-1.5m allow you to cast your rig easily and to
this I run two hooks the same size, one attached with a uni knot,
and the other sliding freely on the leader above. Slide a ball or
egg-shaped sinker onto the leader above the hooks and fasten the
top of the leader to a swivel, which is then tied to the mainline.
The sinker slides freely between the hooks and the swivel.
A crucial element is selecting the right weight: too light and
you wont reach the bottom, too heavy and your bait will sink
unnaturally. Every situation is different so, through trial and
error, vary your weight so that the bait just touches down after
drifting back with the current. A selection of weights from 1/4oz
in the shallows to 3-4oz in deeper, high current areas should have
you covered.
WHERE TO LOOKFor stray-lining to be most effective good current
flow is a must.
An ideal startling spot will have adequate current running back
towards some sort of structure or channel. These sorts of areas
hold fish but the challenge is drawing them out and enticing a hit.
Headlands, points, reefs, rocky guts, sandbanks, harbour channels
and drop offs are all very much worth investigating.
BERLEY, BERLEY AND MORE BERLEYBerley is key to your success;
without it, you are targeting
fish that just happen to chance across your bait. Pumping a big
berley trail will draw fish from a huge area and get the fish
feeding. It will draw big reef dwelling snaps out from territory
where they will inevitably bust you off, into the open where you
have a much better chance of landing them.
In less than 10m of water I will set berley pot on the surface
so it covers as a wide area. Any deeper and I will use a wobbly pot
a few metres off the bottom. When using surface berley, cast your
bait down the berley trail to get it away from the boat. In the
deeper water, drop straight down as the current will carry it
naturally down the trail.
THE STRIKEThe strike is crucial but probably the most difficult
aspect
to master. Strike too early and you might miss the fish - strike
too late and it might spit the bait. With the bait on the bottom,
engage the baitrunner on spin sets. On overheads,click the reel
into free-spool, ensuring that you have enough thumb pressure on
the spool to prevent an overrun while letting a fish run freely
with the bait.
It is tempting to strike straight away when a fish picks the
bait up, but fight the urge in order to give the fish time to
swallow the bait. As a rule of thumb, count to five before engaging
the reel and striking firmly. At this point, take care not to give
any slack line, as it will give the fish opportunity to shake the
hook free.
Stray-lining can produce electric fishing sessions, especially
at dawn and dusk; the rush of a fish screaming off with your bait
before setting the hook is hard to beat. It also generally produces
a much better class of fish than traditional bottom bouncing and
less by-catch of smaller fish. It is a method that has produced
some of my biggest snapper.
ESSENTIALS of STRAY-LININGBy Bryce Helms
Read Crimpys First Impressionsarticle on page 10 where he
reviews the Makaira Reel and CD
Fast Jigging Rod on the South China Sea.
-
www.thefishingpaper.co.nz ISSUE 111 - THE FISHING PAPER 13
The Constant Angle Knife Sharpening System
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Published by Coastal Media Ltd261 Paton Road, Hope
PO Box 9001, Annesbrook, 7044, NELSON
Ph 03 544 7020 Fax 03 544 7040
www.thefishingpaper.co.nz
EditorDaryl Crimp021 472 517
[email protected]
Mike Brown
AdministrationAnnette Bormolini
021 996 [email protected]
Graphic DesignPatrick Connor
[email protected] EditorRon Prestage
[email protected]
Guardian Print
ContributorsDaryl Crimp
Ron Prestage
Chris West
Sean Ryan
Bryce Helms
Craig Grant
Grant Fowler
Kim Swan
Poppa Mike
Cody Simpson
Grant Price
Tyler McBeth
Kelvin Wright
Anton Donaldson
Rhys Barrier
Dave Dixon
Ian Sutherland
Tony Entwistle
Paul Clark
Charles Smith
Tony Orman
Dennis Bender
Shane Bruce
Chris Jobe
Frank Cartwright
Dave Duncan
Ivan Wilson
The Fishing Paper & NZ Hunting News is published by Coastal
Media Ltd. All editorial copy and photographs are subject to
copyright and may not be reproduced without prior written
permission of the publisher. Opinions or comments expressed within
this publication are not necessarily those of the staff, management
or directors of
Coastal Media Ltd. Unsolicited editorial, letters, photographs
will only be returned if you include a
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THE
PAPERFISHINGHUNTING
NEWS
NEW ZEALAND&
10 NELSON STREET, BLENHEIM ph: (03) 577 9933
[email protected]
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Shoulder roast of wild pork, mutton or venison.2 cups fresh
breadcrumbs1 cup freshly chopped mixed herbs (thyme, mint, sage,
oregano).I clove garlic crushed and choppedSea saltCracked
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Trim excess fat from the shoulder. Rub a good sprinkle of sea
salt into the topside.Place breadcrumbs in a large bowl and season
with
cracked pepper. Add finely chopped herbs and garlic, mixing
well. Gradually drizzle in olive oil, mixing as you go. The
breadcrumbs need to be well-coated in oil damp but not soggy.
