NZ Big Brown Trout, NZ Mayfly Nymphs, Guided Mataura River Fly Fishing April, Guided NZ Fly Fishing Story

 Bjoern from Switzerfland - another happy client with a cracking wee troot! (that's scottish) mind you never mind the troot, check the sexy cap out!

 LIVING & WORKING ON THE MATAURA RIVER 

Hello! It has been a busy April with lots of great stuff going on and creative work getting done.

The guiding has been just awesome this April with some returning clients arriving back - yet again - this season for an April fix. None of them were disappointed and the trout were behaving and in top condition.
Most mornings the nymphs were working and come mid afternoon the majority of trout were taken on dries. 

The last newsletter for a while has just been finished and will be sent out early next week to all of you that are signed up. If you have not signed up and wish to receive one of the best little newsletters around, please click here - it's easy and quick to do. CLICK HERE.

I'm not sure what is going on here with my two clients - they tell me there is a  fish between the legs on a bid for freedom before a photo can be taken.

LAST ORDERS

Yes - it's that time of the season again. The shop is about to close for winter and re-open in early Sept. So best to make any orders now before it's too late, the physical shop is pretty much nearly closed (due to no customers/winter) but the online shop is open until around May, 20th - which is not long so best get your flies and gear soon.
I can not thank you all enough this season for again your great support.

 Client comment
Fishing with Stu has been amazing. He makes your fishing dreams come true.I dream of shapes in deep pools, I dream of red spots,I dream of returning to Stus world famous  fly shop and services.
Pier- NZ 

GUIDING / Casting Lessons / NZ Fly Fishing School - FOR NEXT SEASON

Dates are filling up for next season. Please contact me asap to secure any dates - Oct & Nov are nearly full with only a few dates left. 

NZ TUNGSTEN MAY FLY DOES IT AGAIN  - CLICK HERE

A WEE STORY - BUTTERFINGERS 1 & 2 

After a day guiding two lovely gents from a big Sydney fishing club, I got up early at 4 am the next morning and quickly typed this wee story before I forgot. It got printed in the clubs newsletter with Butterfingers 1 & 2 not knowing until they read it. It brought a few smiles to the club members and I hope it does the same for anyone else reading it.

APRIL COLORS!

The guiding had been flat stick for the past two months after the annual ten days of guiding with Gerry. My fly box needed a few must-have flies replaced for the following days of guiding, especially my floating Willow Grub design.

There was none left in the shop after huge demand for the design during the summer months so I had no choice but to get in front vise late on a Friday night and tie up a few dozen. As I knew the weather might just hold out and the wee grubs would still be dropping from the willow trees and just maybe I had clients that will want to join the Grub Club.

A funky wee black van pulled up beside my Landcruiser early on sat morning and as I walked across to meet my two clients for the day my guiding brain kicked in. 

1 - The cool funky black van- they must be a couple of young dudes 

2 - The size of the small van - they must be very friendly with each other if they are sleeping in it as it's so small.

3 - I wonder how experienced they are?

4 - I wonder if they have fished in the South Island before and especially this area - Southland. Known to Humble the best!

5 - Can they cast good and accurate enough to fool these wary browns?

This and 10,000 other thoughts of what the day will bring raced  through my  guiding mind.

Then the I heard the creak of the doors opening!

Chink! The sound of glass hit the gravel beneath the door and a wrinkled sun bleached fishing hand reached down and rescued the half drunk bottle of a liter of whiskey, a freddo frog chocolate foil blew also out the from the drivers side which was also quickly retrieved by sun bleached hand.

The creak of bones and the sighs of relief to get out the van drowned out the local singing bird population. Then two neatly dressed fly fishing fashion police stood in front of me with their hands out stretched with huge smiles of "we are going fishing" across their faces - "Yes, you have got us two for the day Stu."

"Hi, I'm Butterfingers one!" "I'm Butterfingers two! "Oh no" I thought to myself and introduced myself as Stu!

Great! Two very passionate fly fishers for the day and after a little guide interrogation as we loaded up my truck, deciding they  could cast and since they were going to be in the area for over a week I quickly decided what would be best for my two new friends.

