18 November 2015
I decided that another adventure was required to New Zealand, but the North Island this time, so I flew Canberra to Wellington. Picked up the hire car easily. Got to Ohakune at exactly 9pm.
19 November
Fished the Whakapapa at Te Rena road access and also from Owhango road. It is a beautiful river. But can be hard to get up and down the banks in places. Caught 5, 2 over 5lbs (5.25lbs and 5.5lbs). The weather was nice.
Drove around looking for other rivers on the way home. Saw some good ones but access is the issue in the North Island!
20 November
Up and away at 8am. Fished the Manganuiteao. And the Orautoha. Managed 6 for the day. Biggest 3 were between 4.25lbs and 4.5lbs. Nice fat rainbows. All caught on the 6'6" Taransky Bamboo rod!
As I have said on this blog before - if you see art shots then you know the fishing wasnt going so well!
I manged a new milestone today. I snapped my fly line… it got snagged around a rock in a deep pool. I pulled and pulled and it snapped off! Must have got the actual line caught and not the fly or leader. Anyway a good day. I ended the day with a little soak in the spa back at the motel.. made my muscles feel a lot better (and my attitude)!
21 November
I fished the Takiahuna (sp?) not far from Ohakune for a few hours – very hard going - and I mean hard going. The water was ice cold. I saw 1 fish. So I caught it. Then I pulled the pin.
I drove around to the Mangawhero – caught 3 more.
Met the fish Whacker.. Laurence. I called him that because every time he talked he would say 'a fish would come up and WHACK the lure, and then I would WHACK it on the head'. He did make me laugh. He was a good caster but I don’t think he was all there. He was limping as he had been run over as he walked home from the pub. Apparently the guys that ran him over were drunk.. but he wasn’t.. he was just walking cause he felt like some air!
PS Happy Birthday Simon - treated myself to an Indian feed tonight.
22 November
Fished a small creek. Caught 2 - once nice one of 7.25 lbs. Lost another 2. Not bad. Weather started to clear which was good.
23 November
Drove to Turangi and met an old school mate - Duncan, who now lives in NZ. We caught a few in the Tongariro, told some lies, relived some episodes and all in all had a great time. The weather cooperated nicely to as you can see!
24 November
I only had one day with Tunksie boy and was sorry to see him go. I fished Otamangakau today by just walking up one of the shores. Saw heaps of fish and caught 5. Not bad given I didn't have a boat.
25 November
I decided to hire a guide for today to fish some different water and have some company. I fished with Andrew Christmas of Taupo Trout Guides. I had a great day. Landed 9 lost 5. At one stage I lost 5 in a row - fish jumping and spitting the hook. Andrew I think was wondering if I was getting irritated by that, but I said to him (I must have been having a very philosophical day) "It happens, its just fishing and that can happen sometimes - I set the hook, fish runs, jumps and hook comes out. C'est la vie. At least I am not snapping tippet or hooks." I must be maturing :-)
Great day - and some decent photos for once :-)
Next day I legged it down to Wellington, dropped the hire car off and came home. A decent trip!