Spread evenly over the topside of the roast and place ribs down
in an oiled roasting pan. Place in an oven preheated to 150C and
bake for two hours. Turn up the heat to 200C for the last hour.
Skewer the thickest part of the roast to test when it is cooked the
juices should run slightly pink. Stand for 15 minutes before
carving.
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www.thefishingpaper.co.nzTHE FISHING PAPER - DECEMBER 201414
TIDES OF CHANGE By Poppa Mike
[email protected] Hall Street - Cheviot
Cheviots only supplier of fresh and saltwater shing gear. Rods,
reels, lures and Fish & Game licences.
Ammunition , knives , hunting and camping supplies.
Ph 03 319 8869Fax 03 3198844 - Phil Duncan
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BUILDERS ARE YOU READY?
The 1st of January 2015 sees significant changes to the Building
Act and Regulations that will affect EVERY builder. The changes
include new responsibilities including the need to provide a
written building contract for all jobs over $30,000.
The timing of these changes is not ideal as they require
builders to hit the ground running as of the 1st of January 2015.
Were sure youd rather be fishing than running around like a
headless chicken sorting out paperwork. The GOOD NEWS is that
Certified Builders already have a suite of contracts ready to go
and a help-line available to all members for a minuscule cost. If
youre already a member youll be
SWEET ASand if youre not dont worry, simply give us a call and
well help ensure you dont hit any unnecessary speed bumps come the
new year. To join the Certified Builders team visit
www.certified.co.nz or call us today on 0800 237 843
IMPORTANT
WAVE21689_ITM
TIORI-PATEAThe 140km drive from
Wanaka to Haast is one of New Zealands most beautiful scenic
drives, especially on a fine day in mid summer with the windows
down. The colours and smells of nature, the history and the
grandeur all play their part.
Early Maori were the first to find this route through to the
West Coast in their search for food and pounamu (greenstone) and
named it Tiori-patea, the way ahead is clear, as they first spotted
the West Coast seas far below them. Although the route today has
the names Haast Pass, Haast township and the Gates of Haast in
recognition of Julius von Haast, Canterburys Provincial Geologist,
who led an exploration party of four through to the West Coast in
1863 where they celebrated by standing in the surf and giving three
hearty cheers.
However, it was not until some time later that another explorer,
T.N.Broder ick, followed in their footsteps and came across a
metal
powder flask wedged in a prominent tree on the west side of the
pass, inscribed, Charles Cameron, July 1863. Scotsman Cameron, a
gold miner seeking new fortunes had preceded Haast by just a few
days.
The route gradually developed from a bush track to a pack track,
to a stock route. During the 1930s depression years the track was
widened, employing up to 400 men. After WWII the government again
set about opening up the road, which was finally opened in 1960,
although the final links northwards to the West Coast
were not finished until 1965. For many years after, this the
road construction continued until it was all finally sealed.
Unfortunately some see this luxury as an opportunity to get from A
to B as quickly as possible and fail to recognise all that has gone
before them.
If you get to travel this route and find yourself entering the
Makarora Valley, take the time to pause at the DoC rest area where
a plaque recognises the significance of early Maori, Charles
Cameron and Julius von Haast in our history.
Are you aware the Harbour Master has the power to
direct ships, board vessels, remove wrecks and issue
infringement notices? Fortunately those instances are rare,
however, how they have come about in the past is:
1. People have gone away and forgotten to notify the Harbour
Master they are leaving their boat on a mooring for six months or
more. (We have removed a few of these)
2. People have literally neglected their vessels and this is an
issue for council and the Harbour Master; accordingly we will be
removing these neglected wrecks over the ensuing months
3. Directing ships and infringement notices are an unusual
event, however they do come about when people dont understand the
rules (ships include your six foot dinghy or your stand up
paddleboard)
Access the rules through Rule 22 on Maritime New Zealand web
site or attend a Safe Coating Course with Coastguard Boating
Education Services. Knowledge saves lives.