The day would be best spent with me knocking off a few of their cob webs and getting them ready for the days of fun that lay ahead for them both when they would both be out slaying the Southland wary brown trout.

A short drive was all that was needed to a spot on the Mataura that had not been fished for over a week. The upper Mataura is known for being the most humbling river in the world by many experienced fishermen.

It is a great place for me to work with clients on the skills that would be needed for success here in NZ. The visuals are great and even if fish are not caught you can normally at least see some trout and get your blood boiling.

A normal day guiding an experienced client say on the upper Mataura would be six chances in the day, that's six fish eaten your fly, then you had better convert the chances . If you do not get it 100% all right it will not happen.

Over the past 11 years guiding the upper Mataura one of the 30 river system's I guide on in my area. The most trout that have been fooled on the upper whilst guiding have been seventeen in one day. This has normally been when the river has been rising, the fish all come out from the banks, drop their guard, the water is not so clear, and start to feed.

Today the river was low, clear and the sun was hopefully going to come out later to aid our trout spotting. We arrived at the selected spot and straight away we could see trout feeding. It looked like a few trout would make it to the net today!

B1 and B2 quickly spooked the first few trout and after a few casts managed to start relaxing without the need of a wee nip of Talisker. 

Though now thinking back on this fateful day they both put me through, it may of helped relax them both.

The next pool we had five nice fish over three pounds each sitting just beneath the foam line sipping their breakfast. Seeing these large trout B1 and B2 started to get very twitchy and excited.

A UTE pulled up and the local land owner came over to have a chat with us and decided to stay and watch these two professionals from Lake side fishing club in action.

CLICK HERE NZ FLY FISHING SCHOOL & CASTING

Both were oblivious to the farmer as they were both transfixed by the noses of the browns breaking the surface amongst the willow leaves floating down the feed lane.

Within 20 mins 3 of the large browns were fooled by a small foam Deadly NZ Blowfly and none were landed. Slack in the system, too slow and too soon were the reasons for no hook ups. We mentioned to them both to try and help them, if they got any more chances over the day.

Hamish - the farmer had a wee chuckle to himself and patted me on the back and whispered in my ear: "looks like you have a hard day ahead with these two pro's."

The rest of the day was spent losing fly after fly and fish after fish, the day was on fire and all the fish were out feeding and hardly a minute went past when we were not casting to sighted fish. 

As the day went on my jaws were begging to ache as we joked and laughed the day away despite me tearing my hair out. Nearing the end of the day, realizing that why had I even bothered to bring my landing net with me as it was extra weight to carry. At lunch time it was also mentioned that maybe I will have to go back to the shop and re-stock on flies and put the net back in the car! 

If only the guys had of told me that they both specialize in LDR (long distance release) and SDR (short distance release). The net should have been left at home.

I should have also left the lunches back home as well as every now and then I would see willow tree branches moving as they both seemed to be grazing like giant pandas on the tasty willow tree leaves, or we're they just retrieving their flies?

In total fifteen wary browns had been fooled and none landed by B1 and  B2 and they will now have to wait another year to join the grub club. 34 flies were lost to trees, grass and fish and it looks like tonight I'm back in front of the vice. 

The Lord can only be thanked that they never brought their other good club member Butterfingers 3 with them.

Though if he is as much fun and passionate as B1 and B2 about fly fishing in a nice strange fly fishing way - I'm looking forward to it :)

Stu Tripney -  "Inspired by nature & driven by passion"

This is the fish between the legs - worth the effort of having your friend near your rear end (first photo) to stop it escaping! Another happy client with the first fish of the day.

NEW From SAGE - pink fly rod - tech rod tubes - Click here

Check out the Superior range of Saltwater Flies - Click here

Thank you all for your awesome support - remember you do not get the passion from the big shops, they just want your dosh!

Cheers, 

Stu 

NZ Fly Fishing Autumn hatches, Southland guided fly fishing, Willow Grubs still falling, Mayflies hatching

The Fishing, Guiding, NZ Fly Fishing School

The guiding days have been very good with days filled ,of fish landed and lost.

