Absolutely amazing footage…
“ My wife and I were fishing with friend/guide Dean Whaanga in New Zealand when a combination of bad weather and good timing resulted in a fish giving us the experience of a lifetime. I crawled on my stomach with my camera to the water’s edge, hit record, and watched what was one of the coolest moments I have ever witnessed.”
It only runs for two and a bit minutes, but my guess is you will repeat view several times. Watch in HD and full screen.
Travelled around 1200km through north New South Wales and back up to Brisbane. Had great trip, but the trout fishing – let’s just say, sometimes us Kiwis forget just how lucky we are.
Full story will follow soon.
One thing I want to do before I depart this mortal coil.
Lowcountry Reds from Neill on Vimeo.
Fishing the Salt Marshes around Charleston, SC on a warm January weekend.
Just back from a four day trip to fish the Tauranga-Taupo River near Taupo, Central North Island, New Zealand.
On the face of it the fishing should have been hard, the river was low and very clear, the sun was summer shining, and it was blowing hard, at times very hard.
But the river was stacked with fish. There were good numbers of rainbows making their way up-river to spawn, and bigger numbers of fish making their way back down to the lake. Even managed to bag a nice 5ish pound Brown trout – nice surprise.
The fish were not big, but big enough, and the fish in the photo was pretty typical.
The river may have been stacked with fish, but there were very few anglers about, most of the time I was alone. Bliss!
Mostly used a ‘hopper-dropper’ setup; the dropper being one of Chris Dore’s Glister nymphs. I had these in a range of sizes and weights (including un-weighted). The ‘Hopper’ was a butt-ugly foam fly of my own twisted imagination which despite appearances was monstered by more than a few fish.
I don’t think I casted ‘blind’ over the whole 4 days – just cast to sighted fish.
Just a quick note, my trip was timed on the basis of a very successful trip same time last year, and year before. I am not a regular diary keeper, but do keep notes on successful trips.
Fly fishing with Russell Anderson Fly Fishing in New Zealand, spotting and stalking the ultimate challenge, sight fishing in New Zealand’s backcountry with gin clear water.
But in the North Island, and for big Rainbows. Beaut eh!
Sure it has a unique reputation for trout fishing, but those who have fished there know that is not all there is to be blown away by.
Back a couple of months as the New Zealand summer meandered into autumn, I got an invitation that many anglers dream about.
"Do you want to join us on a helicopter fly-in to the high country above Taupo, (central North Island of New Zealand)?" asked Pam, bless her!
Despite my morbid fear of helicopters after some very dodgy experiences in my time in the army, I hesitated for about half-a-heartbeat, and blurted out "Yes! Please."
The day arrived and of course there was low cloud with drizzly rain, and every chance the flight would be cancelled. But no, the weather over the range was supposed to be fine and clear.
So Pam, me and guide Steve clambered into the little 
round bubble under the rotors, and up, up and away we went over the range-top into the fine, clear sky as promised.
The fly-in revealed the crystal-clear headwaters of the river we were to fish. It was fairly Summer low, with shallow runs dropping into pools where the river turned in an apparently never ending series of bends. All framed by high country tussock, right up to the mostly steep banks, dropping near to, or vertically into the water. Beautiful!
Out of the helicopter on a small clearing in the high tussock, we rigged up the rods, and that’s when things got a bit tense. Steve, our guide, and a good mate of mine saw the fly I was about to tie on, and launched into a frank and meaningful critique of "that hideous beast". Full story
This, mostly, solo record of a 5 week fishing trip is possibly the best video I have seen on fishing in New Zealand. It shows the huge variety in landscapes, terrain and water. It also shows the wind, occasional rain, sandflies, and roads that test driving skill. All in all, everything that makes fly fishing here a true test of fishing skill, in superb surroundings. Wonderful piece of work.
Documentary of a fly fishing trip – New Zealand Jan./Feb 2012, 5 weeks / one ‘flyfischerman’, a German, and one "Go Pro – Hero 2".
There’s still plenty of productive trout fishing to be had around the country (NZ) in spite of the onset of winter and the closure of some lakes and rivers to fishing.
Fish & Game NZ is urging anglers not to put away their gear but to broaden their horizons – try the lakes and rivers that remain open over the winter months, different methods of shoreline fishing, and even sampling what other regions have to offer.
Anglers should consult their Sports Fishing Regulation booklet, or visit the Fish & Game website, where they’ll discover a wealth of fishing opportunities available over the cooler months.
More on where to fish over winter in both North and South Islands.
