Derek Burtenshaw's Rotorua Fly
I have enjoyed fishing the Rotorua stream-mouths at night over the last few seasons, not often, but usually successfully. Apart from watching the moon cycle, wind direction and whether or not the locals are fishing: you need to have a technique that works consistently. I especially like the Awahou
stream-mouth in early summer, as it’s fairly shallow and safe wading. I don’ t however use the common floating line, having had a lot of pulls, nips, bites, etc. in the past and not connecting. I use a very slow intermediate line; a 5 ft clear hover or intermediate polyleader with 5/6 ft of 8 lb
fluorocarbon tippet material. Using this set up, I never have wind knot problems and very rarely any tangles. Using only one fly at night seems to work better than two and using this lumo pattern detailed below seems to attract rainbows in the 3 to 7 lb bracket. I have fished various lumo ideas
and they all work, but this variation seems to be more consistent.

Hook: Black Magic ‘B’ or Kamasan B830,
 size 4 or 6 (yes, this big)

Thread: Uni-thread 6/0, black

Tail: Black Marabou, same length as the body or a bit longer, definitely do not include flash

Body: Red Lumo flat tinsel (its more pink really) These is tied in at the back and wound towards the eye, back to the tail, and then back again towards the eye. Then coat the body fully with epoxy and allow to dry, before commencing the head of the fly. (I often put a layer of silver tinsel under the lumo to increase light absorption-this lumo material is not as bright as aurora skirt and will need a ‘flash’ every 3rd cast.

Head: First part - Spin black marabou into the tying thread and using only two turns, lock into place. This gives a great mobile action in the water – until the trout chew it off that is!

Second part – Spin the black deer hair in 4/5 bunches as per normal and trim as you would a Muddler minnow head, leaving a dozen or so strands coming back over the marabou and body.

Yes, I have tried various colours, and the dark colours like black and olive are best for the head and tail. The body has to be red/pink. The secret is in the way it is fished. Cast out a full fly line and then wait for it to sink, 2 to 3 minutes is good. This seems to give the trout a chance to settle back down and watch it flutter about. Occasionally you get a pull on the drop, but the majority of the time it’s during the first few jerks of the retrieve. Do not use a figure of eight type retrieve. Retrieve
by giving the line 3 or 4 jerky pulls and then a pause as the fly lifts a little. Repeat all the way in and strike at any slight movement. The trout often just mouth the fly and don’t always tear off with it.
I guarantee you will do far less casting than everyone else, but will end up with fish hanging of your belt at the end of the night. Tight Lines.
DEREK