Are you aware in Nelson that you must wear a lifejacket on any
vessel under 6m, unless the skipper of the vessel directs you not
to? If you join a mate to go fishing and he doesnt offer you a
lifejacket, ask him for one. My take on the rule is if he then
says, You wont need one of those, then he is taking
personal responsibility for your life and your not wearing the
lifejacket. If he doesnt give you one because he doesnt have one,
then you are as responsible as he is for being on the water without
one. $200.00 please. Wow, suddenly a lifejacket is real cheap AND
it will save your life as a small bonus.
Have you wondered if the pilot or captain on that fishing boat
or container ship can see you, or has seen you. Already you are too
close. Did you realise that you can disappear from a pilots and
captains view when you are two football fields away? Get to know
the bylaws, give ships the room they deserve, as their
pilots/captains are not trained to run aground the alternative is
equally unthinkable but it is in your hands.
I would also like to talk about hypothermia. I recently learned
the likely survival time in water 10 to 16 degrees C is one to two
hours, depending on your body type. It doesnt improve much when the
temperature goes above 16. Maybe the agony is prolonged for another
hour or so. Mmmmmmm which would be worse? It can be prolonged until
old age catches up if you wear your lifejacket. Why wouldnt
you?
Have fun out there. Boat safely this summer. Be prepared
Harbour Views By Dave DuncanA Nautical Notice Board
Mmm... yes I see your problem - tonsilitis!
-
NEW ZEALAND HUNTING NEWS 15www.thefishingpaper.co.nz
HUNTINGNEWSNEW ZEAL
AND
By Grant FowlerA few of us boys went on a Labour Weekend hunt
high
in the hills above Lake Ohau. Amongst our crew was a home kill
specialist from Canterbury, so we had the meat recovery and
processing side of things covered.
We arrived on the Friday and sorted the hut out before heading
off for a quick afternoon hunt. There was meant to be six in our
party, however only five set off, all equipped with radios. Some
paired up but I remained alone in the absence of my hunting
partner. I hadnt gone far when I
spotted 22 tahr down low. I tried calling the butcher and co but
they hadnt switched on yet, so I started making my way up into
position. Everything was favourable, no wind and a ridge keeping me
from view.
When I finally reached my shooting position I found I had two
tahr at only 50 metres. One was eyeballing me and all I could see
was head, while the other was turned away with only rump and right
shoulder visible. I chose the right shoulder of the lower animal
dropping it instantly. The animal above then presented itself and I
dropped it. I had
two good size bulls to deal with. I dragged them down the scree
to lower ground and began gutting them out.
Two shots rang out from the butcher and co, which were soon
confirmed as kills and then more successful shots were heard from
the other boys. No sooner had I finished gutting my bulls, the
butcher announced on the radio there was a deer running down the
river about 450 metres away. He suggested I start running down the
hill and try to head it off, so I thought why not?
While running downhill I realised my mag needed loading, so I
dropped it out and proceeded to load it on the run. The deer was
gaining too much ground so I had very little time to find a
position. I set my sights on a good size rock not too much further
away. As I reached my point of rest I could see the deer was going
to pass any second now.
I went to cycle a round and it jammed in the mag as I hadnt
loaded it right, so I spat the mag and dropped one into the
chamber. No sooner was I in position when the deer came into my
sights 300 metres away. I squeezed off about two feet in front of
the right shoulder, he gave a good jump but kept on running. I
sorted the mag and cycled another round, but missed as he went up
and over the bank into a scrubby gully.
The butcher came down and offered to go look for the deer while
I drag the tahr into the snow for the night. Soon after the butcher
lets off a shot and confirms the kill. He removed the head and
gutted the animal while we buried my tahr in snow. Later in the hut
we reflect on the day where we claimed five tahr and a deer. The
two tahr I shot both measured 11 inches.
It was a once in a life time event and it totally slipped my
mind to get photos of the tahr on the hill before the butcher boned
them next day. I had to hold the deers head in place for the photo
too, because the butcher got there first.
Beaten By The Butcher
One was eyeballing me and all I could see was head, while the
other was turned away with only rump
and right shoulder visible
SNAPPER PRIZE PACK
WINNER
Grant and the long shot deer.
[email protected] Hall Street - Cheviot
Cheviots only supplier of fresh and saltwater shing gear. Rods,
reels, lures and Fish & Game licences.
