PHOTO ESSAY: Let the images speak the story.
Another trip to paradise. This time with my dear friend Chris.
18th of October till 27th of October 2022.
SCROLL DOWN AND ENJOY!
Thank you for visiting my page!
PHOTO ESSAY: RETURN TO WESTLAND
PHOTO ESSAY: RETURN TO WESTLAND
Annual Season Opening road trip.
28th of September till 8th of October 2022.
SCROLL DOWN AND ENJOY!
THANK YOU!
AITUTAKI MINUTES
Jump seat, Paul likes it a lot, smooth
Lot of stress but no lines, quite airport, departure
Kia Orana, The smell of flowers on arrival
Once your hands are free take the mask of
Pleasure for our eyes…
Hula bar and whales
Bloody roosters, 4 bones, yellowfin and other species
Windy, church chorus, Sunday
Struggling to get meal, no alcohol, working channels hard
Scooter absolutely shocking, big Swells flooding the lagoon
Grab a net, Kid’s got chickenpox, No WIFI, Rum
Butch is wearing a jacket, OH NO
Headache, downpour overnight, earplugs
Best sleep in a long time, Klinky’s porridge is yum
Scooter wont start, water in the fuel, that bloody wind again, new Ice cream scooter
Bonefish for Paul, Ikamata, Fishcakes, 4 beers for 20
Channel session, plenty of species, where is North
Green bottles, Kahlua and more Rum
Shouldn’t be cold in Cook Islands, level 4 Lockdown back home
Feeling sunburnt but there is no sun, might have a headache tomorrow
Neighbours not interested in interaction, wonder why….
Kikirikiiiiii, 4 matches left but only 7 cigarette buts
Tuesday I guess, hitting the flats again, no fail , we got them
Weather is crap, its cold
Feeling quite lazy, still pulling a decent day
Discovered new place to dine, its the tits, girl in a white dress
Staying hydrated and all smiles, our little channel provides goods
Let’s watch the sunset, do you speak french? No sunrise
Bluebird and no wind, Classic fishing it doesn’t come easy
1 o’clock school, where is your rod tip, empty flats, paradox
Beers, rum, dinner at the best place, so late, lets go sleep
We’ve got a good feeling
Full tide madness, 6 bonefish in 20 minutes, we’ve got a sun baby
Paul’s having a great time, most bones in a day so far, tuna and crackers
Awesome scooter ride, lush and green jungle, no water taxi
Ikamata once again, couldn’t even finish one beer today, night photography
Paul’s asleep and I am sipping rum
Early start but gave up soon, gone snorkelling, scenic ride
Witnessed something extraordinary, don’t drink and drive
Sunday is no beer day, guess we never learn, shocker
one last swim, all packed up, bed early
Butch stopped by, what a legend
Flat tyre right by the airport, flight to Raro cancelled, next one in 3 hrs
Hungry but tanning, whole AIRNZ booking cancelled
Love you Aitutaki but see you for now
Back on the flight list, THANK YOU TANIA, quick feed and jug at Hula bar
Immigration, back to New Zealand
Feels nice not to get a stamp in the passport, temperature check?
Another booking change, hotel room, beers, blue cheese and crackers
Last castle on TV, shit sleep, airport shuttle, Hello Christchurch
Roadie to Queenstown
ANGLER ETIQUETTE
Angler Etiquette
A fisherman not just on a back country river but any river or lake will not appreciate the trout being scared off by a disturbance. Some rivers require kilometres of undisturbed water to enjoy a days fishing. If you see another vehicle check the windscreen for a note as to their intentions and abide by them. Leave a note on yours advising wether you are fishing upstream or downstream. Leaving a note with your intension also increases changes of others finding you in case of emergency. Make your self familiar with the angling etiquette guidelines and regulations on Fish and Game New Zealand website and keep the day enjoyable for all.
PLEASE DO NOT EVER push in front or discreetly ‘drop in’ or 'jump' upstream of another angler. In New Zealand, this is the ultimate sin and in all cases, needs to be avoided.
If you need to approach someone who is fishing, do so quietly, keeping well back from the water, and signal your intentions.
If fishing solo, invite an angler you meet to fish with you or share the available water. You may both learn something.
At times it may be just better to find another stream.
Rights of access
Most rivers cross private land and the rights of the land-owner must be respected. Do ask the owner permission before crossing their land. Very rarely is permission denied when asked for. Respect the landowners property. Leave everything as you found it. If a gate is open leave it that way. Likewise if it is closed. Our ability to continue to have free access to cross land is dependent on farmers and other landowners being able to trust that we, as anglers and guests on their land, will behave responsibly.
