Re: A reasonable fish on a soft hackle...
Posted: Wed Mar 18, 2009 1:11 am
No Mike that is definately a "straight" brown. I have never really thought of the Motueka browns being an unusual colouration. They have swum in these waters and the tribs for some 140 odd years so over that time they may have slowly taken on this look. Its a free stone river with some bed rock as are most of the tribs. All our South Island browns pretty much can be sourced from from the Test river via Tasmania in 1867 - 1868.
We also have searuns but they are early spring and also a smaller later autumn run but mid March is probably too early. I don't expect to see them for another month or so and a lot closer to the sea. This location is maybe 12 - 15 miles from the mouth.
I think browns tend to be a bit "plastic" in their colourations according to the waters they swim in. A nearby stream, the Riwaka (my home stream) which has no connection to the Motueka has browns that can be almost red in colour
We also have searuns but they are early spring and also a smaller later autumn run but mid March is probably too early. I don't expect to see them for another month or so and a lot closer to the sea. This location is maybe 12 - 15 miles from the mouth.
I think browns tend to be a bit "plastic" in their colourations according to the waters they swim in. A nearby stream, the Riwaka (my home stream) which has no connection to the Motueka has browns that can be almost red in colour