How to soft bait for trout

Marlborough writer Tony Orman highlights two summer windfalls of terrestrials that can drive trout to dogged, selective feeding and anglers to despair.

The adventurous fly fisherman prepared to put on a backpack and hiking boots and head into the hills can find some of the best trout fishing in the country, and there are plenty of opportunities to hunt out hidden places which offer special experiences. But there are some pitfalls and careful preparation and thought should be invested before setting out.

Does light leader catch more fish? Catch Fishing thinks it does. Here's a few reason why Espresso thinks they are right...

For those tired of snags when softbaiting, especially in kelpy, weedy areas, the solution is a weedless rig. The Catch LIVIES, for example, have a design feature that helps them glide through such terrain, minimizing snags. The narrow top-slot on the Livies is specifically moulded for this rig, ideal for land-based fishing or in snag-prone areas.

As our fly-fishing water becomes more crowded it can lead to frustration between parties, but a little commonsense and courtesy goes a long way and there are some things you can do to prevent friction.

This could be the winning ticket in so many scenarios, have you tried this? Add a new secret-weapon approach to your fishing armoury for land-based/kayak/ski and boat, worth a quick look.

From the print archives: After a great trip soft baiting on a perfect day at the Graveyard on the Kaipara Harbour, we decided to come back and give it an even better crack.

Trevally are one of the hardest fighting sport fish New Zealand has to offer yet they are surprisingly under-rated by many fishos. It may sound mad to many, but a lot of fishermen still see trevally as nothing more than fresh bait.

Fishery officers will be inspecting catch bags and bins all weekend as the blue cod season opens throughout the Marlborough region.

Fishery officers were called in by Hawkes Bay police yesterday after they stopped a car with a big haul of pāua inside.