When parking at F&G designated access points, please follow the instructions on the Signage and leave a note with your intensions. There’s nothing worse than arriving at a long stretch of water capable of entertaining multiple anglers, finding a vehicle parked up and not knowing which way the angler has gone.
It is possible to overstay your welcome by repeatedly fishing the same stretch of water or overstaying in designated camping spots. Not only does this severely effects the fishery but it can upset the local angling community.
Camping at access point does not mean you have the right to claim the spot and it’s illegal at some locations.
Clean all gear when moving between waterways
Freshwater pests, including didymo, could squeeze the life out of our country's most precious rivers and lakes. They can be spread by a single drop of water or plant fragment. You can help to protect your favourite waterways if you always check, clean, then dry any equipment that comes into contact with the water, between every waterway, every time.
The South Island is a controlled area
The South Island is a controlled area for didymo. This makes it a legal requirement to clean all gear used in the water before going from one waterway to another.
So far, no didymo has been found in the North Island but it is good practice to check, clean, and dry when you move between waterways.
The Check, Clean, Dry method
To prevent the spread of freshwater pests (like didymo), whenever you move between waterways you must check, clean and dry all your gear that comes into contact with water. If you don't want to treat your gear, make sure you only use it in one waterway.
CHECK CLEAN DRY
Catch and release
Many of New Zealand rivers, particularly in our more remote, headwater areas are rather fragile in terms of the fishery, particularly our trophy producing streams. They simply cannot take a lot of pressure without suffering, or declining in quality. If you happen to come across one of these hidden gems on your travels, or are given a hot tip from a local, please keep these to yourself to ensure the health of the fishery in the future.
Whilst many rivers are regulated with a daily bag limit it is important to realise the importance of C&R on our more fragile headwater streams. Many of these waters may only host a handful of fish per kilometre, and these are often older, more established resident fish. Release the headwater fish, particularly the lunkers.
Backcountry Fisheries
Currently, there are seven Fish & Game regions in New Zealand with designated backcountry fisheries; Wellington, Nelson/Marlborough, North Canterbury, West Coast, Central South Island, Otago and Southland. When applying for your Backcountry Endorsement you must select each region you intend to fish. You can add another region to your licence at any time.
To fish a designated backcountry fishery, a Backcountry Licence Endorsement is required on your licence. Firstly, you must have one of these qualifying Whole Season Sports Fishing Licences:
Whole Season (Adult, Junior or Child)
Family*
Loyal Senior
Local Area (only qualifies for an endorsement in that region)
Non Resident
If you are a visitor from overseas you must buy a Non-Resident Licence.
Once you have bought a qualifying licence you can apply for a Backcountry Licence Endorsement.
When you have obtained your Backcountry Licence Endorsement, you will receive an updated copy of your licence by email showing the Backcountry Endorsement stamp and listing the regions for which you are endorsed. You must carry this copy of your licence when fishing designated backcountry rivers.
Remember, anglers intending to fish a Controlled Fishery must first obtain a Whole Season Licence and regional Backcountry Endorsement specific to the region where the Controlled Fishery is located.
BE GOOD TO PEOPLE!
Westland Rising
The time of year that most of us fly fishermen have been waiting for has come around again. We always put some serious effort into preparation for what we call the Opening Trip! But as per every year our biggest worry is always the unpredictable weather. You can have a super solid plan lined up but should also have a couple of back up options primed, from which you can start and adjust the plan to your needs.
To get into the rhythm and right mind set, we crammed the car full of unnecessary gear and left our homes in Queenstown three days prior to the grand opening. There is always fishing to be done somewhere in Aotearoa, either it’s stalking lake edges for cruising trout, chasing sea runners at the estuaries or scoping rivers before judgment day.
We had just over a fortnight ahead of us with the thought of spending the majority of our time in the Kahurangi National Park up north, but as things quite often don’t go as planned, we were forced to change our game plan due to 72hrs of torrential rain which dictated the flow of rivers chosen by us to be unsuitable for fishing. The good ol’ Kiwi weather! We remained optimistic and made an impromptu decision to stay in the area between the gates of Haast and township of Whataroa instead.
The West Coast offers a good variety of spring fed rivers and creeks, which due to its underground source of water remains clear and has consistent flow throughout most of the season.
