Blog Post 1

1st October 2014!!  Opening day of our tributaries and streams. The day Hawke’s Bay anglers will ring in to work, because they are suddenly “not feeling so good”,  then decide that a good dose of fresh air and the soothing sound of bubbling water would definitely assist in their demise. What they would neglect to mention is that a box of winter tied flies, rod and reel would accompany them. This is an annual pilgramage to the “hot spots” which have been unaccessible over the Winter months, but have been scrutinised closely during the previous two weeks of September. It is probably the only day in the year, when Hawke’s Bay rivers may have an influx of Anglers in any one spot.

I have done my day with the rushing throngs of over enthusiastic anglers, so decided the greater thrill and challenge would be to hit the popular stretches the following day, after the poor Winter siestered trout had been put in a place of alarm. I went to the Manganuku, a lovely willow lined, freestone stream.The Manganuku, a tributary of the Waipawa, is a challenging stream, with a rating out of 10 for difficulty, probably sitting at about 15! Ray Sievert, our accommodation provider, joined me, (a long promised trip.)

It was a perfect late Spring day. Most promising for the upcoming season. With only just over half a day to devote to the water, we had a fantastic time.There was only one other late entrant to the opening season, who obligingly continued to move ahead, with a good three or so hundred meter stretch between us..Although we quickly spotted large numbers of trout – with the angler ahead of us and the previous days onslaught, they were understandably a bit sketchy. But it wasn’t long before before we had teased some onto the end of our lines and the action had begun!

For our half day venture? Three landed, six lost and a great day out with a great mate.

Ray holding a well conditioned four lb Rainbow.