latest fishing in nz, part 1.

Ken Gargett · February 13, 2011

Enough of the floods and cyclones and crap – after only one very brief fly-fishing trip all last year, I could stand it no longer. So a Qantas voucher, some FF points, a spot in Greg's, my guide, house – he is now a good mate as we've been fishing together for quite a few years (I've fished with other guides, even some with big gun reps, but I have never caught as many or as big trout as I have with Greg) and it was off to Kiwiland. Arrived at Sparrow's at the airport, notwithstanding the cabbie trying to go via the north coast, and checked in. Given an upgrade which made me very happy till I found out that apparently I had requested it and used a heap of points – no recollection at all. Clearly, I do need to go fishing. On the plus side, it might be breakfast on the plane but it is not in Kiwiland. At least the stumbling wombat has the good grace to provide Charles Heidsieck as the in-flight pointy end fizz, and the staff proved that they can mix a very pleasant G&T, and for once, a heap of good movies from which to pick (watched 'RED' with a heap of great actors – the CIA comes after a bunch of retired agents – it was a lot of fun) so it was a thoroughly enjoyable flight.

Writing this at the Orcland domestic and, despite the weather reports from yesterday giving me at least a day or two of great weather before the rains arrived, flights are being cancelled and mine already long delayed. This will not make me happy. And Steinies are 8 bucks a pop!

The Orcland domestic – could not be anywhere else. Every TV screen tuned to rugby; half the crowd guzzling RTD's; big smiles and endlessly helpful people (I mean that – Kiwsi in NZ are terrific; something evil seems to happen to them once they leave home – how is that Kiwi market, Rob?); that grating accent which, I swear, gets worse every visit; a woman trying to control a misbehaving child called Phoenix (seriously, who wouldn't misbehave if they were called Phoenix. That alone should be enough to bring Child Services running, unless of course anyone on the forum has a rug rat called Phoenix, in which case it is an admirable name. Actually in New Zealand, it is probably "Feenix") and a table of some of the most heavily tattooed people I've ever seen (and that is just the girls) not best pleased that their friend is getting married and the bride's parents have insisted on green and gold as the wedding colours (for our friends across the pond, imagine a Dallas family forced to attend a wedding where the bride's family has them dressed in Skins jerseys). And not that i have any sort of problem at all with tattoos.

So time to settle in, pray to the weather gods and keep shelling out 8 bucks a pop until my fate is decided. I'm keen to get there tonight as the plan for tomorrow was to fish the Boyle – brilliant river down near Hanmer Springs – had my best day ever there a few years ago. Two plus 9 lbs, an 8, a 7 and a couple of plus 5's. Started the day with a stuff up missing a big 'un and later we found one we believed was possibly 15 plus. We tried everything but it would not take a fly. They don't get big by being stupid – unlike the moron standing in freezing water, sans waders, paying a fortune to fling a pretend dead insect at a pre-historic beast who has no interest in proceedings. Of course, tomorrow, the river could be completely empty. Mind you, I might still be in Orcland.

Made it. Collected by Greg and we headed south making plans. Tomorrow the Boyle – my fave ever river. Also having a crack at the Travers – my 2^nd fave river and second best day a few years back. The Wairau (which is located very close to another top trout river, the Waiau – seriously, they could not find a better name than something so similar? Mind you, in this same area, they have two trout rivers, both called the Hope. Bizarre.). Have had mixed success in the Wairau – have got a few goodies but missed some whoppers. And possibly the Leaderdale, which I have never fished.

Worth noting that this country is unbelievably obsessed with the Rugby World Cup. Every shop you go into, every news bulletin, every paper, anything! All they talk about is the World Cup. If they don't win it, suicide rates will surely be of lemming-like proportions. The TV behind me is talking about a 'Richie McCaw for PM' campaign.

Greg has a little farmhouse back country so we are staying there first night, then down to a motel in Hanmer Springs for two nights, then back to the farmhouse and the last night in Nelson before heading home.

And the Aussies have outraged (seriously, this was leading the front page) the Kiwis. What happened was that NZ's national day, Waitangi Day (or something – most Kiwis interviewed on TV had no idea what it represented), fell on Sunday. So the Aussie consulate assumed that the Monday would be a national holiday. Apparently not in NZ. So we closed down for the day to take a holiday while Kiwis didn't. How dare we get a holiday for their Day!!

a few photos of the terrain and a fish or two.

more to come.