Ammunition , knives , hunting and camping supplies.
Ph 03 319 8869Fax 03 3198844 - Phil Duncan
CHEVIOT HARDWARE & LOTTO
-
NEW ZEALAND HUNTING NEWS16 www.thefishingpaper.co.nz
By Kim SwanWhile doing a radio interview with Stephen
Spargo on The Hunting Show recently, he asked me where in New
Zealand was a locale which I would describe as the pinnacle of the
awesomeness. It was difficult to reply fluently when my mind was in
a spin. The pinnacle of the awesomeness - I knew instantly these
few words would become a very popular phrase in my limited
vocabulary.
Lazy as I am, I have adapted the new phrase. Ive shortened it
whilst speaking or writing, to either a) The Pinnacle of Aness -
used positively to describe events or places which are especially
special. Or b) The Pinnacle of Anuss - which needs no
explanation.
A fortnight later I was in the back country on a cold November
morn. With me were my two pig dogs, fat old Gin and the petite
young blond, Pearl. I had walked, clambered and crawled whilst they
had walked, worked and hunted, far and wide. For two hours we three
had inched ever upward, crossing the creek innumerable times,
scaling bluffs and forcing our way through bracken and blackberry.
All for nought.
I was tired. Tired from lack of sleep and tired of the grind my
hunt had become. I felt like giving up, there was little incentive
to continue onwards, no fresh pig sign, no let-up in the climb or
the conditions.
Pearl and Gin had already given up. They trailed behind me
despondently, no sniff nor snout-digging to enthuse them. Sometimes
pig hunting is shite, today was one of those days.
Far above and to my left was an isolated knoll Id always wanted
to explore. I altered my route and veered towards it. It took a
determined trudge to even get close - and I was still 100 metres
away from the top when I sensed what I was going to find there.
Without doubt I had almost reached the Pinnacle of Anuss.
Acres of couch-sized boulders, all gappy and sharp-edged. Talk
about break a leg. Among the boulders were patches of wind-stunted
manuka and a tangle of bracken. The soil was thin and dry, my boot
prints dusty along the ancient game
trails. The Pinnacle was high and dry, no water source within
cooee. It was a bad and ugly place, I hated it already.
I was absolutely convinced this was the pinnacle with a U and
not an E - tired, grumpy and over it - when Gin gave voice.
Normally her bark would tip my upside-down smile up the right way
but not today. All I could think of was those gappy rocks and the
potential for tragedy.
I hurried uphill towards the aggressive dog bark. Gin sounded
edgy. Pearl was there but I seldom heard her. Close-in I loaded my
rifle and stifled my panting. Breeze in my face, eyes wide open, I
snuck nearer.
I located the dogs and we silently acknowledged each other with
a glance of eye contact. They were tag-teaming The King of the Ring
- excuse the pun. He was up for it.
Though they had him bailed it was he who was on the attack and
them on defence.
This was a testing situation. An angry, athletic boar, in hot
pursuit of my dogs. Uphill, downhill, they ducked and dived around
manuka, he crashed solidly into it. The King would fiercely attack
one dog till the other caught his attention - crashes and
ker-thumps. Boar and dogs with hackles up and tails down - I was in
the midst of it, a very biased referee.
I did a skittish and thoroughly unprofessional dance now and
then - a hybrid between a pole dance and the highland fling -
circling the manuka tree trunk which was my shield. As the battle
raged all around me, I was seen to circle the trunk at various
speeds and even to jump up it with my feet held high and bum cheeks
clenched. Only when the three fight contestants paused to catch
their breaths could I intervene with a placement of scope
crosshairs and a timely caress to my rifles trigger.
The dogs were unscathed by ragged rock or by tuskers tooth. I
was grateful.
The sign all about told me that this pinnacle was a boar
hideaway and it had been for many a year but Ill not bring my dogs
here again. Im not that anal.
The Department of Conservation (DoC) has commenced a ground and
aerial hunting programme to eradicate wild pigs from Farewell Spit.
The programme aims to protect the many rare and threatened species
inhabiting the spit, which include plants, birds and the katipo
spider.
Farewell Spit is New Zealands longest sand spit, a 25-kilometre
long nature reserve. It is an internationally renowned bird
sanctuary and is particularly important for migratory seabirds.