The river we chose where our season would kick off meanders its way through swampy farmland, in past years it has provided excellent sight fishing opportunities to us. We knew that sea-run trout would be present in the lower reaches, boosting up the numbers of fish for this time of year but we decided to begin in the upper reaches where the main river is noticeably smaller and accompanied by multiple spring creeks.
And there we were, at the access point not far away from the State Highway 6, needlessly at a very foolish hour, with temperatures just touching 1 degree Celsius. The previous clear night set up for a stunner of a day. We brewed the JetBoil, whipped up a warm hearty breakfast and hopped into our waders. That morning’s sunrise was a breathtaking display of radiant colours. The sun itself was just peaking over the hill and its rays shone brightly and began to warm the air. Golden light dribbled over the farmland and ignited the birds into a chorus of melodies. The smell of our coffee drew us right in, we began our walk towards the misty river off in the distance. Shortly, we found ourselves standing on the high bank amazed by the water clarity.
We sat down watching the peaks of the Southern Alps pop through the remaining morning cloud. It was time to rig up, I decided to go for two nymphs and indicator option, while Jason’s choice was to tie on dry dropper rig. When the sun obliged, I spotted the first fish sitting just in the start of the riffle. Jason lined up behind the fish, unfortunately not being able to see it due to glare but listened carefully to my instructions and positioned himself into the right spot stripping out fly line. Dropping his rig too far to the right, his flies went past the fish unnoticed, same on a second and third cast. If this was later in the season the fish would be most likely gone, it kept happily swinging for food as the fish likely had a 5 month break from anglers, “Gotta love October”! The fly finally landed in the right spot and danced down the current towards the fish. His Blowfly acting as an indicator disappeared under the surface, he lifted his fly rod with excitement. The excess fly line was quickly gone through the guides and his hubless reel started to scream. As it turned out Jason hooked and landed a brown trout in superb condition after an energetic battle. We admired the coloration and spots on this estimated 6-pound trout, followed by a cheeky nose kiss and a humble thank you. Over the next couple of hours we were fishing at a pace one could call ‘’lazy angling’’. We were taking it extremely slow enjoying every aspect of it. I don’t think I have ever covered such a short amount of water in a such a long-time frame. Fish numbers were much higher than either of us expected, offering double hookups and “YEAH BOI” cheers on multiple occasions. Practically every brown trout we landed that day had unique markings and pigmentation, all had one thing in common…a big pot belly and every one in exceptional condition. We were in high spirits and called it a day surprisingly early, eager to enjoy a couple of cold beers at our previously setup camping spot at lake Mapourika. Lying in our tent wrapped snugly in our sleeping bags, the melancholy call of a Morepork put us to sleep with ease.
The next two days saw us having a blast on smaller sized mid west coast spring creeks. The weather Gods were generous, clear skies, light breeze (if any at all) and pleasant air temperatures set up for a decent afternoon mayfly hatch. Fishing these small creeks can be highly addictive and there was plenty around to keep us satisfied for several days, we were both in an eager mood for a tramp. It was time to relocate into the mountains.
The definition of backcountry isn’t one you can pin down, my belief is, it has a different meaning for every single individual. There is no drawn line to cross to be in the backcountry. For some, it might be a single day trip to a slightly remote place accessible by vehicle. For others it could be a quick chopper ride to places that aren’t commonly frequented by people, if you wish longer adventures on foot to remote places involving overnight stays. Undoubtedly, the only real way to understand the feeling is to go and experience it yourself.
A heavy front moved across the area overnight, making the river of our choice more suitable for whitewater rafting then fly fishing. Encouraged by a decent forecast that suggested the next few days would clear though we began making our way through the valley to the hut. Rivers can rise rapidly in just a few hours making places you could wade across become extremely dangerous after torrential rain, we knew that the rivers had the ability to drop just as fast. We decided to bypass the middle reaches and put in the hard yards to the headwaters. After a half day of walking through rough terrain, alternating between the track, boulders and tree hopping, battling swampy clearings with grooves of ribbonwood and scrub, we found ourselves close to the river. Some sections of the track reminded me of the scene from Never Ending Story when Atreyu’s beloved horse Artax is lost to the swamp.
While pushing forward, I could hear the river becoming closer to the track with each step and decided to bush bash through the mixture of a thick beech and podocarp forest. In a space of about ten minutes, I found myself on a high bank staring at five decent size brown trout gulping down insects in a stretch of very attractive looking water. Unfortunately for us there was no way to get to them, we were more than happy to just silently observe. According to our topo map we were no further than 20 minutes away from the next hut, which was to be our home for the next couple of days.