 The main rivers in the area have been fishing great despite the low water,  feed by spring creeks they are cool and the browns most of the times have been exploding into the air, like rainbow trout.

Yesterday I worked with a fly fisher from Switzerland who had been struggling to catch any of the browns in the South Island. He had been in the North and caught plenty. But the South was beating him and he was starting to beat himself.

But he was honest and realized his casting was not up to fooling some of these browns. He had been fly fishing for 5 years and is in a club. 

We ended up spending nearly the full day in the casting area and gradually I managed to turn him around as he was a very quick learner and ironed out his faults very quickly.

We ended up on a small local river for 2 hrs at the end of the day and in that space of time he hooked 7 large brown trout. He was ecstatic and it goes to show what help a day at a NZ Fly Fishing school can do for some and a wee bit of local knowledge.

New sizes of my saltwater flies available Now!

QUITE DAYS AT THE WEE SHOP

The shop has been very quite in the past two weeks with not many fly fishermen or tourist around. Three days three customers, so we now have a press the bell system on the door of the shop. This way office work can get done at the same time. So if you are passing and see the door closed but the flags out it means, we are always open. Just press the bell and we will be there to serve you with a smile.

It seems many people are getting ready for a saltwater trip over the NZ and Australian winter. As we have received many emails regarding orders for the Superior Saltwater range of flies.

In 16 yrs this has to be the most calm weather wise season I have ever had. Especially no wind!! Yes,  nearly every day there has been no wind. Yes, not much rain either and now in my small town. I hear that 4 of the houses have run out of water, some for the first time ever!

My client caught this brown just over 4lb on a size 18 willow grub - what fun

Top 12 flies at the moment are:

1 - Willow Grubs - yellow

2 - NZ realistic Mayfly Nymphs

3 - King Pogo Nymphs

4 - NZ Mayfly Bombs

5 - Hi Viz Mayflys

6 - NZ Spent Spinners

7- Black Deadly Blowflies

8 - NZ Tungsten gold bead nymphs

9 - Tungsten Realistic Damsel nymphs

10 - Gold bead NZ Killer Nymphs

11 - Deadly Minnows

12 - Realistic Black Water boatmen

NEW ! NEWSLETTER

There will be a new newsletter bing sent out in the next day or two, which I'm sure you will all enjoy.

If you want to receive the latest Stu's news - It's very simple and only takes seconds - click here.

 THE NEW PILLOW FLY ?

Pillow grubs! The other day I had some overseas fishermen in the shop screaming for some more pillow flies, as they had been having great success with my pillow fly? It took a wee while to realize what they were after. That was a good laugh - Willow Grubs - not pillow grubs :)

WILLOW GRUBS IN FIORDLAND?

A Huge fish ,just waiting on a Chartreuse Willow Grub, How clear is this water, photo taken from over 100ft away.

Also great feed back has been coming in from all over the world about the success people are having using my designs. One that caught my eye was a gentleman from Brazil who had been fishing in Fiordland and had great success with my chartreuse willow grubs - this was strange I though as there was mainly beach trees in Fiordland and I had never heard of Willow Grubs in that area, but I still believed him - especially when he sent me the photos,of the flies in the trouts mouths.

Maybe the fish were just being suicidal and eating any fly I thought to myself. It was only when I was on a four day camp out on a river in Fiordland just recently I figured out why! There was lots of small chartreuse caterpillars drifting down the feed lanes and the Chartreuse Willow Grub matched the hatch as they say! Perfect. Fish on!

Another great thing I have learned this year! The learning never ends and I love it.

The photo-"Gentlemen Prefer Blondes" - Jesse's words on his awesome photographic art - remember send me an email, if you want to contact Jesse regarding buying a copy of the limited edition print - 4 left out of 10.

A self portrait with a cheeky and ostentatious feel, an image purely driven by my own fantasy and love of all things ornate and excessive. 

