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Friday July 11. Pounawea

Another unsuccessful day. I did, however, easily spot one fish , maybe more than one, near the twin cabbage trees on Pounawea Road. The fish was cruising like one expects

In the morning, fishing before high tide, and it was a huge high tide today, I drove up to the Birches then onto the dairy farm and the twin cabbage trees.  I was able to spot a light coloured fish holding close to the bank on a sandy background.  This was the 1kg fish from yesterday. Spooked him but fished to, and got a take from a small fish of about 250g.

In the afternoon, a few hours after high tide I returned to the twin cabbage trees and found the fish again.  Over today this fish has seen a woolly bugger, a yellow teaser I had just bought in Balclutha, a green/red Mrs Simpson. a white rabbit fur (this and a grey Mrs Simpson were later lost).  Some of them were followed intently.  Not the yellow teaser or the woolly bugger but the white fur thing and the Mrs Simpson. Alas no take for this larger fish but that hectic shall I?/shan't I? "dance" they do when attracted but are suspicious.

10 July 2014 Owaka River

Started off with thread-lining and worked up to the Birches.  Lost Yellow Kobra in another line break.
Met with Sue , swapped to fly and got a lift with her to to the Landing.

Fished on there for some time with a Woolly Bugger. No sign.  Walked down stream on Pounawea Road occasionally stopping to scout. Plenty of Kotare. Have not, until this moment, seen fish stooging by the edges in typical brown style.  However up near dairy farm entrance saw a nice 1kg cruising.  Could not respond quick enough without spooking it.  Saw another fish, smaller, nearby too.  Lost the Woolly Bugger and replaced it with a Mrs Simpson.

Continued walking home and fishing frequently. No further sign.  

Despite tide coming in the river continued to flow down.  Lots of dust/pollen on surface.  This cleared when the tide turned.  It was after the turn that I saw fish.

In the evening I went down to Hinahina bridge again and threadlined for 30 to 45 minutes.  No sign of fish.  The tide was tonking out big time; I was down by the big totara.

Owaka River

In the morning fished the Owaka along the Pounawea Rd as far as the Landing.  Lost the yellow and black Tazzie at the Landing in another comical line break and cartoon comical parabola through the air.  Shame was I was supposed to be using the fly.  I also lost a Mrs Simpson near the Birches on a snag; mainly fished with an olive woolly bugger. Used Xink; worked ok.  Got a take too on the woolly bugger near the Birches but I was just giving the lure a burst to give it some action and pulled it out of the animal's mouth.  Saw one swirl at the Landing. The four Kotare I saw didn't bring me luck. Got back just before noon.

In the evening took a soft plastic along the Portland Gut.  Lots of nibbles, probably stargazers.

July 8. Owaka River and Catlins Lake

Had an hour after arrival and before nightfall to fish.  Low tide. Started at the Landing.  Used bronze and black lure that I had just replaced and switched to "Frenzy".  No sign, no follows.  Water quite opaque khaki colour.  Over to lake.  Fished by Hinahina Bridge.  Started with Frenzy, switched back to black and bronze lure but lost it when line snapped on first cast.  Finished with black and gold Tazzie.  No follows but some suspicions swirls.

July 6 Opihi

Out at 8am down to Andersons Cnr at Waipopo.  Didn't event see a fish or a sign of one.  Used (and lost) a a black and bronze lure; a style that has often been successful there. Water cold.