Calm BEFORE THE STORM

The first two groups to fish East Ranga with us this year had a slow time of it with a late run of fish and at times challenging weather. That said in the first 6.5 days fishing we landed 54 fish with an average of 15 rods fishing the river.

The fish we landed have all been nice and fresh and healthy and strong. The really big fish this year have evaded us thus far. Partly to do with high water and I suspect a little due to soft takes caused by colder water temps.

On the morning of the 7th July quite a few rods did not venture out as heavy winds and cold rained threatened to blow the doors quite literally off every room we have. Those who braved the storm found their fly returned very quickly to whence it came.

As the storm hit our regular team of French fishers arrived to high wind and heavy heavy rain. Overnight the river was huge hitting 40 square meters per second at the top. As you can imagine this made the river somewhere near the colour of milky coffee. Not a great start to the week. However as things fined down and a few rods decided to brave the river the odd fish started to be caught in the shallows.

The last two days have been much improved with a number of first fish recorded and for some a really good catch to hour ratio. As I type we are on 45 fish for about a day and a half of fishing.

Most importantly almost all beats are holding fish and they are spread well round the pools. There are more and more fish being seen down on beat 1 and a few being caught as the river comes into condition.