More than 300 pigs have been removed to date. The wild pigs root
up bird nests and large areas of ground, destroying habitat for
native species. Last gannet breeding season pigs were venturing out
to the gannet colony and killing about 15 gannets per night. They
have also been seen eating shellfish as far as 1km out onto the wet
sand.
The thought that the pigs would provide good eating was quickly
dismissed with the meat smelling strongly of whale, which the pigs
scavenge following strandings.
Ian Cox, DoC Biodiversity Ranger, says that DoC would love
to
-
NEW ZEALAND HUNTING NEWS 17www.thefishingpaper.co.nz
The Department of Conservation (DoC) has commenced a ground and
aerial hunting programme to eradicate wild pigs from Farewell Spit.
The programme aims to protect the many rare and threatened species
inhabiting the spit, which include plants, birds and the katipo
spider.
Farewell Spit is New Zealands longest sand spit, a 25-kilometre
long nature reserve. It is an internationally renowned bird
sanctuary and is particularly important for migratory seabirds.
More than 300 pigs have been removed to date. The wild pigs root
up bird nests and large areas of ground, destroying habitat for
native species. Last gannet breeding season pigs were venturing out
to the gannet colony and killing about 15 gannets per night. They
have also been seen eating shellfish as far as 1km out onto the wet
sand.
The thought that the pigs would provide good eating was quickly
dismissed with the meat smelling strongly of whale, which the pigs
scavenge following strandings.
Ian Cox, DoC Biodiversity Ranger, says that DoC would love
to
eradicate the pigs from the spit completely. The increase in
vegetation and birdlife since 1975 is
encouraging, but until the pigs are removed from the spit, were
not really going to get effective lasting regeneration and ground
nesting birds will continue to be lost. Sows can have up to 10
piglets at a time, so it doesnt take long to build the numbers up
again if any are left behind. Using thermal imaging equipment
allows us to see pigs that are hiding in the bush and would not
otherwise be found.
The ground operation involves DoC hunters tramping the spit with
their dogs for 3-4 days at a time, shooting the pigs that they find
on foot. This is followed up by helicopter operations at dawn and
dusk. Reid helicopters fly the spit, with Anthony Corke of Yukon
Optics New Zealand spotting the pigs with the aid of a Pulsar
Quantum HD thermal imager, and Ian Cox of DoC on the trigger.
There are also pig traps at both ends of the spit, with a camera
in place to help monitor whether any pigs are left.
Stag Party Bondage Gone WrongBy Daryl Crimp
South Island hunter, Stuart Graham, had his eye on a couple of
promising stags in the lead up to the 2014 Roar but one
disappeared. He, and a good hunting buddy, had been keeping watch
on the animals with trail cameras, and thought one stag had driven
the other off.
However, months later, deep in a shaded gully, Stuart found the
stag wrapped in supplejack and in a state of decomposition. He said
stags thrash vegetation in the lead up to the Roar to shed velvet,
sharpen tines and build up neck muscles.This character had
obviously worked himself into a state before succumbing to a slow
agonising death, he said. To look at the moss covered skull and
antlers youd think hed been dead years, rather than a few
months!
While it was party-time for the other fella, this chap proved to
be too tied up for the Roar!
Farewell to Spit Pigs
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NEW ZEALAND HUNTING NEWS18 www.thefishingpaper.co.nz
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Typically obsessed game bird hunters know the end of the
duck-shooting season can leave a bit of a void to fill. Add the
long sad stare of a restless gun dog and it only makes things
worse.
I was having a chat one evening with a good friend who pointed
out that during October through December, juvenile geese dont all
head for the hills and rivers to breed. With the weekend looking
free and a couple of newbies to blood in the goose department, I
rang a couple of contacts to see what was around.
First call: Nope, havent seen any since you were here
last!BUGGER! Second call: Yep, there is a small mob down the back -
cheeky
buggers dont even take off as we drive past! Bingo - that sounds
like what we were after, so a plan was hatched
to meet around lunchtime on the Saturday. The week seemed to
really drag but finally everyone arrived, were
introduced and it was time to hit the road and track down a bird
or two.
Arriving at the farm and while heading down the back, I thought,
I hope there are some geese in the paddock so we get the correct
place.
You guessed it, not one goose to be seen! So a quick check of
the
paddocks to see which had the freshest droppings and it didnt
take long to find the mother lode. An interesting discussion was
had on to how to set up, as normally you want the wind at your back
with game birds; they NORMALLY land into the wind (have seen them
break that rule!), but this would mean we wouldnt see any geese
flying the river in the distance. The plan was reached that we
would set up slightly side on to the wind and sideswipe them as
they come into the decoys.
