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.