Sunday, 30 October 2011

Martin Simpson nz artist, Matarua river- news paper,Snow coming, dvd,The underwater world of Trout

SIGN UP FOR THE NEW NOVEMBER NEWS LETTER & SPECIAL OFFERS ASAP! If you are reading this and have not signed up for my monthly news letter and special offers- Please do ASAP as i,m about to also send out the new November Stu's News Letter out- That should make you smile :) To sign up just visit the front page of the web site and add your email- its that easy!!
Pre-order your copy, of Connect Now!! get it first!


The rivers at last are dropping and all starting to clear as of today, so there should be some awesome fishing to be had on every southland river system.
Last week there was basically no fishermen around and customers, due to  the  wee storm and with all the discolored river systems, nobody could fish!. 
So providing the weather holds and there is no rain all should be good this week, mind you having just checked the weather for this week- rain and snow is forecast for mid week ,so it could result in the water levels rising again! So check before you head out.


2-3lb fish not good enough!!
I had some local anglers come through the shop yesterday , who did not seem to happy with all the fish they caught and they had caught some nice 2-3lb fish- but they just wanted bigger!!, funny how some people are fish hungry and do not realise a 2-3lb wild brown is still a big fish and others just love being out there - and do not really care if the catch a fish and if they do they do not care which size it is. , Catching a fish is a bonus! (that would be my category)


The browns are in top condition! -providing you catch one!
A few of the busy Queenstown guides were scrambling for clear water last week and having no choice but to drive over 3+ hrs return to Qtn they all stopped into the shop on the way past for a break and to get some flies and have a wee laugh and joke.- Mainly all small tungsten NZ brown mayfly nymphs , i noticed ! they purchased for the small  Southland streams they were heading for. 


They all had some awesome lovely clients  with them ,who were all having fun, most of them were from South Africa and mainly had come for the rugby, so good to see that they were enjoying NZ to the full and getting out there despite the conditions and giving it a good crack! I get the feeling there was more fish seen ,lost  than caught! But hey that's fishing!!


Martin Simpson- YES the best fish artist in the world is a KIWI !!
Roy my client's Awesome 11lb+ brown ,painting


Last year for my clients was pretty much a big fish year and Roy one of my clients decided to get Martin to paint his trout of a life time. 
We took over 30 photos of the fish and measurements of it and the surroundings it was caught in  and released it unharmed.
 Armed with as much information as possible Martin over 4 months created a life size painting of Roy's Trophy trout. Every detail of the fish is 100% and the rod under the water with the Sage serial number is so precise- its pretty mind blowing ! . 
I showed this photo of the painting to two different people - who all thought it was a photo!! That has surely got to be the ultimate complement of Martin ,just amazing work. 
Check out Martin Simpson and some of the great work he does at his web site - www.martinsimpson.co.nz
If you want something to remember for the rest of your life or a loved one- look no further than Martin. The more photos, details and measurements etc you can give him , just like any artist the better !.




NEWS PAPER -ABOUT TO DO ARTICLE- On the Mataura River
Yesterday I sent quite a while with a reporter of the Southland times news paper about overseas tourist fishermen, Water quality etc. So Hopefully this week there will be a good feature about The Matarua river and water quality etc this week . Its hopefully doing to be a big article raising awareness of this special water way and what lies ahead in the future!!!


THE UNDER WATER WORLD OF TROUT- VOL -3
You will be surprised what you will learn



There is a great series of dvd done by this old guy from the states , that at first you may not think they are your cup of tea!! The camera work compared to some of the new dvds is not the flashest. BUT he nails it with every dvd hes produced,  for me he lets you go insider the trout world and he takes you on a different journey each time with each dvd in getting you to think like a trout.
This DVD will be of more interest to kiwi fishers as we sight fish for fish and stalk them , you will learn in this new dvd what the trout will and can and can not see from below the surface- after watching it when you stalk any fish again - i bet you change your game plan a little!!
A great learning dvd.