Fly fishing traditionally ruled by the elite and rich, and a sport so close to my heart since early childhood, I have tried to bring it inline with a more lowbrow and rock n roll lifestyle. A mixture of tweed and hot latex makes for humorous and fun feel. 

A boy can but day dream of a world dripping of Helmut Newton extravagance and desire. Black and white transforming an Australian alpine stream into the highlands of of Scotland and the elitism and ownership of fisheries that bars average men and women from fishing them. 

Unless of course they can afford to pay for the right to fish.

Perhaps the extravagance and desire would not appeal so, if the beautiful streams I fish freely in Australia were suddenly privately owned and hired to only those who could afford them.

FULL RANGE OF SALTWATER FLIES IN STOCK

The barred Gimp - a Saltwater killer and a Carp slayer - fish it on the bottom - give it a twitch!

WATCH AND LISTEN

Recently The Trout Diaries 50 min slideshow interview has been uploaded to Youtube so you can now listen and watch some cool photos at the same time. Click on the image below to watch and listen.

SOME NEW SOUNDS - NOTHING TO DO WITH FLY FISHING - Feel the love!

Remember to place an order asap and support a wee shop that actually does allot more than a big chain shop :)

Thank you all for your AWESOME support and feedback.

Cheers,

Stu &Ela

NZ Fly Fishing, NZ Trout Radio, NZ Fly Fishing Film, Trophy Trout, Mayfly Hatches, Spinner Falls, Stu's Fly Shop NZ

The nearest  to life like - easy to see Blowfly design you will ever buy. Only avaliable at Stu's Fly Shop. Stu's Deadly NZ Blowfly design - unique! The book they sit on is the best trout book that you will enjoy that has been printed in years.

Hello 

The Interview - 53mins of  Fly Fishing, History, Casting, Tips, Fun, Fly Tying and Fly Design - enjoy!

Yes - at last the author of the top selling trout book "The Trout Diaries' and producer of the Trout Diaries radio show - got hold on me. 

Derek asked me quite a few questions over 50 min and recorded it live. There was no written down questions and answers, a  microphone was just held in front of me and we just did it.

The interview has had well over 600 downloads and is still rising, this has surprised us both.

  It just shows when the truth is told and some good information is given people do listen. 

So if you have not had a listen to it, stick on your head phones, crank up the volume, click here after reading the blog and even without being on the water, you will be taken on that thought provoking journey into the world of fly fishing, guiding, casting, catching fish, fly design. 

If you like it let your fishing club members and friends know and share the passion, without our passion we would not have as many waterways full of life!

Stu's Superior Flies do the damage again - Stu's Deadly NZ Cicada chartreuse size 10,  fooled this 1/2 pound trout for another very happy client.

GUIDED FLY FISHING - IN SOUTHLAND

If you are looking for some of the best mayfly hatches April is the time to come to southland fewer fishermen around and plenty of cool water.,  living on the river  means i get to know first hand what is going on in the trout world in Southland. Some dates are available for the end of March and April , call or send me an email for that small dry fly fishing fix.
 Remember there are not many guides who live on the river or have spent as much time on the water, ,there is not much i do not know about whats going on in the southland trout world, Local knowledge you will not find just anywhere!

The new Superior Flies Film - the history, big fish, the journey, the years of design, the art , passion and dreams - enjoy!

The new short film has been very well received through out the world and great comments and feed back have been coming in.

One person commented that I had the flies in my box the wrong way! Never said it was a good clip and congrats, just wanted to let me know !!!!!! wrong!!! But was I :) ?

Allot of the times I'm not right but who always is? But he did make me realize why for many years I had changed the way I put the flies into this box. 

My vest and box get thrown around when I'm guiding and the odd time my nymphs would fall out.

With the tungsten little heavy nymphs mainly, I found they would not fall out of the foam slots as much if they were put in the other way round.

Just like how you hold a rod there is no right or wrong way as long as it works for you.

So now you are going to watch the film and the flies and box and it's going to get you thinking and that's the magic of fly fishing - it's a game of thinking and working things out and just when you think you have it cracked. You have to start again- it's great, the learning never stops.

