So it was my second annual trip to Twizel and Tekapo. Last year we got lots of good salmon that you can read about HERE.
Our duck season was cut short again as Steve and I flew to Dunedin on the 30th of May. JJ drove us to Twizel, we checked into to our Air B&B and made our way to Ohau C for a late afternoon fish. The Honeyhole between the cages was occupied by bait fishermen so we went to the other side. I rigged up my soft bait below a three-way swivel with a Pink Woolly Bugger above. I like that setup as I believe it gives you more chances for a strike.
We were all in pretty good spirits, especially me, and the banter began about who would catch more fish. Well, I landed two keeper salmon and I let the boys know about it.
The next morning we went to the Magic Carpet and lined up with everyone else. It was the last day before the area closed. I think there were three good fish landed that morning and I think by the same angler. Somebody knew what they were doing. We headed to the cages above the Fish Bowl somewhere around mid day. Man it was cold and windy! Steve landed a nine pound salmon and Johnno got a small one. Both were on spinners. Boy did I catch a lot of flack when Steve landed the salmon. They gave me the salute. I suppose I deserved it.
The next morning we went to the Honey Hole around 0530. Stephen and his son Michael were already there and they agreed we could join them soft baiting. Stephen had recently broken off a fish when it ran under the cages. He described it as "unstoppable". We all caught plenty of small salmon but nothing bigger showed up. Michael, aged about 10, caught double what each of us had done. Some kids just have the touch.
So what we did was take turns casting behind the cages then follow the soft bait downstream, under the walk way then retrieve when the cables got in the way. It works well to keep the light soft baits close to the bottom. A group of bait fishermen showed up around first light and wanted to push into our spot. JJ explained how we were fishing and there just was no room for bait fishing. He then gave them the spot below the walk way to be accommodating.
So Stephen went for a coffee and food run so we said we would keep his spot. At the same time I walked back to the truck to get some munchies for the boys. As I was walking back, I could hear angry voices so I quickened my pace. The bait fisherman tried to physically push their way into our spot without even asking. Had they been polite and fished the same way, they would have been welcome. It looked like it was going to get physical but the three bait fishermen backed off when I got back. 'Shut up, why no friendly' is what I heard them saying. Man, I hate conflict and never in a million years would I behave like that. Maybe they should have designated bait fishing areas to avoid these conflicts.
On the 2nd of June, the boys tried the Fish Bowl and I soft baited and egg rolled from the bridge down to them. It was cold and windy and we all failed. JJ got a small salmon in Pukaki then we failed in Ohau A. That evening we went back to Ohau C and and avoided the crowds by going downstream of the cages. Steve broke off two fish at the last cage and JJ got one small salmon. I don't think I had a bite all day! Dave Barraclough met us there before dark for the next day or two.
The next morning the four of us fished the Tekapo Canal upstream of the bridge. On my first cast egg rolling with an Orange Globug, I got about a three pound rainbow. It was a nice start considering the day before. Steve then got about a seven pound rainbow on a Pink Globug which put up a hard fight. We got a couple of small salmon egg rolling too.
About mid day, Danielle, who works for Meridian, and her partner showed up. I was having a snooze on the bank which surprised them a little when I sat up. I moved upstream to give them some room. When I came back down, she was landing a 25 pound monster rainbow egg rolling right where I had been egg rolling all morning. It was her first really big trout after four years of trying. JJ and Steve helped them with fish prep for the taxidermist.
Then another regular who had been fishing the canal since he was a kid caught a 13 pound brown on a soft bait. It really goes to show that experience makes for better luck! I fancy myself a pretty damn good fisherman but I clearly have a lot to learn about the canals.
On the 4th of June we went back to the Tekapo Canal. I got an ok salmon egg rolling with a Champagne Globug with a Fluorescent Yellow Dot. Then I got another on an Epoxy-Eyed Krystal Olive Jigging Smelt above a soft bait. Dave B lost a good fish on a Krystal Olive Bugger size 4. John was fishing with us the day before and came back this day. Turns out he was an old mate of Dave Barraclough from their days back in Napier. He got a large rainbow egg rolling.
That evening just on dark, we went back to Ohau C. I still had on my soft bait rig from earlier with the krystal olive jigging smelt above. Just above the cages I hooked and landed an 8.5 pound brown on the Krystal Olive Jigging Smelt, which was my biggest fish for the trip and probably my best brown ever. Not big for the canals by any means but I was pretty happy.
The next morning we packed up and went to the start of Ohau B coming out of Lake Ruataniwha. Not much happened but what a view!
We caught probably 30+ fish but it was a tough week. We certainly put in the effort. I am already thinking about what I can do better next time. In hindsight, I do not like crowds. The places I fish up north, I rarely encounter another angler and I generally stay away from busy places. On this trip it did appeal to me to walk away where there were fewer people. But that allure of hooking into a really big fish near the cages certainly has appeal. I will be back!