With only a couple of daylight hours left, we dropped our bulging backpacks at the hut and backtracked a few kilometers downstream in search of some early evening fishing. We had an outstanding time on no more than 1 km of water, pulling out some decent sized fish. Darkness came quickly, we were at a place we wanted to be. There was no light pollution or disturbance apart from the crackling fire, we were loving listening to such a blissful silence.
Sunlight filled the valley with warmth, the sky was blue without a single cloud in sight, we began our journey upstream. The fishing was not so fruitful. A couple of hours later we were fishless, not far from the hut and had already spooked over half a dozen fish. What the heck…such great fish numbers for a short stretch of primo water, but no luck. Still fishless by midday…it felt like we were cursed. I was personally dealing with some solid frustration and my mind was drifting. We headed further upstream where the river turned into a gorge full of boulders and fast turbulent water, sections of it were not passable. We decided to follow a track tucked into a beach forest, occasionally checking some pocket water. There he was, a good size brown, actively feeding in the bottom column of a deep section of fast flowing water. It meant I had to get as close as possible to achieve drag free presentation and fish super heavy.
I had a good feeling so unclipped my net in preparation. Two double tungsten nymphs went past my head way to close for my liking but landed exactly where I wanted them to be. No indicator with water so clear, I could see the fish intercept the nymphs. SET!! The startled fish darted towards me causing me to react and dive the net right in front of him, he surrendered in just a few seconds. The curse was broken, my mood lifted. We came across a couple more fish in the gorge but lost the battle, hooked but never landed. We were now in headwaters, the river had noticeably shrunk in size, shallowed and the valley opened. Birds suddenly started to appear swooping over the river. It was now 3 o’clock and the fight between the fish and birds over mayflies brought spectacular entertainment. We had to join in! There was no time for poor casts, the presentation was everything. The parachute Adams came out our fly boxes ready to be teared apart, we were buzzing with happiness. It wasn’t just the fish we caught. That very moment we wouldn’t of wanted to be anywhere else.
This is what we came for, it really was just the beginning with us knowing we had another week ahead of us.
GOOD VIBES ONLY
As per every year, Jason and I have about two weeks of annual leave reserved for our annual Opening Trip. Getting a couple of days off work before the actual season begins has been working in our favor. This gives us plenty of time to relocate wherever is the most suitable weather and crack into the new season.
This year our good mate Todd came along and the road trip started two days before the opening day. The first five days were magnificent and just full-on fishing with late returns to the camp. We had all the rivers we decided to fish to ourselves, plenty of sunshine, and bagged some nice fish to the net. Then it slowed down a bit but we did not mind. We had shorter days fishing, plenty of time to drink beer, and just chill. As a team, we did not blank a single day but at times we were very close to do so.
We ended up doing about 2025 km behind the wheel (well Jason did), 11 nights, 10 days of fishing, 150045 km on foot per head, drank 168 beers, had few wines and some Gin.
Awesome time we had and I already cannot wait for another adventure with these chaps!
MONTH OF MAY
GONE FISHING WITH SANTILLAN DE PINTO
What’s your favourite piece of outdoor kit?
I love my Tamron 45mm f1.8mm lens. It’s small, has the creamiest bokeh and sharp as a tack.
What`s your most valuable piece of kit?
It may sound like a cliché, however the most valuable item in my kit isn’t physical its’ conceptual – “time”. Life in Queenstown sounds idyllic, however the reality is a bustling, fast paced lifestyle negotiating work, relationships and personal down-time. Time, how I invest it and with whom is without doubt the most valuable “object” in my kit.
What does the fly fishing mean to you?
Fly fishing means connection. Connection to something much larger than myself. I’ve skirted around the edge of many outdoor pursuits in the past. hiking, free-diving, mountaineering, travelling. All of them were intrinsic to those distinct parts of my life. Fly-fishing joins all those threads and forms a deeper sense of connection than the individual aspects of those sports. I simply feel connected to something larger than myself when I’m Fly- fishing.
What’s your favourite place to escape into outdoors?
You only know you’re there when you’ve arrived. There’s no specific destination, although it’s hard to beat Central Otago. In reality it could be anywhere on the premise I see no other anglers excepting for my buddy. Preferably there is a gorge involved with the promise of trout sitting high in the water column eager to examine a well dropped fly.
What’s your top fly fishing tip?
