UPDATE ON SAGE 'COMPOSITE RODS - 25/5/26

There has been an excellent response to the sale of spare Sage rod tips and the ’composite fly-rods’, made up od various Sage and Redington sections.

The club was fortunate to be given many Sage and Redington fly-rod spare parts … some new, some used. From these parts, we assembled a range of ‘composite’ fly-rods which have been offered to members at bargain prices.

WE HAVE DROPPED THE PRICE ON THE REMAINING RODS TO MAKE THEM AN EVEN BETTER BUY.

These ‘combos’ have all been tested to ensure they cast OK and rated for various line weights. This is a great chance to secure an inexpensive fly-rod or a back-up for your main rod (if you’re unlucky enough to break it), if you don’t mind a rod made up of different coloured sections from various models.

TRY BEFORE YOU BUY

‘Combo” rods available: Contact: Tony Entwistle enty10@gmail.com

Two-Piece rods:

Sage DS #5-6 … $75.00 now $50.00

Sage DS 890-2 #8 … $80.00 now $50.00

Sage DS2 890-2 #8 … $80.00 now $50.00

Sage Graphite IV 896-2 RPL #8 … $90.00 now $60.00

Three-Piece rods:

Sage Graphite IV SP 690-3 #6 … $75.00 now $50.00

Four-Piece rods:

Redington RedFly 2 9” #5 … $90.00 now $60.00

Sage Graphite III 590-4 RPL+ #5 … $100.00 now $80.00

REPLACEMENT SECTIONS

There are also a number of spare tips and sections for various earlier Sage models, (including XP, SP, SLT, TCX, TCR, Z-Axis,Launch and Vantage rods).

New spare tips and sections cost $100.00 each.

Second-hand sections $30.00 each.

You’ll need to contact Tony Entwistle at 027 4732483, if you’d like to see if he has a spare tip or other sections that will fit your rod.

NB. 15% of all rod and tip sales will go to the Nelson Trout Fishing Club

The historic art of fly fishing

Exclusive for Waimea Weekly

Authored by Colin Taylor

THE HISTORIC ART OF FLY FISHING

Over 370 years ago English angler Sir Izaak Walton wrote: “Is it not an Art to deceive a Trout with an artificial fly?”

Today that is paraphrased by trout fly fishers into a well-worn quote: “Fishing is a Sport, but Fly Fishing is an Art!”

However, Sir Izaak, author of the book The Compleat Angler published in 1653, was by no means the first writer to mention fly fishing with artificial flies.

Nearly two thousand years ago, Roman poet Marcus Valerius Martialis (40–104 AD) wrote in his Epigrams (published 86–103 AD), about the “Scarus” fish being caught by "fraudful flies" (fraudulent or artificial flies)

A century later Roman Claudius Aelianus (175–235 AD) described the practice of Macedonian anglers on the Astraeus River: “They have planned a snare for the fish and get the better of them by their fisherman's craft. They fasten red wool around a hook, and fit onto the wool, two feathers which grow under a cock's wattles, and which in colour are like wax. Their rod is six feet long … and they throw their snare. The fish, attracted by the colour, comes straight at it to gain a dainty mouthful. When, however, it opens its jaws, it is caught by the hook.”

Today the ‘art’ of fly fishing for trout is a popular recreational activity in the Nelson area enjoyed by numerous fly fishers, many of whom are members of the Nelson Trout Fishing Club.

Founded in the mid-1970s, the club meets every third Wednesday of each month, at the Nelson-Marlborough Fish & Game building, 66-74 Champion Rd, Richmond.

Club President Don Clemenson says the club is dedicated to sustainably preserving local trout fishing rivers, streams and lakes for future generations; and to helping fishers of all ages to learn the skills of The Art. “In addition to our meetings, at which we have interesting guests speakers, we have informative workshops, fly tying classes, exciting fishing trips, and fun social gatherings,” Don says.

He says fly fishing for trout is different to traditional fishing with a bait, jig and hook in many ways.

“Fly fishing requires tramping up and across rivers, from one pool or run to another – often covering several kilometres a day,” he says. “Unlike sitting in a boat or standing on a beach surf casting, it’s a very healthy exercise. You are also out there at one with Nature among deer, fantails, tuis, kereru and other native wildlife.”

“Fly fishing is also mentally challenging because trout regularly change what they are feeding on – depending on what bugs, flies, caddis, larvae, minnows etc are present in or on the water at any time. You can be catching trout on one fly and suddenly its useless, and you have to figure out what their new food source has become.”

Unlike other rod fishing, where a forward cast is paramount, the art of fly fishing depends greatly on the back cast. This is because there is no sinker or weight on a tapered plastic fly line of about 30 metres. This is attached to a light nylon or fluorocarbon leader/trace of about 3m to which imitation flies are attached.