KEEP THE COMMENTS & PHOTOS FLOODING IN!!
Please keep the comments coming in about my Superior flies and let any of you forum friends or facebook friends know all about my work and fly designs, It is and would be very much appreciated.

 Thank you all for your support-Keep Smiling even if your not out doing it- like me in the office ! :)
Cheers
Stu








Monday, 24 October 2011

Stu's NEW Saltwater flies,Storm in Athol, Deadly Hooks, Dylan hooks a few small trout,

THE FISHING

At the moment there are not many anglers around, most the the ones i know will start to visit NZ in November and onwards. So i have not too much big and little fish gossip. Oh i did see a photo of a nice Oreti big brown and it was in cracking condition it was caught on one of my big heavy NZ mayfly bombs in a deep pool . 
A few 4-5lb trout caught in spring creeks by a   Queenstown guides client which is great that he managed to pull it off and find some clear water the other day.(no i,m not telling you where he was).
Also the guide caught stealing sausages has posted them back to me! so all is forgiven. :)


STORM HITS ATHOL- HAVE I PAID MY INSURANCE!!

As i write this the power has just gone out in the house and i have been rushing around in the garden trying to put anything that can get blown to Australia in to the shed. 
I have even had to chase a few of my signs around the garden as the wind has ripped some off the fence- it must be blowing through Athol at well over 150klm when it gets going, Looking at the sky it looks like a big storm is working its way inland. In fact its trying to rip the roof off my house and its kind of scary!  I,m know thinking - have i paid my house and shop insurance!

WAIAU - SKINNY RAINBOWS
A few reports of some of the rainbow rivers that are open are that there are plenty of fish to be caught ,but they are still quite spent (skinny) after spawning. It usually takes until mid December before these rainbows start to put on weight .

 TRY A MOUSE LURE 
A few people have been telling me that they have already started to see green manuka beetles in the fiordland area. 
No reports on plagues of mice, but some of the local spin guys have been catching big trout in the evening further south. These guys fish every year with big floating mice and get results, even when there in no real mouse plague. So its always worth an evening fish ,if you want to catch the daddy!

RIVERS HIGH AND DIRTY

The Mataura river and many other rivers in the area are just starting to clear after the two days of heavy rain last week, that turned every piece of water around into brown soup. But what that does mean is that nobody has been able to fish most of the river systems for the past week and when they stat clearing the fish will all be active. This is when you can use larger sized nymphs so that the fish can see your offering easier. I like using double nymph rigs with a NZ mayfly bomb and a size 14 pogo or king pogo as the trailing nymph.

MORE NEW NEWS

Since i started to write this Blog- last night in the storm the rains came and now this afternoon they are here again- and YES the rivers are rising and are coffee in color- If you are a traveling fisherman or lady- find some lakes!

STU'S SUPERIOR SALTWATER FLIES ON THE MEANEST HOOKS ! NOW AVAILABLE

These are Serious flies for serious fish! check the hooks!!

 Now available online are some  my new range of salt water flies - Stu,s Crystal bait fish - in size 1/0 - 3/0 - 6/0  Yes these are serious flies and on Serious Tiemco super strong Black nickel hooks. 
The smaller sizes will be great for estuary sea run fish ,kawhai  and Tuna etc, The next size up the 3/0 will become a favorite for Snapper and the bigger 6/0 will be for the guys who like catching Big strong fish like King fish etc..
All  of these saltwater bait fish designs will also  be good for people who like to jig flies for blue cod etc.

SCOUNDRELS
Please note that there are a few people claiming to sell my flies and my Superior brand! Do not be fooled by these scoundrels ,they just want to rip you off as well as my hard work!!- do not trust them! well you can if you want too!!

Big wild NZ brown trout- Dylan a man on a mission!!
Dylan- nails a bunch of  little  NZ Brown trout using Stu's Superior Flies- He knows the importance of good  fly designs and hooks!! mind you sometimes i think he uses bait- or he is just a good fly fisher!!