Gear was put out and decoys were out in groups, with several
pairs in amongst the decoy spread to try and make it look like
breeding pairs.
I realised it was still very early arvo and the geese may not
move until late evening, if at all. Remember the saying, WILD GOOSE
CHASE!
Thankfully I was wrong and with the first mob flying over, our
newbies had grins from ear to ear! After the first mob, they turned
up well spaced between flights and in ones and twos, which is the
best, as they dont leave and educate the rest of the geese.
The arvo ended with 25 birds picked up and was spent with a
great bunch of guys, which is always a good recipe for any hunting
situation Roll on the next shoot!
Mother Lode of Mother GooseBy Ian Sutherland
Left to right: Ray Evans (Gandolf), Geoff Irvine, Malcolm
IrvineKneeling left to right: Gerry Evans, Holly Irvine, Ian
Sutherland
50 Years of Trophy Hunting By Gary JollPublished by Halcyon
PressReviewed by Tony EntwistleRRP $5050 Years of Trophy Hunting is
Gary Jolls fourth hunting book, following Big Game Hunting in New
Zealand (1968), To Alaska To Hunt (1978) and Bulls, Bucks and
Bureaucrats (2010). In this latest book Gary sets about documenting
his extended journey as a trophy hunter in an easy, unpretentious
style. The book is not a chronological sequence but rather details
his hunting experiences country by country, from New Zealand and
the South Pacific to the United States and Africa, re-telling an
enviable series of adventures, successes and inevitable
disappointments. Gary Joll is a natural born storyteller with a
flair for observation. His descriptions of the hunting terrain, the
animals, their habits and the unfolding stalks both good and bad,
are compelling. Garys forte as a hunter is undoubtedly trophy bull
tahr and there is probably no-one who is better able to provide
better insights into successfully hunting them and assessing their
trophy potential. In 50 Years of Trophy Hunting Gary also provides
plenty of sage advice for aspiring trophy hunters on a wide range
of species, based not only on his successes but also from several
less than satisfactory outcomes he experienced. His narrative of
the various hunts, interspersed with insightful observations into
the individual nuances of each animal and balanced with a series of
excellent photographs, should maintain the interest of any
true-blue hunter whose soul is stirred by the scent of the
chase.Trophy hunting can be a controversial sport even amongst
hunters themselves. Some see it only as the collecting of heads
which couldnt be further from the truth. Trophy hunters like Gary
Joll have a genuine reverence for their quarry, valuing their
one-on-one experiences long after the fleeting moment of the kill.
The ethics of trophy hunting cannot be prescribed and are not
simply about securing the biggest heads. Ultimately they are
something an individual must subscribe to for themselves. Joll is a
true professional who sets high standards not only for himself but
for others he hunts with including the many guides he used to help
him in his trophy quest. It is a self-evident absolute that there
are no degrees of Professionalism Professionalism is a complete way
of life, a mind-set and attitude. Not all guides got Garys tick of
approval.I may be biased off course, but I can sincerely commend
this book to all hunters: those who aspire to hunt trophies
wherever they can find them and those who more regularly hunt for
the pot. For whatever reason you hunt, it is about gathering a
lifetime of experiences. How you go about it ultimately defines who
you become and Gary Joll has certainly done that.(Read the full
review @ www.thefishingpaper.co.nz)
BOOK REVIEWS
-
NEW ZEALAND HUNTING NEWS 19www.thefishingpaper.co.nz
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Daniel and I sat overlooking a series of grassy clearings until
dark, but the only interlopers on the tranquility were four playful
billy goats and a choir of tui rehearsing for the dawn chorus. We
were on a pot hunting mission and retreated from the gully to try
Plan B: spotlighting a mates farm in the southern hemisphere.
My mate, Rusty Chain, was starting to look a bit pale around the
gills by the time hed played his trump card, his ace, full house
and four jacks, and was left contemplating the joker, but his face
lit up brighter than the light when the last possie came up
trumps.
Deer, he hissed, and I dealt a hand that saw us take the pot
home.
The combination of my new Swarovski Z6 1.7 - 10x42 and 150g
Norma Nosler BST poleaxed the yearling spiker, shot through the
neck at 80m, and it disappeared on the heavily vegetated
hillside.
