Meet the Crew | Pat Swift
Posted on
Bio/background?
Started off in the sports/tackle industry in the late 70’s working in both retail and wholesale. All though I tied flies before this period. This is when my passion for flies began.
The early 90’s were a time of travel and learning, living in Australia, Hawaii, and traveling through Europe. I have been self employed since the mid 90’s and set up Pat Swift Flies around 2000 supplying NZ retail stores with trout and saltwater flies.
Fishing area of speciality/favourite type of fishing?
Like most keen anglers I enjoy all styles of both fresh and saltwater fishing. Living around the Rotorua lakes is where I spend most of my time mainly jigging for trout. A technique that is still evolving as you read this. With a love of boating and learning from new technology like electric motors, bathymetric mapping systems, live screen fish finders and of course the best rods, reels and tackle. We are now at a stage where you can sight fish through technology in 20 to 30 metres of water. Very cool to still be learning something new every trip.
Most memorable catch?
As a fly tier, any fish you catch on something you have made is memorable.
From a trout point of view my first ten pounder back in the early 80’s was a milestone. But most memorable was tag and releasing a stripe marlin on fly at the three kings back in the late 90s. A fish that was more than 6 months in the planning and real team effort with crew and mates. Nothing has come close to casting a fly at a teased Marlin and strip striking a fly for the hook up, then watching line peeling off a 1 to 1 geared fly reel.
What are your Daiwa essentials?
Daiwa light Game ICV 150H reel is the best trout jigging reel on the market. This reel has a digital line counter so you always know where your flies are. Match this with a Aird X 702LFB rod. Braid is a must - 10lb J-Braid Grand X8 (PE #1.5). I buy 300 metre spools and top shot 100 metres on my reels. Fluoro carbon is all I use for traces and shock leaders so J-Thread FC in 8lb, 10lb, 12lb the 100 metre spools are great value.
Spotfinder spot?
You may have to move shallow or deeper to find the fish. The best bites are often when the trout are pushing smelt against structure.
All these Lake Rotoiti spots are close or against banks and vertical faces. You may have to move shallow or deeper to find the fish. I get the best bites when the trout are pushing smelt against structure.
Narrows: S 38.03538 - E 176.36892
West-bank: S 38.02552 - E 176.38091
The Hole: S 38.01776 - E176.40493
Moose: S 38.04095 - E 176.41618
Vercoes: S 38.01795 - E 176.41344
Skids: S 38.02859 - E 176.47293
Ruato Bay: S 3805318 - E 176.4382
Fishing playlist?