To watch the film clip remember post it on your social media site and enjoy and share it.

A range of mayfly designs from my vise, all ready for the hatches.These mayfly designs work throughout the world.

What's HOT at the moment

Well, it's been very hot and most of the small streams have dried up and many fish have died - which is a shame. Some have been rescued by Fish & Game and many by caring members of the public especially some awesome farmers. 

Lots of these small streams are spawning streams for the trout , so I would imagine that many small trout have died and the long term out look is not so good. Hopefully nature will take it course and things will pan out.

Many farmers have been stopped from getting water from the ground as all the rivers are getting so low . Environment southland are the ones who regulate this.

My house water comes from rain water, which is stored in a tank which is also getting very low, so rain is need all round. Fingers crossed.

Mayfly spinners on my car early in the morning before guiding.

The Guiding - Mayfly Hatches - available dates!

It has been a terrific year so far with clients enjoying great fun days on the water with plenty surface action.

The hot weather has made the fish all look towards the surface as the bugs keep floating down on mass. 

Less water means less places to hide so spotting fish is at its all time best for me and clients.

The visuals have been awesome with many clients pulling the fly away before the trout takes in excitement, especially when fishing the Willow Grub up close.

Recently there has been some large mayfly spinner falls more than normal in March, which means April is looking great for the autumn mayfly hatches.

Cicadas are still around and fish are still munching on them, as well as Willow Grubs - which are still dropping big time from the leaves.

If you are looking to catch some beautiful colored mayfly feeding trout before the season ends or brush up on your casting or river craft skills, look no further. 

 Check out the new super slim fly boxes - you can buy now - custom selected filled box - full of Stu's Superior Flies - all tied on the best TMC fly hooks.  Just contact me today and let me know your custom wishes.

I still have a few days available in March, April and May so contact me today.

Much more than just a wee shop!

This season I decided to sponsor the full Rise Fly Fishing Film Festival tour and take Stu's Superior Flies to world and chase the dream!

The feedback from the tour has been great from so many countries and passionate fishermen and women. The tour - I'm pretty sure - has rekindled many peoples love for fly fishing, especially in the cities.

To be able to go along to a venue and meet like minded people and watch some of the best fly fishing movies in the world just makes many people realize what more destinations and species can be caught on the fly.

Here is another wee tune to listen to, that may get your feet tapping.Its nothing to do with fishing or is it?

Keep sending in your fish photos and feedback, please :)

Cheers,

Stu & Ela

New Fly Fishing Film, Rise Fly Fishing Festival, Midcurrent, Trout Diaries Radio, NZ Fishing Flies

14 years of study and development - then Stu's Deadly NZ Cicada fly design materialized.

I hope you all enjoyed the recent newsletter with the new film announcement.

If you have not done so already, sign up for Stu's news and get all the new info, special offers & gossip.Next week the new March news letter will be sent out with some great stuff on it and links, so do not miss out, sign up today!

THE NEW SHORT FLY FILM

To view the short new film about Stu's Superior flies - click HERE.

Remember you can enlarge the screen to watch it. Please let us know your thoughts and comments - it all helps.

The Fishing

The fishing has been on fire all season with record amounts of fish being landed. Many clients have managed to catch their personal best size brown trout.

For the past month it has nearly been all dry fly action and many clients joining the Grub Club - that is landing their first fish on the mighty wee size 20 Willow Grub.

Fat and very healthy was this just under 5lb hen fish fooled with a size 10 Deadly NZ Cicada 

A combination of Grubs, Blowflies and Cicadas seems to be the normal diet of many of the trout at this time of year in the river systems.
 Find a good piece of stable water, work out the feed lane and proceed carefully casting up the feed lane with a Deadly Cicada / Deadly Blowfly with a NZ Floating Willow Grub tied off the back seems to be the best rig for catching fish for customers and clients.

When recently guiding, we have ignored most sighted fish in the deep pools as it can be harder to fool them with heavy nymphs etc. at this time of year. 
 Fish sighted in the faster riffles have been keen on size 18 King Pogo Nymphs tied off a nz mayfly bomb as a trailer nymph.

