Huge NZ Brown trout

Congratulations goes out to Fly Odyssey client Mike Naylor who landed the fish of a lifetime while on a recent visit to Owen River Lodge. It was Mike's first trip to New Zealand and he managed to fool this 11 3/4 pound brown trout. Apparently it was the largest fish landed out of Owen River lodge since opening and is just one of many double figure fish taken by their clients this season. Looks to have been a mouse feeder at some point. Mike finished his 3 day stint at the lodge with another 3 fish over 6 1/2 pounds including one fish over 9lb. 2010 really was the year of the big fish in New Zealand.





For 2011 hosted trip, self drive and lodge itineraries please Contact us via email or call 01621 743711.

Fly Fishing New Zealand Week 2

Our second week of hosted fishing was based in the McKenzie District. Arguably the most scenic part of the country it boast some great brown and rainbow trout fishing. While in the McKenzie we spent time with local Twizel guide Steve Carey and the 'wandering' guide Ian Cole. Both are top class guides and a good laugh around the BBQ as well.


• Paul with a great fish from a big high country river (Image courtesy Paul Procter)

The week was spent fishing the various high country rivers and spring creeks that drain the McKenzie basin. We had another fine week of weather with temperatures exceeding 30 deg C most days with clear blue skies and light winds. This got the tussock cicada in a good mood and provided some of the best cicada fishing I have seen in the McKenzie. A day on the Ahurriri River was most memorable with the fish really homing in on any cicada that was drift down a bubble line. For all the guys this day will be long remembered.


• Dormer with another big McKenzie District brown trout taken from a small tarn.

The biggest fish of the week went to UK angler Ben Garnett who landed managed to land an 8lb fish out of one the numerous small tarns that are scattered through the region The fish was taken on a tiny size 18 corixa pattern. This made up for a large fish lost by Ben earlier in the week which ate his cicada and came off after a long fight.


• Ben with a fine looking 8lb stillwater brown.

Just goes to show the diversity of the fishing sight fishing available. You can stalk big rivers, small spring creeks, bustling freestone streams and small stillwaters all sight fishing to fish exceeding 3lb in weight.


• John proves that you can find big fish in the tiniest of streams in New Zealand. This fish went 4lb on the scales.

Are you interested in joining one of our New Zealand hosted fly fishing adventures in 2011? Trips will be run from 22nd January, 2011. Space is extremely limited. For further details please contact us.

New Zealand Fly Fishing Report

Well we have just completed three weeks of hosted fly fishing throughout the South Island of New Zealand. Over the coming days we will be updating the newsletters page with detailed reports of the fishing that was had. The guys on this trip were lucky enough to experience great weather with bright sunshine and warm conditions on most days which resulted in great sight fishing opportunities and lots of insect activity which had the trout looking skywards.


• A relaxed lunch on the banks of the Mataura (Image courtesy of Dormer Treffry).

WEEK 1 Fly fishing Southland

Week one which was based out of Simon Chu's TROUT COTTAGE in Lumsden. Trout cottage is a little fly fishing hut in Lumsden and provides an ideal base for traveling anglers. Full of NZ associated fly fishing memorabilia it sets the scene for a week fishing SOuthland. Lumsden is in the heart of some of Southland's best fly fishing country with rivers such as the Mataura and Oreti and their associated tributaries a short drive away. The first week resulted in some fantastic dry fly fishing. The willow grubs and cicada's seemed to come on as the weather warmed and the water levels dropped from the previous weeks rain.


• A Southland willow grubber. These fish are usually frustratingly difficult but Paul's willow grub pattern fooled each and every willow grubber we came across. Luck or great design? Its the most successful willow grub pattern I have used be we will find out again next year. (Image courtesy of Paul Procter)

One of the great aspects of fishing Southland is the diversity of fishing situations. One location will find fish sitting high in the water column sipping down willow grubs. One afternoon on a high bank on the Matarua we found fish stacked up waiting for cicadas or blowfly's to hit the water and then there is always the ever present backwater fish. Several of the larger backwaters would find 4-5 big browns cruising for nymphs or looking up for drowned blowflies.


• Dormer with a feisty Mataura brown. An hour was spent on this fish with over a dozen fly changes. At times it lay within 3 feet of our position. Keep still and they won't know you are there!!! (Image courtesy of Dormer Treffry)

Dormer, Pete and Paul all enjoyed some memorable catches in all of these situations with fish ranging from 3-5lb. Of course as always in New Zealand there was the missed opportunities. Large fish that make it back to the willows, several straightened hooks and the ever present 'quick strike' that succeeds in pulling the fly out of the fish's mouth before he has a chance to taste it!!



Paul with a big cicada munching Oreti brown trout (Image courtesy of Paul Procter).

Are you interested in joining one of our New Zealand hosted fly fishing adventures in 2011? Trips will be run from 22nd January, 2011. Space is extremely limited. For further details please contact us.

Merry Christmas

Just a quick thank you to all those who have booked trips and travelled with us in 2009. We at Fly Odyssey wish you all a very Merry Christmas and and a festive time catching up with family and friends over the New Year period. We have some new and exciting developments for 2010 which include:

1. We will be running the first exploratory liveaboard trips to French Polynesia, New Caledonia and Kanton island in the Pacific in the newly built liveaboard BONEFISH (See pic below). We will be releasing dates and prices in early January 2010.



