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