Over the last 3 days guiding 51 trout have been fooled into taking the flies, though not all have been landed, as it's fishing not catching :) 
But imagine if we caught everyone? 

Fish Feeding times in NZ

Unlike most countries in the world in NZ the fish seem to feed through out the day and the most productive time seems to always be when the temp is at its hottest. This probably is due because of the amount of insects that hatch and get active when it's hot, thus bring on the trout to feed especially on the surface.

Having no real natural predators like eagles and bears fish will easily move into clear shallow water if especially left undisturbed for a few days where they can be much easier to spot.

Clear blue sky with high warm temperatures are my favorite guiding days by far with the most fish being caught between 11am - 4pm. 
So here in NZ it's not unusual to arrive at your spot late and have the best chance of hooking up.
 For some there is no need to even set the alarm for that early start?

The River Conditions

All the rivers are now getting quite low. They are all gin clear. Hopefully we get a wee bit rain to top them all up a bit, but it's not looking likely.

This is also the time of the year that Fish & Game do their drift dives. This involves a team of guys with wet suits and masks floating down certain river systems and visually counting fish numbers. 
Recently on they did a drift dive on the Mararora River which was the first river to have the dreaded Didymo and have since for years been troubled with it. 
This year the drift dive had some great news. The river was now sporting a good population of trout again and looks like it's starting to recover.
 I wonder if it's just a natural cycle of fish stocks and breeding or if all the recent floods had something to do with it, by flushing out allot of Didymo and clearing the stones so that the aquatic live and trout can go about their business in the normal way.

Getting all the triggers in a fly design is very important for a very successful fly 

New Trout Diares Radio

Every morning during my 50 min exercise regime, I listen to Youtube interviews about fishing and learn allot. Recently The Trout Diaries author Derek Grzelewski has launched his own radio show that - you never know - may go international if enough people like it. Like all things time will tell and it will only get better and better the longer it's on air. The great thing is you can listen to it when tying flies, stretching your body or driving to your favorite fishing spot. To listen click here.

 Mid Current - fishing news.

There is one web site that sometimes I have advertised on called midcurrent. It's a great source of new up to date fishing and product news from around the world and worth visiting, they also send out very regular news letters which you also may find interesting. Check it out here.

Rise Fly Fishing Film Festival Europe 2013

It will not be until august or around that time that the RISE Fly Fishing Film Festival will hit your local big city. At the moment it has kicked off in France for the first time and being well received with shows selling out in most of the big cites, 200 + people at a show. The German side of the tour has also kicked off and all we have had from many people is that they had a great night of fish porn with like minded people, again sell out shows. When the pre-sale starts for NZ and Australia, you best get your TICKETS quick.

Fly Fishing shop in Italy stocks Stu's Superior Flies.

Recently we have started to supply a specialist fly shop in Italy. The feedback from the owner is that his customers are loving the designs and quality. As the years go by, I hope to add more and more specialist fly shops in different countries to my list of supporters.

You just never know what you may find. This lovely lass Vivi was found hanging and rope dancing under the Oreti bridge. She is a circus performer from Germany - one of Ela's friends. 

NEW smaller Sizes of Stu's Deadly NZ Cicada are in stock.

Back in are the size 10 Cicadas and newly released are the green size 10 Deadly NZ Cicadas. Great searching flies - order here.

Catch us also on Facebook and like our page. Upload your photos of fish caught on Stu's Superior Flies and have some fun.

Thank you for the support.

Cheers

Stu & Ela    " Inspired by nature and driven by passion"

NZ CICADAS, STU'S Hi-VIZ DEADLY NZ CICADA FLY, TOP10 FISHING FLIES, FLY REELS, TIEMCO FLY HOOK, SUPERIOR FISHING FLIES

Yes - without my consent they put me on the cover - mind you - I'm not complaining :) as it's a great shot - by Nick Reygaert from the Rise Fly Fishing Film Festival and that rainbow is dam sexy looking, sorry Ela.