“Run ‘n Gun” I’ve been trying this a lot this season, spending time high in the back- country with larger and often spooky trout. As opposed to finding the perfect vantage point to cast from, getting up behind the fish, assessing all the variables etc. and then making the cast. Instead, I’ve been running and gunning. Walking slowly with a fly combination that I know will get attention in the waters I’m fishing and being ready to cast from the time I see the fish. Basically, make the cast, drop the fly and get the eat. More often than not this has worked. Spend less time getting ready to fish and more time fishing. I’ve noticed that by doing this there is less time for spooky fish to realise there is something out of place in their “sight picture”.
Do you prefer day trips or overnight trips? And why?
Overnighters. That feeling of falling asleep by the river, waking up and making a b-line for the coffee as you watch the world wake up around you. I think it puts you in the right headspace for a successful day on the river. If you wake up on the water, you’ve already left the world behind you.
If not fishing on your own who would you most like to go for a fish with?
I’m quite lucky, I’ve got a wide circle of angling friends. The ones I fish with can range from new anglers through to my peers and mentors in the sport. They all however, share one thing in common. That is they are utterly obsessed and have that essential, child-like sense of wonder and energy. They’re the people I like to spend time with on the water. They make me a better angler by bringing that to the table.
What do you pack for overnight backcountry trip?
It’s pretty much the same as you would for any longer trip. These days some luxuries seem to make their way into my pack. An inflatable pillow and essentials like an insulation layer and a waterproof no matter what the forecast. Yeti thermos filled with hot choclate and making sure I’ve actually remembered to put the battery back in the camera after being on charge.
What do you call backcountry?
By definition the back-country is only a 15 minute drive away from my home. I guess in the context of the question though, the back-country is that mystical place devoid of human contact. You put on a pack, tighten your laces and hike in on the promise of sight fishing to large New Zealand trout, relatively un-molested by other anglers.
Describe the most scary moment you`ve had when being backcountry?
Fishing alone and falling on my Glutimus Minimus whilst crossing a river. At that point I did not have enough common sense to have a PLB. The world got really small incredibly quickly. I dragged myself to the edge of the river, out of the water, collapsed in incredible pain and thought I would not be able to walk out. I could feel my legs at this point and the shooting pain up my spine did a lot to detract my attention to my now smashed fly reel which did a stellar job in taking a large portion of the force of the fall. I was already 8km from the trail head and would be the only angler on that section of the water all day. I did have the foresight to have registered my intentions with my Dore with the understanding that if he didn’t hear from me by 7pm to send help. That was small consolation as this happened at 10am and would have been a long 9 hours.
What is your highest number of days without shower in the row?
17 days trekking in Nepal during the middle of Winter.
What`s your favourite after-trip tipple?
I like listening to the odd Bob Marley tune to wind down ;)
What is your top outdoor tip?
Spend the money on the best gear you can afford. New Zealand is hard on outdoor equipment and harder on you if you don’t have the right gear. In terms of equipment shop above your experience. You can always grow into your gear. ALWAYS carry a PLB!
Where would you most like to be right now?
New Zealand is currently in lock-down for Covid-19. Ideally this time of the year sees me back at the Mataura after those annoying willow grubs have all fallen out of their trees and the mayfly hatches begin to kick into gear. Having said that, the idea of fishing for salties on the flats under a scorching tropical sun sounds pretty bang on to me.
Two fly fishing adventures you`d put on your bucket list?
That’s easy. Sight fishing for Golden Dorado in Bolivia and swinging flies for sea-run brown trout in Argentinia. Did you say two? Maybe a quick trip into Kamchatka wrestling bears.
Highlight(s) of the 2018/2019 season?
I have two that stand out. Definitely fishing for Brook Trout. I love everything about chasing them. It took me years to find them, pouring through literature, speaking to other anglers and eventually finding a stable brook trout fishery. They live in truly amazing places, small intimate waters that test your technical casting abilities. I managed to take a 100mm macro lens the last time I went chasing them and they photographed beautifully. Ive even managed to get some decent prints made and have them up on my wall as a reminder of their fragile beauty. Secondly, seeing my friend and colleague catch her personal best trout on the fly. Witnessing another angler achieve their goals is the coolest thing to be a part of.
CICADAS, BROWNS AND THE BROOK CHAR
Todd and myself not catching double digits but boy… did we have a good time!. Central Otago at its finest!
Photo gallery to follow.
Marek`s back - South Island road trip #????
Marek`s back once again and it wouldn’t be a proper visit if we didn’t do a road trip. We wanted to shoot straight up to Golden bay and harass kingies, but of course we couldn’t bypass all the freshwater on the way.
Here is a little PHOTO ESSAY from our 2700km round trip.