Thanks for Your Support.
Cheers
Stu

Monday, 17 October 2011

Women in waders, 20+ fish, Mayfly hatch,fishing guides,hi-viz orange flyline



 In case you are wondering what happened to all the Blogs ! Some how i have managed to lose all the past blogs and present ones- so here i am starting again! - not a happy camper it would be an understatement on how i feel at the moment! But as they say nobody died!


Just arrived!-WOMEN IN WADERS-great photos of fish!

Yes- the new Women in waders 2012 calendar has arrived, to brighten up your days a great gift  for some one and with Xmas not far away and limited stock you best order yours today! I have also some great specials on Simms waders on line, as i need to move stock- 

Local Fly fisher has to stop his arm was getting Sore!!

Having the shop , helps me know first hand on whats going on with the fisheries ans many people come through and ,i hear allot of good things.

Like the lovely local customer who came in the other day!

- The first day of the new season he went out to his favorite big riffle and could not locate any fish all day.

-3 days later he went back to the same riffle and there was a large hatch of big Mayflies,He landed over 20 fish in a short space of time on dries. He also gave up pretty early on in the day as his arm was getting a bit sore and it was getting to easy!! 

This goes to show it can all be a timing thing! and as for the sore arm pulling in fish rapidly- well in a way we would all like that! complaint.
AH! is this a fly rod! - said the Guides! :)
THE NZPFGA  - ATHOL- FLY FISHING GUIDES MEETING!
All the top guides from around the area arrived at the shop the other day and we converted my living room into a very comfortable meeting place.

- We discussed our new health and safety plans and special concession to be able to guide in certain areas. Its all these things that cost allot of money and time to get and have in place, and its things like this that many clients do not see all these hidden extra costs.

Dean eyeing up the best piece of meat!
- Also on discussion was carrying locator beacons when guiding, which most members do already for the safety of there clients.

At the end ,they left me with no meat -only enough salad to feed 100 rabbits
- Submissions for the overseas anglers license ! - This is something that when i go to another country and pay more than locals i do not mind - as the locals pay taxes and look after the fisheries and i,m only there for a short time. At the moment in NZ overseas anglers pay the same as locals. If they did introduce the over seas license - providing the regions most affected by more anglers , received the extra funds , it would hopefully give Fish and Game more much need tools to help look after the Awesome fishery that we have here in NZ

- There was heaps more progress made with lots of other subjects - (like the new residents guides license , which may put an end to overseas guides guiding in NZ !!

After the meeting the guides descended into the shop and bought up large my flies  and then were out on the casting area playing with the NEW SAGE ONE ROD!. 

WANAKA GUIDES CAUGHT STEALING
12 sausages!!- Only 10 remain!!
Though one of the guides Ian from Wanaka was caught shoplifting again in my shop!! and was duly told to leave the premises  I wished i had of checked his car !- as we all think he had also stolen two sausages from the awesome barbecue all the honest guides helped prepare.One of the Sausages we believe ,may have been for his side kick Twizel Steve!!

CASTING WITH LOCALS & TOURISTS- REWARDING!

I have managed to pick up the odd day and half day guiding and a few casting lesson , which all help keep the shop going for these quite months. Most people i have guided have used me to help them up-skill and understand the NZ southland fishery. Its so rewarding for me when they contact me a few days later to let me know their success rate and the fun they are having with their newly learned skills.

Some of the casting /teaching gear i sell
The few casting lesson i have been conducting has been a mix of locals and tourists, one couple did not even know what a fly was at the start of a casting lesson and to watch them understand what they where trying to achieve  and doing the basic overhead cast was a pleasure to watch within a couple of hours, they said it was one of there NZ high lights- way better than jet boating in Queenstown, they said.

NEW HI_VIZ QUALITY HI_VIZ ORANGE FLY LINE!

Also just in is the great new wgt forward(long belly) floating hi- viz orange fly line that is great for practicing your casting with or fishing with and they are pretty cheap for a Canadian made top product- yes wow- something not made in China!




Thanks for your support.
Cheers
Stu