PHOTOS

Do you have any great photos of fish you have caught with Stu's Superior Flies and comments. If so please send them to us or post them on Facebook with a comment.

Sign up here for the coolest unique fly fishing newsletter -

NEW SEXY FISHING CAPS

I just returned from guiding and a good friend Paul, a fly fishing guide from Wanaka, was in the shop and on a road trip with his client Brandon who had been having some NZ fishing fun - he could not resist such a good  fishing cap.  Oh and yes, we are nearly always that happy even Paul.

Just in are even more damn sexy fishing caps of the highest quality - Flexfit USA caps that are made to last.

Some great new colors - blue camo, green camo, tartan, brown, aqua, pink, black, camp mesh truckers in green and brown camo.

Look sexy this summer with these unique caps, not many shops in the world carry fly shop caps for women and men, Oh! We have a few kids sizes as well!!

CLICK HERE TO VIEW

THE NZ CICADAS

Every year unlike some countries that have to wait 15 yrs between cicada hatches! 

The NZ cicadas hatch every year and it's an awesome time to be here.

There are many different species of cicadas from large to very small, they all pretty much have the same silhouette that the fish see from below. 

They tend to take to the wing in search of sex when it's a calm windless very hot day. Many fall or fly clumsily onto the water. When they hit the water, they do so with a little plop. 

As soon as they hit the water and become stuck in the surface, they panic and struggle for a short while creating little vibrating wakes of water in the film.

 Kevin Thompson from NZ bought some Deadly NZ Cicadas to try and caught this cracking brown ! 

This only lasts for seconds normally and then they just sit quietly on the surface waiting to washed to shore where they can climb back onto land. 

Many do not make it and become trout food. It normally takes about 3 weeks from when I hear and see the first cicadas of the season for the trout to start to feed on them.

Once the trout start to feed on them for us fly fishers it can be so much fun casting large cicada dry flies out and watching fish move considerable distances to engulf them.

A few years ago one of my clients wanted to chase only large trout and after a full day of searching without even casting at any large fish, we managed to find one.

The fish was in the middle of the pool and looking like he was in cicada mode.

My client cast his fly out 20ft short and 20ft to the left of the fish, nowhere near it. As soon as the cicada fly landed the fish must of heard it and turned and came down stream like a missile. I screamed at my client to leave his fly and the fish slowly came up to suck it down.

THE TIP! If you are fishing a cicada to a sighted fish - or blind fishing - no matter where it lands as the plop can trigger them from afar. GET READY!

The full NZ Cicada Range - Check out the awesome review of this design in the latest Fish & Game NZ Magazine - Reviews do not get better ! The Nom 1- go to NZ cicada Design!

Last year I released the Hi-Viz NZ Deadly Cicada and it's turning into the go to fly of choice at this time of year for most customers. Every other day guides from though out NZ are on the phone or emailing looking for some and it's a good feeling to have after many years perfecting an easy to see cicada fly, that is now recognized and in demand through out NZ and Australia. 

26 inches long getting up there! With the big boys! 

Having it on the best strongest fly hook with the largest gape also helps anglers hook and land the big trout of a life time, that at this time of year come from the deep in search of these double cheese burgers with mayo.

TIP- When using this design: no tippet is needed, tie it straight onto a 12ft RIO Tapered Leader and hang on and have a some fun.

It looks like I will eventually run out of this design this month due to demand, so best be quick if you wish some as I have no time to get onto my vice and tie up more.

 Now - back in stock !

TOP 10 SELLING FLIES FOR FEBUARY FOR NEW ZEALAND- Click on each fly to view.

1- Stu's Deadly NZ Hi-Viz Cicada - black, green, tan, chart and olive

2 - Stu's Deadly NZ Hi-Viz  Blowflies - blue / brown / black

3 - Stu's NZ Floating Willow Grub - chart / yellow

4 - Stus NZ Realistic Mayfly Nymph - grey / brown

5 - Stu's Realistic Damsel Nymph

6- Stus Deadly Daddy / Damsel

7- Stu's Waterboatman - black / tan

8 - Stu's Foam Elk Hair Caddis

9 - Stu's Deadly Dragonfly (Adult)

10 - Stu's Deadly Hi-Viz Ant

THE GUIDING

This time of year is pretty full on, with the odd day still available at the end of the month and next. Contact me today if you are interested in any of my services. Fly casting lessons, NZ Fly Fishing Schools and back to back guiding for the past weeks means very long working days.