Rusty visually marked the spot while I went looking but once on
the hill it was a whole new dimension; scrub, shadows and
undulating terrain led me a merry dance. Then I turned on the new
LED LENSER H7R.2 and put it to the test.
Not being a gadget freak, I hardly ever get excited about new
technology but with the H7R.2 I feel huge progress has been made in
headlamp design and functionality. Thoughtful ergonomic design
makes it very comfortable to wear - properly molded battery case
and lamp housing to fit contours of head - and amidst the usual
array of boastful claims are some very useful advances.
The power range is from 200 lumens on high to 20 on low, but can
be graduated seamlessly with a dial at the back of the headband,
but it also has a boost mode (300 lm).
The lamp features high, low and strobe settings, and can be
programmed to three function modes: low - high (default), high -
low, high - strobe.
A press of the front button turns the lamp on to the low
setting, a second press switches it to high power, and a press and
hold will give you boost - after a while it drops back to default
setting to conserve power. I found the switch sensitive and it took
a bit of getting used to; initially I kept turning it off when
going for boost.
The red light on the back dial can be set as a flashing warning
light (ideal for bikers, kayakers, extreme sports, joggers etc) and
also serves as a battery level indicator.
It has a very good wide angle, and focus between wide and spot
is quick and crisp. The R signifies that it is has a rechargeable
lithium-ion (Li-ion) battery, which definitely makes it high
calibre, and it comes with charger adapter or can be used via USB
port - brilliant.
It is rated IPX6, which basically means it will be water
resistant under a high pressure stream, so Fiordland rain should be
no bother.
I certainly found it useful in finding my deer in the scrub:
being able to switch quickly from high to low, wide to spot, and
graduate the power was good. The wide beam angle was excellent in
this situation and Daniel and I also found it helpful when coming
back down the creek after dark.
I will do another report in six months and see how it stacks up
to repeated use and see how the blurb specs stack up to field
measurements. Initial feelings - very impressed.
FIRST IMPRESSIONS:LED LENSER H7R.2
By Daryl Crimp
The LED Lenser H7R.2 helped locate Crimpys kill in difficult
terrain.
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A not commonly discussed hunting essential is mountain fitness.
If you rarely venture more than a few hundred metres from a horse,
quad bike or similar vehicle, maybe this article isnt for you.
Mountain fitness is an acquired art mind frame, which translates
into a body type suitable for mountain hunting and other vigorous
outdoor pursuits.
So how is it acquired? Basically, with lots of hard work, maybe
blood, heaps of sweat for sure, and sometimes tears of frustration.
Unfortunately, it doesnt happen overnight unless you are unusually
gifted in body type.
The Roar of 2015 is about four months away and if your fitness
level is not up to doing the Southern Crossing of the Tararua Range
in under nine hours with a light pack, you have some work to do. So
start planning NOW. If you unfortunately live in the Auckland area,
which suffers from a shortage of high hills to work out on, you are
going to have to allow more time to get mountain fit.
Sort out a day pack; to put in some appropriate clothing, high
energy food, and water - remember, you will sweat and you dont want
to dehydrate. Take a personal locator beacon and/or cell phone,
remembering that in mountain country they are
often useless, and tell somebody where you are going and
approximately when you expect to return.
Work out a climb on the local hills that will require an
elevation gain and of at least 600 metres and chose suitable
lightweight footwear. If you are mountain fit it is possible to
cover the entire Tararua Range, north to south, in about 24 hours
of actual jogging time in footwear like basketball boots. But dont
start out that way - you will more than likely damage your
ankles.
The secret to building mountain fitness is going fast uphill in
steep country, initially with a light load, then, as the fitness
improves, a heavier load. As you progress, extend the elevation
gain to 1000 metres, if possible, and increase the load carried.
Flexible water bottles are good for increasing the weight carried
uphill and for the return journey on the steep downhill section of
track, can be emptied to reduce the weight and prevent damage to
knee joints. You dont want to get to 45-years-old and find that
your knee joints are stuffed, so look after them. Mine are still
good at 64 years of age, and over 45 years in the hills and
mountains of NZ, and other countries.
Proper mountain fitness leads to a more rewarding hunting
experience.
By Paul Clark - New Zealand Ammo
Dont Knacker Your Knees
-
www.thefishingpaper.co.nzTHE FISHING PAPER - DECEMBER 201420
NZ Open Coarse Fishing Champs Last month I travelled north to
the Mangawara River near
Huntly to fish in the New Zealand Open Champs, an event Ive
enjoyed success before with two wins and two seconds in the five
times its been held.
