Tackle and Techniques
Rods
Bank and boat fishing will be more successful if you use the right rod. A 9ft 6in or 10ft is preferred with a line rating of AFTM 7 – 8. The longer rods will give more control over flies and will allow a maximum amount of line to be put out when needed. The choice of rod is down to the individual, but it should be comfortable enough to use all day.
Reels
Reels come in a wide variety of sizes depending on the weight of line being used. Wide arbour reels reduce the memory effect attributed to narrower bodied reels and allow a faster recovery or stripping out of line. Now available in a variety of materials from graphite to titanium with prices to reflect.
Fly Lines
There is a bewildering array of lines now available on the market. Basically you will need a floater, intermediate and fast sinker to match your fishing depth to that of the feeding fish. The style of line, manufacturer and even colour of fly line is down to personal choice. If you are new to the sport see what local anglers are using and choose something that matches the line weight of your rod, and is within your price range. Remember; fly lines will need replacing regularly if you are fishing frequently, and are easily damaged on stones, boat fittings and propellers!
Leader Material
Again, a wide variety is available, and the choice of leader is down to personal preference. The two main types of material now used are monofilament and fluorocarbon. Fluoro’ is less visible in water and has a narrower diameter than mono of the same breaking strain; it’s also considerably heavier and sinks much more quickly making it suitable for lure, wet fly and nymph fishing particularly in clearer water. Mono is still probably preferable for fishing dries. The breaking strains chosen should be appropriate to the style of fishing and size of fish expected.
Flies/Methods
These are governed by the time of year and weather conditions. Early season usually means fishing fast sinking lines with short leaders and Boobies or lures, or for the traditionalist; a floating line with long leader and weighted nymphs can provide just as many fish. Early season flies that prove successful include; damsel, Montana, Viva, Cat’s Whisker, various Boobies and Blobs, Hare’s Ear, Pheasant tail and buzzer. These are also fished throughout the season at varying depths, but as the water warms and insect life increases, many anglers turn to intermediate and floating lines with teams of nymphs or dries targeting rising fish. Hoppers and daddies usually prove deadly when fish are rising freely, but more difficult conditions may require much smaller emergers and dries to be used individually with long and light-weight leaders. July and August are generally the hardest months for fly fishing at the reservoir with fish retreating to deep water to avoid the high surface water temperatures. Some days however, can produce superb static dry fly fishing with fish taking dries ‘blind’. Late season is renowned for surface and sub-surface activity with good bags of fish taken on teams of buzzers or Diawl Bachs stripped through the surface on floating lines or a few feet down with slow intermediate lines. Many good fish are also taken on dries and emergers at this time with the Daddy being a firm favourite of many. Late season can also produce large fish and even the odd Brown trout on Muddlers or Boobies stripped across the surface close to the shores particularly if there is a good breeze blowing. Coarse fish fry are often herded into the margins by trout and perch for feeding frenzies, floating fry patterns cast into these disturbances and fished static or twitched often produce surprising results.
Area
This is greatly dependant upon wind direction and strength. Many bank anglers favour the East bank and Bill Smith’s bay due to the variety of water depths and relatively easy access for all their fishing. Other prefer the quieter and shallower North shore. With weekly stockings of fish there’s always a head of ‘stockies’ available and these can usually be found where the wind is blowing onto the bank. Resident fish tend to feed upwind and often congregate in shoals along the more sheltered areas picking up insects blown onto the water from surrounding trees etc.
If in doubt, ask the rangers where fish have recently been caught, they will always point you in the right direction, it’s up to you whether you follow their advice or choose to fish in other areas.