Category: Fly Fishing

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Alan Bulmer, Fish Species, Fly Fishing, Fresh Water Fishing, Lure Fishing, Saltwater Fishing

HOW FISH USE THEIR LATERAL LINE

Lead image: Maruska Laboratories. Like humans, most bony fish experience the world around them using the classic senses of sight, hearing, taste, smell and touch. However they have an additional sixth sense, related to a structure called the lateral line, that is more sophisticated than touch and it is this sense which is very important to anglers. The lateral line system is responsible for the sixth sense which allows fish to … Continue reading HOW FISH USE THEIR LATERAL LINE

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Alan Bulmer, Blogs, Fly Fishing, Lure Fishing, Saltwater Fishing, Spin Fishing, Techniques

FINDING FISH ON THE FLATS

Images: Mark Hoffman & NZ Fishing World Recently I wrote an article which described in detail how to find suitable estuarine flats to fish using Google Earth and marine charts and the signs to look for once you are at your chosen spot which give away where the fish are probably holding. https://activeanglingnz.com/2014/04/21/stalking-the-flats-part-one-the-approach/ Despite what Google Earth and marine charts show estuarine channels are dynamic. They are … Continue reading FINDING FISH ON THE FLATS

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Alan Bulmer, Fish Species, Fly Fishing, Fresh Water Fishing, Techniques

FLOATING FLIES FOR NIGHT FISHING

Lead image: MidCurrent (Hughes) Most rivers still have an evening rise during Spring and Summer where trout rise voraciously to feed on insects concentrated in the surface film. Stretches of river which appeared barren during the day suddenly spring to life as dusk approaches. It is arguably the best time to be on the river if you are a dry fly fisherman. Casting to rising trout … Continue reading FLOATING FLIES FOR NIGHT FISHING

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Alan Bulmer, Dr.Mike Ladle, Fish Species, Fly Fishing, Saltwater Fishing, Techniques

TARGETING GREY MULLET

Text: Mike Ladle & Alan Bulmer        Lead image: Constantine Alexander Around the world there are several species of grey mullet.  In the UK there are three namely the thicklip (Crenimugil labrosus), the thinlip (Liza ramada) and the golden (Liza aurata). To the untrained eye they may appear to be identical.  The streamlined, silver-grey striped flanks, toothless rubbery lips, powerful muscular bodies and … Continue reading TARGETING GREY MULLET

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Alan Bulmer, Fly Fishing, Lure Fishing, Saltwater Fishing, Spin Fishing, Surfcasting, Techniques

TIDES AND SAFETY – THE RULE OF TWELFTHS

Lead image: Paul Smith One of the most important things to understand before venturing onto the rocks, flats or in a boat to go fishing is tidal movement. Many anglers, especially those with no marine background or those new to the sport, assume that the tide comes in and goes out at a constant rate. This is definitely not the case and it is very … Continue reading TIDES AND SAFETY – THE RULE OF TWELFTHS

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Alan Bulmer, Blogs, Fly Fishing, Fresh Water Fishing, Product Reviews, Saltwater Fishing, Tackle

ROD REVIEW – EPIC FASTGLASS 888 FLY ROD

Recently I was given the opportunity to test an Epic Fastglass 888 fly rod made by the Swift Fly Fishing Company. Swift is based in Wanaka New Zealand and sells premium quality fibreglass and carbon fibre rod making kits and studio built fly rods. The studio built rods are handcrafted and made-to-order. Like many anglers I learned to fly fish with fibreglass rods and while … Continue reading ROD REVIEW – EPIC FASTGLASS 888 FLY ROD

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Alan Bulmer, Fish Species, Fly Fishing, Fresh Water Fishing, Tackle, Techniques

OUTSMARTING TROUT

Lead image: Kiyoshi Nakagawa When I was young my father, who always seemed to catch something when we went fishing, used to harp on about how I needed to learn how to “think like a trout” in order to consistently outsmart them. Teenage boys rarely listen to their fathers so this advice, which I struggled to understand without some concrete examples, entered one ear and … Continue reading OUTSMARTING TROUT

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Alan Bulmer, Fly Fishing, Lure Fishing, Saltwater Fishing, Spin Fishing, Tackle, Techniques

CRAFTING FLIES TO MIMIC SUCCESSFUL LURES

The advances in fly tying technology over the past 50 years is staggering. Whereas in the past flies were constructed from fur, feathers, wire and thread, nowadays there is a dizzying array of materials that are used in “crafting flies”. Foam, man made fibres and films, rubber legs, hot melt glue and UV epoxy in particular have revolutionised fly tying techniques. The possibilities to create … Continue reading CRAFTING FLIES TO MIMIC SUCCESSFUL LURES

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Alan Bulmer, Fishing History, Fly Fishing, Trip Report

TONGARIRO MEMORIES

The Tongariro River rises in the central volcanic plateau of the North Island of New Zealand and wends it way in a roughly northerly direction through the township of Turangi to eventually enter Lake Taupo near Tokaanu. It is easily the largest and most important spawning river in the Lake Taupo fishing region. Ever since Zane Grey fished the river and immortalised it in his book “Tales of the Angler’s … Continue reading TONGARIRO MEMORIES

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Alan Bulmer, Fly Fishing, Fresh Water Fishing, Tackle

“GO TO” NYMPH SELECTION

AANZ is often asked to recommend a selection of “go to” nymph patterns for the streams and rivers in the North Island of New Zealand. Patterns such as the Gold ribbed Hare’s Ear and Pheasant Tail are ubiquitous and proven all around the globe. Tied on # 12 – # 16 hooks, with or without bead heads, they are without peer. Leaving them out of any selection … Continue reading “GO TO” NYMPH SELECTION

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