Fly Fishing in New Zealand: September and October
Read Time: 4 Minutes | Published: 28th September 2024 | Author: Ronan CreaneSeptember Lake Fishing in New Zealand
September and October offer a lot to look forward to if you’re fly fishing in New Zealand. I’m full of anticipation for the season ahead. However, it’s also a great month in itself. Most rivers are still closed but most lakes are open all year. Fish have piled condition back on after spawning a few months ago. They’re very keen to keep adding to that condition. Because of that the lake fishing really amps up. It’s as good a month for sight and blind fishing lake edges as you’ll get. There are plenty options available to me from Mackenzie Country, down south to my local water and farther south to the Southern Lakes region. If sight fishing is not an option for whatever reason, then blind fishing over likely water will also produce good results. September lake fishing in New Zealand really is special!
I’ve had 3 multi day trips away on my own this month to make the most of this superb time of year. Mostly on the lakes but also some coastal estuary fishing which saw some stunning silver estuarine trout. I’ll add some pics to tell the story. I really enjoy and need this time to myself in September because very soon I’ll be flat out guiding again.
Preparation for the season ahead
I’ve been pretty onto it this year in getting all my gear in order for the season ahead. Flies in particular. I’ve tied a lot and ordered a big batch of flies from Fulling Mill. Mostly these are my own patterns, which might seem odd but I need so many that having my own patterns available for me to purchase actually makes sense. Thankfully I get a good deal! All my fly boxes are now tidy and fully loaded. I still need to stock up on tippet. I use about a kilometre each season.
Check out some of Ronan’s signature flies for New Zealand below:
Aside from flies and tippet I also need to check all my other gear. 4 pairs of waders went in the bin, another 3 went in the “to repair” pile. I’ll have to buy one or two sets so I’ll have them for clients who come without. Boots too. It’s a never ending process of “out with the old and in with the new.” My rods are okay. I should get through this season with what I have. I’ve already stocked up on lines and reels.
The truck just had a thorough cleaning. There was still sand in it from a trip to the coast last July. I try to keep it reasonably tidy but it’s certainly a work truck and gets a regular coating of mud. I have a protocol to keep the windows clean and the inside tidy so once your inside, everything seems shipshape – no matter how the outside looks!
All the stuff I need to stay compliant with the NZPFGA (New Zealand Professional Fishing Guides Association) is complete. Health & Safety, SOPs, first aid certification, insurances and so on.
What will October bring?
October is a vibrant month for fishing over here. Locally, all the rivers are open. They’re full of water and full of life! The best thing about October is that there seems to be fish everywhere. You’re not restricted to main flows because the tributaries also fish well. Some of these tributaries don’t hold fish for long as the spring water subsides. This makes October the best month to fish many of these small tributaries. The river banks are bursting with life as the trees and flowers bloom with fresh leaves and flowers. New born lambs in the fields and more warm sunny days than one might expect. All these things come together to make this a special time to be on the water.
The downside of early season fishing can be the weather. While sunny, warm days are common, so are windy, wet, cold days. With the rivers usually very full, it doesn’t take much rain to make them unfishable. I don’t get to bothered about the weather though. I just put on a raincoat and go. If the rivers are not fishable then I go to the lakes (which are great in October). Having fished down here for over 20 years now I know which rivers clear quickly so It’s unlikely that I’d be pushed off the rivers for more than a couple of days. Even if the rivers are coloured from rain they can still fish really well. I may choose to use streamers, larger nymphs or worm patterns – give them something they can see!
Hatches
One little known fact about this area is that October also brings pretty regular hatches of mayfly on the rivers and chironomid on the lakes and still-waters. This adds a bonus dry fly option to what is generally a nymph fishing month.
To sum up
I’m ready for the new season. It’s a feeling of excitement and anticipation and even though its my 21st one one in NZ, it’s as good as the first one. It’s not like I haven’t been fishing over winter but the intensity was certainly less and not much river fishing either. I’m ready to dial the intensity right up and get back on the rivers again!
Tight Lines, Ronan
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