Mouse flies for big trout

I'm headed off to New Zealand and Antarctica on the 23rd for 30 days. I wasn't sure until yesterday if I could pack, or would have time to use my fly rods. Now it looks like game on for me to fish, and I'm taking my mountain bike too!! Man what a great trip this should be!! While looking into NZ trout fishing, I came across this. Apparently the trout feed on mice, and get huge during mouse outbreaks. I was going to tie some flies for the trip, but I guess I need to wait until I get there to figure it out.



"Guide Martin Langlands shows us just some of the catches to date, ranging from 10 - 13lbs with others literally being beyond the capacity of a 14lb net to weigh!!

Numerous monsters have been landed over the season

It's fish like these that have made New Zealand fly fishing famous over the years and they aren't this big every year....It's a result of the native beech trees producing a higher than normal volume of seed upon which the mice feed resulting in a mouse plague and hence these huge fish.

Whilst the mice will no doubt be gone next season the fish should carry some of this weight through to next season...fingers crossed"

Lots of pics Rav and have a great time.

Z

ahhhh, another "Trout Bum Diary" in the making.... 

Damn, makes me want to get on a C-17 again!

Damn, makes me want to get on a C-17 again!

C130 for us old farts! I think I spent a third of my military life in a C130....great way to fly for free when you didn't have to be on duty!

flying to Afghanistan once, I layed my sleeping bag and mat out for a nap by the tail doors, woke up freezing (in a -20 sleeping bag) and realized I had set up shop next to dry ice that was keeping human blood cold. 

The best thing was flights back and forth to the states.  Those planes are like flying playgrounds for the kids.

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C130 for us old farts! I think I spent a third of my military life in a C130....great way to fly for free when you didn't have to be on duty!
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130's are still our pack mules, but the C-17s are our Clydesdale.

If you get time hook up with a local fishing guide- it will be worth the effort and the $!!!

Stay safe and enjoy!

ben

Ravdakot, you may enjoy this:

Dick?
Is "The Fly Fisher" still open on Lacey Blvd next to the old fire station, across from the Post Office?? if you don't tie Mice, they should be able to help.. old man loves to b.s. but the son... he's the tier....

Man!!!! Great vid BRNO!!! I can only hope to see something like that.

Yeah, the fly fisher is still open. I do a fair amount of business with Bjorn (the son). In fact, I bought a new Regal vice from him the last week of Aug. I'm just going to pack my vice and tools with me. NZ custom laws are incredibly strict. Not sure if I can take fur and feather in with me, plus I'm not 100% on what flies I'll need. I'll figure it out when I get there, and tie what I need.The mouse fly thing may be on the other side of the island entirely, or completely out of season. I hope not. It would be amazing to catch beefy trout on a mouse pattern!! From what I understand, there is a guide service and a few c&r ponds on the property of the resort I'm staying in. Officially I'm there on business, so unfortunately I can't devote every waking min to fishing either. If I get full access to these ponds as a resort client, I'll spend a better part of my free time flogging those waters.

Awesome vid, Brno!  Couldn't believe the stomach contents of the fish they showed!

Rav, somehow work and resort doesn't seem to go together.

flying to Afghanistan once, I layed my sleeping bag and mat out for a nap by the tail doors, woke up freezing (in a -20 sleeping bag) and realized I had set up shop next to dry ice that was keeping human blood cold. 

The best thing was flights back and forth to the states.  Those planes are like flying playgrounds for the kids.

I used a hammock and slept in that suspended from whatever was palletized!

Beautiful photography. Those are some serious carniverous fish.

Z

I love how they don't sip the mice like they would a bug. It looks like they snap their jaws to kill them ASAP.