10 am Update – only 50 km to go… This was the leading bunch of thousands of bikers whizzing past Tongariro River Motel on SH1 having shot through Turangi and are now heading north on the homeward stretch. There are so many who have not discovered trout fishing – yet. If you are driving make sure you give them a wide berth…
Fish & Game Reel Life:
Fish & Game
Reel Life
Time to get out and fish!
It has been a bit of a dismal winter but now it’s time to dig out your polarised glasses and get out there.
During some recent work on the Whakapapa and Whanganui rivers, staff member Adam Daniel observed multiple large rainbows feeding actively around mid-day.
Top right: A large rainbow actively feeding in the mid-day sun (Photo Brent Christophers).
Now that the weather is starting to settle and warm our rivers fish are actively feeding and putting on condition.
Most rivers have been in great shape and the rainbow pictured below was easily spotted with two similar-sized fish feeding in a large pool. Adam recalled that the fish “wanted nothing to do with a green stonefly nymph but immediately smashed a size 14 hare and copper.”
If you fish Waipa tributaries keep in mind the Waikato River has just hit 19°C so the big browns will now be moving up river to find cooler water. So if you have some free time in the near future, get out there and go for a fish.
Take the kids fishing
Unfortunately interest in fishing in industrialised nations is dropping worldwide. Although New Zealand has a healthy fishing culture Kiwi kids are increasingly spending more time indoors listening to music, texting, using electronic devices and not enjoying the outdoors.
This lack of outside time not only diminishes the likelihood children will enjoy the outdoors as adults, but has been linked to people valuing nature less.
It isn’t a recent phenomenon to blame on the iPad and other devices as the decline has been happening since the 80’s. It has shown up in mounting data including a drop in internet searches for fishing and hunting-related topics in recent years.
With the summer holidays rapidly approaching, it’s time to start thinking about how to get those kids outside.
Include fishing in your school holiday plans, and not just limited to the fishing trips on the day. Having kids help set up and prepare for a fishing trip can help get them interested.
Even digging worms, for those of you who like to bait fish, can be a great outdoor activity for kids. Regardless of where or how you fish it’s important to keep in mind that if the next generation doesn’t experience the outdoors, they’re not likely do their part to protect it for their kids to enjoy.
The author’s child in a trancelike state induced by an iPad.