“Fly casting is like wielding a lengthy bull whip – landing a fly softly on the light leader/trace in front of a trout, with the heavy fly line behind it so as not to frighten the fish,” Don explains.

He says the club has regular training sessions for newcomers who can read about activities at www.nelsontroutfishingclub.com/

Guides needed - Fishout day, 3rd of May

A plea/request for guides to assist at our fishout day next Sunday , the  3rd of May. We had good turnout at our last fishout day with all kids catching a fish although they were still quite a challenge. We are being joined on the 3rd of May by Big brother Big sister participants so some to the youth will be a little older. Unfortunately we are short of guides, anyone who is available on that day can email me at iank@ts.co.nz or ring me at 021 998713.

Many thanks

Ian Kearney

Note from Ange van der Laan - our March Speaker

Kia ora people

 Thanks so much for organising the opportunity to talk to you fish folk last night.  As a follow up to the chat on roads, I thought it might be useful if I sent you a link to information on our website to share with your members:

 https://www.herengaanuku.govt.nz/types-of-access/unformed-legal-roads

 And once again, if there are any queries about specific areas of interest, please let me know.

  Ngā mihi

Ange

April Club night - change of venue

April meeting of the Nelson Trout Fishing Club on Wednesday, 15 April

At Club Waimea in Richmond

6pm for drinks, nibbles & catch-up; meeting starts at 7pm

Speaker: Ross Gigg, from Flyshop NZ

Ross will show the latest fly-tying vices and tools on the market, along with fishing tools and gadgets (e.g., nippers).  These will be available to buy at the end of the meeting, at a discounted price, with profits going to the Club.  Payments for purchases can be via either online bank transfer or cash.  Ross and Michael Stevenson will also be demonstrating how to tie local flies that catch fish.  There will also be an assortment of hooks, in various sizes and fly-tying materials to purchase as well, so come along and spend large.

Please note the change in venue for this meeting, which will be Club Waimea (just down Lower Queen Street from McDonald's, next to the medical centres).  We will be meeting in the Richmond room, which you can get to either through the main Club Waimea entrance, or directly from the carpark (the club flag will be standing outside the door to that Club Waimea room, picture below).

Annual Subscriptions due

For those who have not paid.

2026/27 Subscriptions are due !!!!

Membership cost is $40.00 or $50 for family

Please pay into the club account 06 0705 0373202 00

Put your surname in Particulars, first name in Reference and sub in code.

Remember, all paid up members as at the September club night, and who are present at the club night go into a draw for a free licence.

October Club Night - Change of Venue

Wednesday: 16/10/24

Time: 7pm

Host: Quinton and my good buddy  Kevin

Venue: Nelson College Food & Hospitality room.

Agenda: show how to fillet and prepare trout: demonstrate two recipes.

Recipes: trout pate, trout fish cakes with horse radish cream.

What to bring: yourselves and a bloody good attitude.

How to find the venue: drive into Nelson college at the main entrance.

Instead of going right towards the front of the school,

turn left and use the parking on the right hand side.

When you get out of your car, look for the 175 year old Oak tree on the left hand corner.

Walk on up the same road that you have parked on past the Oak tree to you come to some steps on your left.

Go to the top of the steps turn left, walk back towards the Oak tree and the president will be at the door to greet you.

CLUB MENTORING DAY - October 13th, 2024

CLUB MENTORING DAY

Announcing the first mentoring day of the 2024-25 Season.

Sunday, October 13th on the Motueka Rv.

The aim is to match those club members who are ‘less confident’ fishing the Motueka Rv. with more experienced club members.

Hopefully, we can achieve a one-on-one ratio of novice to experienced angler, to get the most out of the day.

Similar mentoring days last season turned out to be a great success with plenty of nice fish being caught.

We’re looking for more experienced (on the Motueka Rv) club members to put their hands up, to help team up with other club members and help make this an enjoyable day.

Everyone who wants to sign up for the day (both less confident and experienced), please contact TONY ENTWISTLE asap,

either by txt: (0274 732 483) or email: enty10@gmail.com.

The plan is to meet first at the Nelson-Marlborough Fish & Game Rooms in Champion Rd at 0800 on the 13th October,

to pair everyone up … unless of course, you are already live on the way to, or close by the Motueka River.

After fishing, we’ll meet up at the Moutere Tavern at 1630 for a debrief and refreshments.

Cheers

Tony Entwistle

NB: This is not designed to be a “Learn-to-Cast Day”, which means anglers wanting to participate,

should have their own equipment and be able to cast a fly-rod reasonably well.

It is anticipated that those sharing a ride to the river will help the driver with fuel costs.

Of course, if you’d prefer to make up your own ‘couple’ for the day … fantastic!

We’ll look forward to catching up with you too at the Moutere Tavern after fishing.