Once again the river was running low which made the draw
particularly important as the deeper water pegs would be favoured.
Peg 2 came out of the bag on Saturday which was a pretty good draw.
Situated just above a bridge at the top of A section it had a
couple of feet more water than the rest of the section, apart from
Peg 1 and had a few features to fish to, including the bridge
stanchions to my right and an inviting-looking tree hanging in the
water to my left.
I fed bait into both these areas plus straight out in front and
across to the far bank where I could already see a carp moving on
the surface. Things were fairly slow to get going, which is not
unusual but at the two hour mark I struck into a good fish which
tested my pole gear to the max, before I slid the landing net under
a 10lb 10oz carp, exactly what I needed.
Disappointingly, the match went from slow to dead slow and it
was more a case of picking off a fish or two from different spots
than getting into any regular rhythm. However, others were finding
it even harder and my final weight of 19lb was more than double the
angler second in my section.
Sunday saw me pull Peg 7 from the draw bag and my hopes sank.
This was the shallowest peg in A section and had only produced 3lb
for a very good angler on the first day. However, I did have some
knowledge of the peg and felt I knew where to find the fish if they
were there. Again, it was a slow match and although I didnt
immediately get any signs of fish from the known underwater snag to
my right, I did manage to pick up the odd catfish and rudd from my
short pole line and then a run of eels by fishing further out with
worm on the hook. I felt I was winning the section but with just
over an hour to go a shoal of carp moved slowly down the river
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www.thefishingpaper.co.nz ISSUE 111 - THE FISHING PAPER 21
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Department of Conservation media reports noted the following in
early 2014:
New Zealand faces one of its biggest pest population explosions
in decades. This year is a mast year for the South
Islands beech forests, which means the trees are going through
their heaviest seeding in nearly a decade. That
means a feeding frenzy for mice and rats, which leads to an
explosion in stoats and weasels.
While this was extremely bad news for our native birdlife, the
silver lining from an anglers perspective is that there may be some
monster trout about this season, following the expected explosion
in mice numbers that may be occurring in some areas. Reports of
excessive mouse numbers have not been widespread to date, despite
these dire projections from DoC, but there are obviously some areas
where this phenomenon is occurring. Fish & Game were recently
sent the following picture of this whopper fish from a happy
angler, with an accompanying photograph of its stomach contents
that showed the fish to have had close to ten mice inside it. This
fish cracked the magic 10 pound benchmark, weighing in at 11
pounds, or 5 kilograms!
So if you are still after that elusive trophy fish, keep
prospecting any South Island beech forest catchment fishery this
summer
for that mouse monster heavyweight! Note: there is no need to
kill your fish for a wall mount take several photos from different
angles as per advice from the following website:
www.taxidermist.co.nz/freshwater-fish and leave your fish for the
following breeding season, particularly if the fish is near a
catchment that has had aerial 1080 applied.
Despite messaging from DoC that there are no risks to anglers
from aerial 1080, Fish & Game advice in relation to consuming
fish from near these beech forest catchments, based on Cawthron
research, still stands. Check the DOC website
www.doc.govt.nz/conservation/restoration-projects/battle-for-our-birds-beech-mast-2014/pest-control-operations/1080-operations-status/
for details of the location and timing of the latest 1080 drops.
Catch and release is still advised, based on potential residual
1080 levels in trout flesh after a fish has consumed one or more
mice that have received a sub-lethal dose of 1080.
A November 2014 Mouse Monster heavyweight following the February
2014 beech seeding event.
NZ Open Coarse Fishing Champs Last month I travelled north to
the Mangawara River near
Huntly to fish in the New Zealand Open Champs, an event Ive
enjoyed success before with two wins and two seconds in the five
times its been held.
Once again the river was running low which made the draw
particularly important as the deeper water pegs would be favoured.
Peg 2 came out of the bag on Saturday which was a pretty good draw.
Situated just above a bridge at the top of A section it had a
couple of feet more water than the rest of the section, apart from
Peg 1 and had a few features to fish to, including the bridge
stanchions to my right and an inviting-looking tree hanging in the
water to my left.
I fed bait into both these areas plus straight out in front and
across to the far bank where I could already see a carp moving on
the surface. Things were fairly slow to get going, which is not
unusual but at the two hour mark I struck into a good fish which
tested my pole gear to the max, before I slid the landing net under
a 10lb 10oz carp, exactly what I n