This had to be the most Awesome early morning sun rise I have ever seen above the roof of the fly shop in these past ten years.
This Taupo big rainbow jumped on the size 14 Da Bomb fly. Well done John.
Hi Guys (that means girls as well). It has been the warmest start to winter, I have ever experienced.
My last days on the rivers were last week and we got fish though it was quite tough.
Also It was my last NZ fly school for the season, as well as helping a lovely passionate IFFF casting instructor, from Europe, prepare for his IFFF masters casting test.
This season has been full of learning new skills and old skills dusted off, its been a great fun season for all.
The other day an order for some of my larger flies was sent to Zambia in Africa, which was a first for me for that country.They must be after some big fish going by the sizes and selection that was ordered. Hopefully some feed back will filter through at some point.
Some new designs and new ways to tie some flies has also been slowly developing at the vise, thanks to some helpful European fly tying geeks. Alex being one(thank god France let him back in last week).
Now don't ask me about all the Bananas! You will find out next season!
Its been in the news. That due to the warm weather in NZ and the world in general is experiencing. The beech trees are about to drop tons of seeds, many more than they normally do.
It was only two years ago that the last beech mast happened. Other times it can be 5-8 years between the mass seeding.
They predict it will become a more regular occurrence. Due to this fact, DOC are about to in the next few months, air drop tons of 1080 poison through out the south island and some places in the north island.
They are doing this to kill the expected mouse and rat problem that in turn threatens the local bird life. DOC also have just secured more government funding for more poisoning over the next few years, just in-case.
NEW ZEALAND'S WORLD LEADING
FLY ROD & FISHING ROD COMPANY
MAVEN Fishing rods is part of CTS
There are only 3 x rod companies in NZ that make fly rod blanks and fishing rod blanks here in New Zealand. They are CD rods, Kilwell rods and the world recognized fly rod blank company CTS which is based in Auckland in the North Island and ships its blanks all over the world to rod makers. CTS is the only rod company in NZ that will actually make the custom blank for you at the factory here in NZ and then build it for you here in NZ. Some thing custom like this in such a small country is pretty awesome.
CTS have been making fly rod blanks for years and in recent times have developed some great colored fiberglass rods(can't break, not so light) and Carbon fiber rods (performance material - can break) which also come in range of colors.
Many other fly rod companies buy there rod blanks from CTS and brand them and sell them for a much higher price!, like many other goods in the world.
Over the years i have been lucky enough to meet some respected experienced rod designers for overseas who have all traveled over here to work with CTS. That is how good these guys products are.
You can if you want buy your fly rod or fishing rod blank in all types of material, sizes,lengths and colors easily from their very easy to use web site. They even have a list of great rod builders they work with ,if you do not want to build it your self. They will make it and build it for you right here in NZ. Yes!" made in NZ your own special custom rod".
If you are looking for a classic hand crafted fly rod seek out your nearest Bamboo rod maker or see if he or she will teach you how to build your own. Its hard to beat the sheer beauty of a bamboo hand crafted rod, though the nearest you may get will be a blank from CTS and build your own, maybe.
