blueether Posted April 1, 2013 Report Share Posted April 1, 2013 I arrived back at the campground, after getting dinner in Thames, at about 2130 and proceeded to get boots on and get torches ready. So it must have been about quarter to 10 by the time I reached Waiora stream next to the Wainora DoC campground. I walked down the stream edge towards the main Kauaeranga River. In the first small hole I flicked the small torch, that I use for walking, across water – straight off a torrentfish, male redfin and common bullies. Looking good. As I continued the walk down to the main river I heard or saw a few splashes of what looked like kokopu, vanishing. When reaching Kauaeranga river I was surprised to only see bullies, the odd eel and a single (what looked to be a) smelt, although the water level was very low, with that on-going drought. I did see a lot of hunting spiders though, Dolomedes spp. As the main river was proving unfruitful I headed back up Waiora stream. Waiora stream proved a very different prospect to spotlight than Kauaeranga river with many more bullies, torrentfish and Galaxias spp. The first few runs saw torrentfish, Cran’s, common and redfin bullies almost by the dozen. The first hole proved just as productive with bullies, torrentfish and banded kokopu throughout. This hole of about 2m x 10m was home to at least 4 adult banded kokopu, 100-150mm, and another maybe 5 or more one year old banded kokopu at about 50-60mm. The next hole housed even more adult banded kokopu, I saw maybe 7, as well as many juvenile. I may have also seen a juvenile shortjaw, but probably an inanga, but didn’t get close enough to catch and ID it. The stream continued in this manner with the odd eel, koura and shrimp in the mix until I caught what probably was an inanga, with very faint markings. Then I saw my first ever koaro, doing what they do best, climbing a wet rock in some rapids – almost completely out of the water, just where the water line meats the rock. Man those things have some amazing colour. Not much further upstream than here was where the DoC road crosses the stream. It was depressing to see that at the moment it was almost impassable to fish with a high drop and overhang. Above the ford/culvert the species distribution changed with a lack of torrentfish, way fewer bullies – I think I only saw Cran’s above the ford. I was surprised to see banded kokopu and shrimp above the ford, though not as many as below. So all up for the night I saw: Banded kokopu (too many to count) Inanga (just 2) Koaro (just 2, and maybe a third) Eels (probably both long and short fin) Bullies – Common, Cran’s and redfin Torrentfish Smelt (?) Shrimp and koura Trout (rainbow and maybe a small brown) What I was surprised not to see over the 2 and a half hours were giant kokopu. Full set of hi-res photos here https://plus.google.com/photos/113298704761943818357/albums/5861772068505312881?banner=pwa Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trinox Posted April 1, 2013 Report Share Posted April 1, 2013 Wow! Awsome read. :cophot: :nfs: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Godly3vil Posted April 1, 2013 Report Share Posted April 1, 2013 :cophot: well done *blueether Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reptilez Posted April 1, 2013 Report Share Posted April 1, 2013 :cophot: well done Stella! Stella? :gigl: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Godly3vil Posted April 1, 2013 Report Share Posted April 1, 2013 I blame the late night I had to stay up and watch the warriors finally win a game lol. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reptilez Posted April 1, 2013 Report Share Posted April 1, 2013 I blame the late night I had to stay up and watch the warriors finally win a game lol. :sml1: Excuses, excuses, excuses... :ton: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twinkles Posted April 2, 2013 Report Share Posted April 2, 2013 Awesome Thanks for sharing Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stella Posted April 2, 2013 Report Share Posted April 2, 2013 Stella? :gigl: :rolfl: (woo, people still remember me here! I haven't been around much since having to pack up the aquaria) Absolutely fantastic post, blueether, and what an amazing stream! We should go there next time I visit Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reptilez Posted April 2, 2013 Report Share Posted April 2, 2013 No one can forget you Stella with all of your amazing tanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
disgustipated Posted April 2, 2013 Report Share Posted April 2, 2013 can anyone else see the evil owl on its back? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reptilez Posted April 2, 2013 Report Share Posted April 2, 2013 can anyone else see the evil owl on its back? Scared for life :cry1: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Li@m Posted April 3, 2013 Report Share Posted April 3, 2013 can anyone else see the evil owl on its back? lol creepy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blueether Posted April 4, 2013 Author Report Share Posted April 4, 2013 Thanks guys, oh and Stella you know where I live - I hope you will be dropping in when you head up for the freshwater conf. and just to give you an idea of the size of tyhose Dolomedes spp (and they get bigger): Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stella Posted April 4, 2013 Report Share Posted April 4, 2013 that evil owl is creepy! Though I see it as a combined evil owl and Thai figurine. That last spider is interesting.... not entirely sure what it is. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blueether Posted April 4, 2013 Author Report Share Posted April 4, 2013 big is what it is Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
F15hguy Posted June 24, 2013 Report Share Posted June 24, 2013 that evil owl is creepy! Though I see it as a combined evil owl and Thai figurine. That last spider is interesting.... not entirely sure what it is. got told today that it is estimated that only 10% of NZ spider species have been ID'd Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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