The Catlins 7th to 10th October

Horrible weather over these few days prevented me taking the money trip up to the golf course.  (The fishing expedition  that has yet to fail!)

The day we arrived I got out on dusk to thread-line around the golf course.  The water was very discoloured. No fish seen.

The next day got out at dawn and as the tide was low went up to Surat Bay and Manuka Point.  Thread-lined at Surat and used wet flies at Manuka Point.  Poor weather. No fish seen.

Next day (Tue) got out in late afternoon to Catlins River (Wisp Rec area).  Very happy with my skills there.  Fished a riffly pond to a pattern of nymphs, dries and streamers.  Gave the mouse a swim!  No luck though, no fish seen - the water is very tanin stained up there.  Still not a bad day's fishing despite the fast water.  Weather was horrid, especially at the coast

The car was clean before I got to the Wisp!

Casting the Silicon Smelt

Last day got out at dawn.  Tide low so got down to Surat Bay and thread-lined using my own reel.  Got a few follows with the black and gold Toby but couldn't say that they were actually trout.  They were small. The weather was foggy but still and calm.  Chucked the silicon smelt on a 4m leader and putted around the Owaka below the crib later in the morning.  Surprised myself at how well the long leader handled.  No luck.  When putting the boat away at 1pm (hadn't used it at all) saw a big fish surface chasing bait fish 

Interestingly I had read an article from Fish and Game Central South Island about the poor start to the season (at the Waitaki) and aligned that to a "Solunar calendar".  I took said calendar from http://www.fishingreminder.com/ with me but my times were dictated more by non-fishing activities and I didn't hit any of the major times.  The fish that jumped as I was putting the boat away was in a major time.  I am going to try and follow the Solunar calendar for a while and see if there is anything in it.