One deep pool and SEVERAL BIG TROUT

I woke up the other morning to a beautiful sunny day and importantly no wind and decided to go fishing. I knew the recipe was right for a great day up the river.

Firstly I made sure all the essentials are taken care of i.e my cat Mia is fed and my dog Memphis (I'm an Elvis fan) is taken for a morning walk along the beach - then up high into the Urewera National Park I go and into business.

After a reasonable tramp and coming across some likely looking water, I decided a dry fly would be the order of the day as the river was quite low and clear. I had only walked a few hundred yards when I saw the tell tale sign of a rise just in front of me - perfect.  I was fishing with a Royal Wulff size 12 and carefully took aim but no - the cast is too short - I haven't loosened up yet - try again - yes that's better - a good cast and I can see the trout coming for it - yes count 1,2,3 and strike - fish on and a good one too!  

The trout sprints downstream using the ample current to assist but I could easily follow and there were no nasty rapids downstream.  I quickly beached the trout, a prime fat rainbow hen of about 3 lbs and released her back into the water - A good start.  Two pools up and another fish goes for the Royal Wulff but bigger this time perhaps 4 lbs.  I walked up a bit further and spied this pool that had to hold trout so approached it with real stealth.  There were some big boulders just short of the pool that I figured would be my casting position but as my shadow was heading towards the pool I would have to sit down to cast.

Sure enough on observation I spotted a good trout cruising in the bottom of this very deep pool - But then "what's this" some more trout are coming into view - I don't believe this - there must be a dozen trout in this pool and some of them are big!

Out with the Royal Wulff - nothing despite trying again and again - perfect casts but not interested. Maybe they cant see it, the angle of the sun may be a problem. So I try a nymph instead and get it down.  I select a heavy attractor type nymph on the front with a small size 16 Hare and Copper tied onto its hook.  The current was all confused and getting a good drift was not easy but the nymphs were getting immediate interest with the trout starting to move around the pool.  I knew the recipe was right but if I get a hook up how am I going to land it - if it goes upstream I cannot follow it, if it goes downstream I can but I will need some luck.  

Within a short time the indicator hesitated and I was hooked up and it was one of the big trout in the pool - perhaps 7-8 lbs but oh no its heading upstream and the line goes slack. I've lost it I thought, but no it has turned around and bolted downstream!  I quickly get off this boulder and jump onto the stony bank to follow this fish and I'm literally running downstream.  This fish was strong and I knew it was going to be a tough ask to land it as it was using the current to its advantage and I needed all the 6 lb breaking strain I had on my leader then suddenly bang! - he broke off, not much I could do, the fish had taken me almost 100 yards downstream and deserved its freedom.

I went back to the rock the trout were still there but really spooked.  I had some lunch and tried again and got two hits but that was all. Time to go home after a very enjoyable day.

The Royal Wulff