THE TOOLS OF
FLYFISHING BOOK
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THE TOOLS OF FLYFISHING - FORWARD
As I write this I'm reflecting back on when I first met Jack Mackenzie. To think it was over 20 years ago and I was only a boy doesn't seem fair. To realise that 20+ years on and Jack is still fishing hard and discovering new fishing adventures is a tribute to the angler and pioneer that he is.
When I first met Jack he had already been rafting the central north island
rivers for some time. He knew them intimately and anglers from all around the world came to fish with Jack. I was so lucky to have spent some time on his raft and with his guidance and patience I managed to coax more than my share of fish from the river.
Jack opened up a way of back country fishing in New Zealand, that endures today and he explored and developed areas and techniques that place him amongst the pioneers of the trout guiding in New Zealand. Look through the magazines of last decade and Jack's smiling face, big rainbows and red raft were synonymous with adventure.
I was lucky enough to fish the Tongariro with Jack and we caught fish all day and throughout the drift. The white water rafting was exhilarating and such a great way to explore the upper reaches. Tales of large hard fighting rainbows on big dry flies were no stretch to believe as we tangled with our own Taupo steelhead in an early winter run.
It is an honour to be able to write something as a preface to the knowledge Jack Mackenzie is passing on in this book. He has been a skilled angler for more years then I've been alive and has willingly parted with his accumulated knowledge to the reader. Jack keeps it simple. Jack doesn't pander to fashion. Jack loves to catch fish and to help others to do the same, as he helped me 20 odd years ago. More recently he is tangling with big kingfish from the rocks and catching the saltwater fly fishing bug. Out there doing it!
I know you will enjoy this book and as you read each chapter, relish the simple way in which the craft of flyfishing is described and imparted. Enjoy. Jack Mackenzie is a pioneer and mentor who wants you to catch fish.
Simon Chu
As I write this I'm reflecting back on when I first met Jack Mackenzie. To think it was over 20 years ago and I was only a boy doesn't seem fair. To realise that 20+ years on and Jack is still fishing hard and discovering new fishing adventures is a tribute to the angler and pioneer that he is.
When I first met Jack he had already been rafting the central north island
rivers for some time. He knew them intimately and anglers from all around the world came to fish with Jack. I was so lucky to have spent some time on his raft and with his guidance and patience I managed to coax more than my share of fish from the river.
Jack opened up a way of back country fishing in New Zealand, that endures today and he explored and developed areas and techniques that place him amongst the pioneers of the trout guiding in New Zealand. Look through the magazines of last decade and Jack's smiling face, big rainbows and red raft were synonymous with adventure.
I was lucky enough to fish the Tongariro with Jack and we caught fish all day and throughout the drift. The white water rafting was exhilarating and such a great way to explore the upper reaches. Tales of large hard fighting rainbows on big dry flies were no stretch to believe as we tangled with our own Taupo steelhead in an early winter run.
It is an honour to be able to write something as a preface to the knowledge Jack Mackenzie is passing on in this book. He has been a skilled angler for more years then I've been alive and has willingly parted with his accumulated knowledge to the reader. Jack keeps it simple. Jack doesn't pander to fashion. Jack loves to catch fish and to help others to do the same, as he helped me 20 odd years ago. More recently he is tangling with big kingfish from the rocks and catching the saltwater fly fishing bug. Out there doing it!
I know you will enjoy this book and as you read each chapter, relish the simple way in which the craft of flyfishing is described and imparted. Enjoy. Jack Mackenzie is a pioneer and mentor who wants you to catch fish.
Simon Chu
CONTENTS THE TOOLS OF FLYFISHING
INTRODUCTION TO FLYFISHING
1
CHAPTER 1 - HOUSEKEEPING
2
UNDERSTANDING YOUR EQUIPMENT
2
FLYRODS
2
FLYLINES
3
REELS
5
LEADERS
7
BACKING
8
KNOTS
9
ASSEMBLING AND MANAGING GEAR
9
PREPARING TO CAST
10
AFTER FISHING
11
DEALING WITH TANGLES
11
CHAPTER 2 - CASTING A FLYLINE
12
THE BASIC CAST
12
LENGTHENING LINE
16
SHOOTING LINE
17
DOUBLE HAUL
18
OFFSIDE CAST
20
NEMISIS WIND
23
ROLL CAST
24
CHAPTER 3 - THE FISHING OVERVIEW
26
FLYFISHING IN RIVERS
26
UPSTREAM TECHNIQUE
26
STRIKE INDICATORS
27
DROPPERS
29
CZECH NYMPHING
32
DOWNSTREAM TECHNIQUE
32
THE GRAY AREA
33
PROS AND CONS
33
CHAPTER 4 - PLAYING A HOOKED TROUT
35
LET IT RUN?
35
PLAY IT FROM THE REEL
36
THE ANGLE OF PULL
36
BEACH OR NET?
36
DEALING WITH OBSTRUCTIONS
37
CHAPTER 5 - FLY SELECTION
38
DOWNSTREAM FLIES
38
UPSTREAM FLIES
38
DRYFLY
38
NYMPH
38
ATTRACTOR
39
EMERGER
39
MATCH THE HATCH
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40
CHAPTER 6 - READING WATER AND FINDING TROUT
41
RIFFLES
41
TAILOUTS
41
RAPIDS
41
STRUCTURE
41
WEED BEDS
41
FOAM LINE
42
UNDERCUT BANK
42
SEAMS
42
DROP-OFFS
42
CHAPTER 7 - BASIC KNOTS
43
ARBOR KNOT
43
UNKNOWN KNOT
44
BRAIDED LOOP
45
PERFECTION LOOP
45
LOOP TO LOOP
45
BLOOD KNOT
46
SURGEONS KNOT
47
CLINCH KNOT
47
UNI KNOT
48
CHAPTER 8 - TROUT & THEIR NEW ZEALAND
ENVIRONMENT 49
TROUT LIFE CYCLE
49
SIGHT
49
HEARING
51
SENSE OF SMELL
51
GENERAL DISPOSITION
51
CHAPTER 9 - THE DRAG FREE DRIFT
52
TROUT WINDOW OF AWARENESS
52
GETTING DOWN
53
PULLEY EFFECT
53
MENDING
54
SLACK
55
CHAPTER 10 - THE IMPORTANCE OF VENUE
56
CHAPTER 11 - THOUGHTS ON CONSERVATION
58
CATCH AND RELEASE?
58
DIDYMO
59
MANAGING THE RESOURCE
59
APPENDIX - ADVANCED TECHNIQUES
60
APPENDIX 1 - DRIFT MANAGEMENT
60
APPENDIX 2 - SIGHTFISHING DYMANICS
65
APPENDIX 3 - TROUT ARE THE BEST TEACHERS
71
APPENDIX 4 - KNOWING YOUR RIVER
75
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THE TOOLS OF FLYFISHING
THE TOOLS OF FLYFISHING
