Central Otago rail trail bike ride.Should I take my rod??

[Bigfish]

Hi all, I'm doing this bike ride at easter and I'm told there is a river beside the trail.Not sure what river.
Does anyone have any knowledge?Should I take my rod?what style of fishing?and any other info would be great.
Cheers

[taupof]

Is water, will fish!!

I would take a few big dry and some #16 Quasimodo's for the dropper, should get you hooked up.

[Bigfish]

Thanks Shane , what river is it and is it brownies or rainbows?.I've never fished the south island but have been told it's a brown trout mecca

Cheers

[Magpie]

Hi Bigfish,
I spent 8 months down there running a lodge in the Manitoto area..The Danseys Pass lodge in Kyeburn Diggings. The kyeburn River starts in there and flows down to become the Tairei river which pretty much follows state highway 87 from the Kyeburn turn off down through middlemarch.
The middlemarch to Ranfurly stretch of the rail trail also follows this river. and it holds a heap of trout!!!!! Browns as well as rainbow.
If you go up past the bridge on Kyeburn river road there are some good spots up that way and i have spotted some bigs ones in this area.
If you look on google maps got to the top of state highway 87 till it meets 85 turn left go over the bridge then turn right thats kyeburn river road.
But i take it you will be on a bike so you may not get up that far......the stretch of river from miidlemarch to ranfurly is supposed to be very good as it dosn't get fished a huge amount especially where you will be.
A few guys whom stayed at the lodge tried Nymphing and dry flies both with success.
Hope this helps....good luck .....if you want any more info I can give my mate down there a ring and get some more up to date info if needed.
Cheers
Mags

[Bigfish]

Hey Magpie ,
That's awesome, thanks very much. You've got me fired up. 1 Question........I have never dry flied before(even though I've nymphed for 25 yrs)
What dry fly and what nymphs work in that river?

Cheers Bigfish

[Magpie]

Hey Bigfish,
Just spoken with my mate from down that way and he reckons that at that time of year it's best nymph fishing, Caddis, hares ear, pheasant tail. that type of thing.
He also said spinning is pretty good if you want to have a go at that. He's caught a few with a little copper.
I would also chuck a couple of glowbugs in there I asked him what he thought about them and he didn't know what the hell I was on about!!! lol so maybe the mainlanders haven't got on to these yet!!
Mind you he is an old bugger....lol

Cheers
Mags

[Bigfish]

Thanks very much for all your help Magpie.I'll test drive some glo bugs and let you know what happens.

Cheers

[taupof]

No mention of dry flies in there Magpie. so i'll do that one.

I have been using black bodied dry's with rubber legs, (stimulator), this type has a RED tuft of yarn on top so you can detect it on the water. These have been slaying everywhere!! I don't know how big the Rivers/Streams are that you will be fishing but then I guess it doesn't matter, have a look at the flying bugs in the area. These do come in different sizes. Tiny Royal Wolff are good to have as well. For Gods sake carry a mono tapered leader as well, otherwise throwing dries out is a nightmare.

Have fun man, let us know how you get on!