2. We are now the exclusive European agent for Casa Veijo Chac in Punta Allen, Ascension Bay, Mexico. The 'Casa' is local permit guru Manuel Chac's 4 room lodge with a capacity for 8 anglers. Fly Odyssey clients have been fishing with Manuel for several years and always return full of praise. The lodge offers the most competitive pricing in the region and is a must for the Permit junkie to visit.

3. We have also teamed up with Chile's finest trout fishing outfit Estancia Del Zorro and Cincos Rios Lodge. The Estancia is a 15000 acre property that it is riddled with springfed streams which are stuffed with big brown trout (as the photo below attests). Cincos Rios is situated on the banks of the world famous Rio Simpson and offers the chance to drift, wade and even jetboat into the headwaters and tributaries chasing the brown and rainbow trout as well as the salmon that inhabit this system.



4. We have also joined forces with Palm Valley Outfitters in the US who are exploring and opening up new and unfished waters deep in the Southern Yucatan Peninsula as well as operating a lodge in South texas for Redfish and white-wing dove shooting. Jeff at Palm Valley will also be acting as our US agent and running some saltwater fly fishing hosted trips to Christmas Island and Australia so if you have any questions about any of the destinations that we offer and are based in the US please give Jeff a call on (956) 428566 or email Palm Valley Outfitters for more information.



Merry Christmas
Mat

Ascension Bay Trip Report

We have just had two large groups of anglers down in Ascension Bay in November. Paul Procter UK angling writer and guide has put together a summary of their fortnight below. Paul will be taking a group back to Casa Blanca Lodge in March for those interested in joining a trip with him.

Paul's Report

November 2009 proved a highpoint in my season during a visit to Ascension Bay. Given light breezes the first week we were treated to exceptional conditions. Consequently, blue skies and clear water allowed for top drawer sight fishing. Better still the highly prized and much elusive permit were up on the flats and even in a cooperative mood (does it get any better?). The group landed no less than 12 permit in the first two days with other fish being reported hooked and lost, I can tell there’s not many places that boast such stats.



To be honest, I’d gone in search of bonefish, but to squander such an opportunity would have been unforgivable. Besides, forgetting all around me, I turned to a gibbering wreck when the guide whispered “permit”, nothing can prepare you for the moment those dark sickle like tails come ghosting into view. Thankfully, following good fortune, by lunchtime the first day our skiff had three decent permit under its belt, not a bad start to the 14 day campaign!



With permit being seen and cast to everyday, it was hard to tear yourself away from the hunt. However, a few sessions wading ankle deep water, looking for tailing bonefish proved just as exhilarating. Nothing beats seeing those slender, transparent tails glinting in the sun from afar. I have fond memories for spending the penultimate day strolling along a golden shallow flat. With so many fish to throw at, it was even possible to target larger specimens. Believe me, 6lb of hooked bonefish has blistering pace in skinny water. More substantial bones were contacted, but their guile and speed certainly outdid me, especially amongst mangrove roots.



The breeze eventually yielded to cooler east winds which in turn favoured tarpon and snook. Either side of high water, we poled the mangrove margins for such tenacious predators and were handsomely rewarded with tarpon topping 40lb and snook into double figures. On a 10-weigth outfit the ensuing battle is real “heart in the mouth” stuff. What with dolphins, turtles, flamingos and even crocodiles watching on, it’s hard to imagine any better experience. However, chatting with the guides on our recent visit, aside from the usual suspects they reckon March is a prime time when permit can be found in numbers. With that, our scheduled trip in March 2010 to Ascension Bay promises to be something very special indeed.




We have a few spaces left on trips to Ascension Bay in 2010 but these trips are filling fast. If you are interested in joining one of these or fishing Ascension Bay at any time of year please contact us on +44 (0) 1621 743711 or email us.

Turneffe Permit

Congratulations goes out to Phil who landed his first Permit while fishing down at Turneffe Flats last week. The group had tough weather with rain and overcast skies from Hurricane Ida making fishing conditions difficult. Here is his story. Makes me want to get out onto the flats just reading about it.

Hiya Matt,

I got it on a Merkin, hook size 1. We chased the pod of permit up and down the mangrove shore, going through the fly box as we went. Gave it three good shots per angler per fly then swapped over and changed the fly. The guide said our best chance was if the fish moved in close, right up against the mangroves. They did and I was lucky enough to be standing on the pointy end of the boat at the time.

The fight was scary, several long searing runs, sometimes towards the mangroves or close in along the shore. I was convinced it'd get snagged and break me but I guess the fishing gods were smiling on me that day. I still don’t quite believe I actually landed (boated?) the fish.

cheers,

Phil

Orvis hosted fly fishing arranged by Fly Odyssey

We are pleased to be involved the launch of a range of hosted fly fishing trips to some of the worlds finest fresh and saltwater destinations in conjunction with Orvis UK. Orvis have recently added the whole range of trips which include destinations such as Mexico, Iceland, Bosnia and the Bahamas to their UK website where the trips are detailed in full.

Bookings can be made via the Orvis Sporting Traditions Agency or by contacting Fly Odyssey.