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Post by lukenz on Mar 2, 2017 5:52:02 GMT
Just wondering if any of you good folks have given one of these a go yet?
Am thinking of the 11'6" 6/7wt. for trout fishing on the Tongariro (New Zealand); a biggish river flowing into lake Taupo, that gets a good spawning run of bigger than average trout.
Was wondering if this rod might be too much of a rod for this purpose. Currently most folks might use 7 - 9wt single hand rods.
I have been playing with a cheap Echo glass switch rod 6/7wt. and it seems fine albeit a bit noodley, so was thinking maybe the Hardy might work?
Cheers and beers, Luke
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Post by devronmac on Mar 2, 2017 11:45:43 GMT
When I was in NZ in 1996 and fished the Tongariro I used an Orvis Rocky Mountain 9ft #7 weight. It coped admirably with Taupo run rainbows up to 6.5lbs even in fast streams. Can't speak for the Hardy but I have a range of Orvis rods and find them very dependable. Current model Recon(no 7 weight) or Clearwater look like a good buy at a reasonable price. www.orvis.co.ukIf you want to spend money on the top of the range Helios 2 will be the rod you want.
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tenet
Active Member
Posts: 431
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Post by tenet on Mar 2, 2017 11:51:20 GMT
I believe the Hardy 11'6" is a double hander and probably rated for salmon lines viz approx 2 weights up on trout lines. Caveat emptor comes to mind.
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Post by lukenz on Mar 3, 2017 5:24:02 GMT
I believe the Hardy 11'6" is a double hander and probably rated for salmon lines viz approx 2 weights up on trout lines. Caveat emptor comes to mind. Yes - it is a salmon line rating. My Echo switch rod is also. Just means big flies/streamers/lures go a long way...! Had messenger chat with Howard Croston at Hardy who has fished Tongariro a few times - he thinks it would be OK, and also that I should keep in mind that they have some switch rods coming down the pipe along with a range of shooting heads - sgagit, scandi et al, so to maybe also consider waiting for them. I used to fish for salmon/sea/trout a lot on a variety of popular Scottish rivers when I lived in the U.K. (prior to becoming a New Zealander) and some of the rivers I fish here in NZ for trout are bigger and heavier than a lot of the Scottish salmon rivers. Surprisingly, even switch rods are pretty uncommon here and double handed rods even more so; but, for me the water command that a long powerful rod gives seems like it would make fishing some of our wilder big rivers easier. I think the real issue might be the size of the fish, being mainly in the 2-4kg range with the occasional bigger one, and also that they are brown and rainbow trout - not steelhead or salmon. Lighter lined double handed / switch may be the way to go? But I have done OK with the Echo switch 6/7 which is really like 8/9 in the single hand line weight. Problem is that the Echo whilst being a lot of fun and also being able to roll out a very long line, it is a bit imprecise for my casting taste. It was relatively inexpensive and was essentially a trout fishing experiment. I like the easy long line roll/Spey casting style that a double handed rod gives me, so thought the Zephrus 11'6" 6/7wt. might provide a bit more power but still have enough feel for trout in the 2-4kg range? If anybody who has that model could give a view of their experience, that would be really good. Cheers and beers, Luke
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Post by devronmac on Mar 3, 2017 21:20:24 GMT
I expect that you will get on fine with the double hander in a biggish water. I have just viewed a video on You Tube entitled Tongariro Labour Weekend October 2013 which shows a switch rod in use in the Hydro Pool at Turangi to great effect Makes me wish I was back there again.
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Post by lukenz on Mar 4, 2017 3:18:18 GMT
Thanks DM.
Yes I know that run too. But am a big fan of most of named pools on that river, having had good times on all of them at one time or another. Was in Taupo recently for one my wife's ultra running events, so managed to fish the Tongariro for the whole weekend.. we should get a good run of big fish there as we head towards winter here.
Noticed it was a Meisser switch rod in the video and am just trying to decipher the rod code to determine the likely line weight. Whoever it is fishing seems to be having an ok day.
Am currently living in Hawkes Bay and have some very spectacular trout fishing rivers in every direction in this region. My local (just out the back fence) is the Tukituki river with over 300 kilometres of fishable bank..., then also very close the Mohaka, Ngaruroro and the Tutaikuri being the main big ones, but there are literally too many good trout rivers to name in this region. With Lake Taupo and the Tongariro a pleasant 2 hr. drive inland up onto the central plateau.
If you ever get out this way for fishing holiday shout out.
Cheers, Luke
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Post by devronmac on Mar 4, 2017 11:46:56 GMT
Fished the Tukituki and Mohaka and Tutaikuri in 2003 and Lake Rotarua in 2007 I also fished a few rivers in the South Island. My guide got his 4 wheel drive stuck in the riverbed and we lost half a day trying to get it out but caught some cracking searun trout on Tukituki down behind the Te Mata (Coleraine) Winery ( which we also visited) The owner John Buck there has Scottish connections. I also have relatives still living in Napier. Thanks for the offer. I will bear it in mind if I am ever over that way again although having been three times it is unlikely that I will be there again. Incidentally I have a Bloke Trebeuchet 11ft 3" Switch #7/8 weight which I am sure would be great for Tongariro. They are occasionally available on Ebay and I believe blanks can still be purchased if you are into rod building. Tight Lines bloke-rods.co.uk/switch.htmlMel
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Post by lukenz on Mar 4, 2017 20:50:19 GMT
Fished the Tukituki and Mohaka and Tutaikuri in 2003 and Lake Rotarua in 2007 I also fished a few rivers in the South Island. My guide got his 4 wheel drive stuck in the riverbed and we lost half a day trying to get it out but caught some cracking searun trout on Tukituki down behind the Te Mata (Coleraine) Winery ( which we also visited) The owner John Buck there has Scottish connections. I also have relatives still living in Napier. Thanks for the offer. I will bear it in mind if I am ever over that way again although having been three times it is unlikely that I will be there again. Incidentally I have a Bloke Trebeuchet 11ft 3" Switch #7/8 weight which I am sure would be great for Tongariro. They are occasionally available on Ebay and I believe blanks can still be purchased if you are into rod building. Tight Lines bloke-rods.co.uk/switch.htmlMel Yes, I know the Buck's - Havelock North is a small place! Played golf with him and it's just not dinner without a bottle of Coleraine on the table! Thanks for the link I haven't seen the bloke rods before. Am going to hang out to see what Hardy come up with later in the year with their presumably zephrus sintrix 440 based switch rods, the Zephrus range does have a lovely action. Cheers, Luke
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Post by lukenz on Mar 12, 2017 17:13:12 GMT
Have ordered the Double Hand Zephrus 11'6" 6/7wt. from Harris Angling (nobody stocks them in NZ).. Decided to just give it a go anyway..!
Will report back when I have had a good play with it. Am thinking Skandi short to start with.
Cheers and beers. Luke
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Post by lukenz on Mar 31, 2017 5:26:16 GMT
Yep - this is a really nice rod to cast. Have loaded it with 7wt. Scandi short with versitip system and connect core shooting line. Very nice effortless tight loop casts, or whatever shape you want to make them. Touch and go with snap T is really good. Shoots a nice long or short line. Works really well as nymph rod, as well as a large trout fly swinger! Overhead casts easy but why would you when it can do all the fishable distance anybody would want without aerialising a mile of line behind your head. This will be awesome on the Tongariro for sure - roll on next weekend!
Cheers and beers.
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