But each day the hours fly by and I realize this is because I'm doing something I'm so passionate about. 

Years ago when I have worked in other jobs some of them I would be looking at my watch as to when I could finish and go home nearly every day.

Working on the water, it is actually very hard to call it a day and return to base camp and I can think of no other job that I could wish to do.

fat, spotty and sexy!

Everyday I have been netting good solid fat trout, due to the coolness of the water after the recent showers of rain and cooler water temps. The trout have been very frisky with many of them jumping at least 3 times during the fight. Thinking they are rainbow trout!

ELA'S  FLY  SHOP DEMONSTRATIONS

Ela - queen of Stu's fly shop ,social media  has been busy adding even more knowledge / skills to help you all .

Remember to take off the tags :) They rattle a bit in the wind.

Recently Ela has been spooling up fly reels with backing and line for happy customers and in the past weeks learning how to attach the leader with a needle knot and finishing it off with UV glue. 

Demonstrating the new strike indicator is her favorite thing though as there are so many people who have sell not seen this easy to use Strike Indicator. 

There is now not much Ela does not know about all the gear and flies. So if you have an order or question regarding gear / guiding / casting / NZ Fly School just give her a call on 03 2488890 or contact her by email - click here.

FLY FISHING CLUBS

The people I meet are amazing people and also very passionate. 

This past week I have been working with returning members of Sydney's two largest fly fishing clubs. Everyone of them has no huge expectations of fly fishing here in the South Island and are here for the challenge and big wild trout.

It's a yearly escape from the city life and these guys know how to enjoy the pleasures of the countryside and the fishing.In the next Blog or news letter , i should have some great photos of the large trout they managed to land with me. Shame i do not have any photos of the ones that got away! :)

If you are in Sydney, Australia or in any city in the world, look up your local fly fishing cub and go along and have some fun, male or female, young or old it's the best way to meet fellow fishers, learn new skills and have some fun trips away.

GIFT VOUCHERS

Some people are hard to buy a present for - here is the perfect gift.

The Jaws of Death! Fooled on a Stu's Deadly NZ hi-viz blowfly .

RIVERS & LAKES

All the waterways are fishing great and are all low and clear. Expect to start to find trout in the fast shallow riffles as water temperature rises and they seek more cooler oxygenated water. Lakes, as usual the fish will be patrolling the lake edges, so short casts are all thats needed. A Hi-Viz Deadly Cicada on the surface just off the drop off will do the trick.

PHOTOS CHECK IT OUT

A few of you have been asking about the great underwater shot in last weeks news letter.

Here is the link to the dude that takes the time and effort to get the shots we drool over.

A Place to Stay in NZ - near the shop

Here is the link to the Naylor House - a great place to stay nearby the shop. Many of my returing clients stay here in this free standing historic country house - it's cosy, modern, self contained and you can get meals at the farm house - which everybody loves. The lovely hosts Avis and real fisherman John leave you alone and you have your own space in the country. It's two fields walk to the Upper Mataura and only a 5 min drive from the World Famous Fly Shop. What more could you ask for?

Some of the locals are a bit  fluffy

Oh! be warned you will get more than enough food if you chose the meal option and you will put on a kilo in a week:)

There is the odd ghost in the house and killer sheep patrol the perimeter. But overall you can ask for a better place or price - can sleep heaps. Click here to view.

PINK FLY REELS

At last I have found some pretty cool pink fly reels and have two models in stock - though they are in stock and for sale, to be honest if I can not sell them, they will look awesome in photos with my instructor rods and orange line, so watch out for some cool photos.

Thank you for your awesome support guys.

Cheers,

Stu & Ela