Treble hooks – do they do more damage to fish than singles? I’ve recently received a few adverse comments about my use of treble hooks on lures. I took this criticism to heart and set out to see if there was a sound scientific basis to the proposition that treble hooks cause more damage to fish than single hooks. I found the answer to this … Continue reading TREBLE V SINGLE HOOKS ON LURES
As the year flashes past and winter steadily progresses into spring it is time to start thinking about the fish that will be entering your favourite estuarine flat following whitebait. Kahawai and trevally make an early appearance but perhaps of more interest is the apex predator that shadows them, Seriola lalandi, the yellow-tailed king of fishes. Last year I started to hook kingfish in amongst … Continue reading SPRING KINGFISH
Text: Alan Bulmer Images: Paul Smith, Tim Bulmer I’ve written at length before about the things to consider when fishing in winter. Click on the following link for more information:- WINTER FISHING TIPS This is what happens when it all comes together in winter. “The day dawned clear, cold and crisp. Not a cloud in the sky. Mist draped the low lying areas in a … Continue reading WINTER SPINNING
I’ve just finished reading a fascinating biography by Tony Hayter entitled “GEM Skues – The Man of the Nymph” (ISBN 978-0-7198-1058-9). Most of you that fish with a nymph would probably have heard of George Edward MacKenzie Skues and how he almost single handedly developed the technique of below-surface fly fishing for sighted trout with nymphs. Such is his legacy. This excellent book is crammed … Continue reading GEM SKUES – THE MAN OF THE NYMPH
Most people tend to put away their fishing gear at the end of autumn or fish less frequently during the winter. Aside from the fact that the atmospheric conditions are often uncomfortable, people believe that it is more difficult to catch fish during winter with the same regularity as over the warmer months. Is this really the case? In my experience winter fishing in the … Continue reading WINTER FISHING TIPS
Text: Alan Bulmer Lead Image: George Turnbull Catching flats trevally on soft plastics can occasionally be a relatively straight forward exercise, especially during autumn and winter. There are some basic rules to follow and these are covered off in detail in the following articles:- https://activeanglingnz.com/2015/08/08/outsmarting-trevally-with-flies-and-lures/ and https://activeanglingnz.com/2015/07/25/wetlining-soft-plastics/ This article from the archives describes a two hour session on the flats and shows how easy it can be to connect … Continue reading FLATS TREVALLY
Most fly fishermen would have heard of G.E.M. Skues and F.M. Halford. Skues is best known for his pioneering work in developing the art of fishing with a sunken fly (nymph) and Halford as the self- appointed high priest of dry fly fishing. The public battles between the two are legendary. However spin (or threadline) fishing had a pioneer equal in stature whose contributions seem … Continue reading ALEXANDER WANLESS – FLY FISHING INNOVATOR
Text: Alan Bulmer Featured image: Tim Angeli-Gordon By the time May rolls around kahawai and trevally have moved into most of the northern estuaries. The fishing in May – early June can be hectic with lots of work ups in close as these predators chase bait fish schools in the shallows, especially at the change of light. This carnage has already started in the Manukau … Continue reading MID WINTER KAHAWAI ON THE FLATS
Up until the late 1990’s it was possible to go fishing inside the Hautu prison farm near Turangi. It generally was necessary to apply for permission to do so in advance. Once it was granted you had to front up at the Guard house for inspection on your allocated day, before a permit was issued. The prison authorities divided the river into a series of … Continue reading DOING TIME ON THE WAIOTAKA – HAUTU PRISON FARM MEMORIES
I’ve just got back from a couple of days in Whangamata. We were joined on Thursday afternoon by a retired family friend who has just left the work force and was looking to learn how to spin fish. The plan was to fish for a couple of hours before dinner, follow with a meal of fish & chips and watch the local comedy shows on … Continue reading MUDFLAT MISHAP
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