The Weekly Five - 15
The Seiont Sewin Speargun Saga
Welcome to the The Weekly Five - 15.
Frequent reminders that the opening of New Zealand’s trout season is imminent come in the form of enthusiastic messages from eager angling mates. These adventures – often containing maps and satellite images of thick bush with huts or pools circled – will need an agreeable summer for me to complete. Fingers are firmly crossed.
If you’re heading down to New Zealand’s South Island this summer and want to treat yourself … The Lindis Lodge has exceptional cuisine and stunning vistas up the Ahuriri Valley.
Staying with lodges, it’s been 40 years since Kau Tapen opened their doors in 1984 – home of many international anglers fishing Argentina’s Rio Grande to celebrate their ‘fish of a lifetime’.
Winston’s release of their ‘Pure II’ fly rods is imminent, with retailers dumping current Pure stock for ~40% off. Designed by talented Annette McLean and launched back in 2018, the shorter Pure 8’ 4wt was widely celebrated. The new range will drop their outdated Boron III butt section.
Fishing for sea-run brown trout (known as sewin locally) on the Seiont in Gwynedd county in Wales’ north-west has been dismal this year. Our man on the ground advises of poaching gangs stringing nets across the river and snorkelers using spear guns, with no enforcement. Catch rates are down 75% on previous seasons.
Outdoor writer & accomplished author, Jason Randall, headlines The Great Waters Fly Fishing Expo, scheduled for March 21-23, 2025 in St. Paul, Minnesota, USA. His 2017 title ‘Nymph Masters: Fly Fishing Secrets from Expert Anglers’ offers advice from some of America’s most-celebrated flyfishers.
To share angling news or contact me at Exploration Angling, tap the button.
Recently Published
Read about the world’s only Atlantic Steelhead run on the Santa Cruz.
Need new sunnies? Here’s our Tonic Eyewear gear review.
Dropping in August
A guide to New Zealand’s 23 Designated Waters and why you should fish the other 98% of our fishable water. Publishes this week.
Fly fishing Tasmania in 2024.
Social Media
Patagonia - Rio Grande Exploration February 2025
There are still two spots available for a Base Camp Expedition on a private Chilean estancia this coming summer (Feb '25). Access to 60+ miles of private Rio Grande water. Consistent numbers of sea-run brown trout and resident browns, plus rainbows, big brookies on beaver ponds, even some late run King Salmon in clear water. We meet in Santiago and fly south for a week of fun, laughs and big trout on dry flies. This trip will suit active exploration anglers looking for adventure fly fishing on some virgin water that has never been fished.
Image © 2024 South Flyfisher An effective #18 in a Scott Radian handle.
The Ahuriri has been a fantastic backcountry stream for decades. The lagoons used to fish incredibly well, but now time is better invested further upstream and in slow backwaters to rising fish. What a spectacular site for a world class lodge!