North Island NZ fly fishing
Just got back from NZ on Australia Day. Had an absolute ball and got to see a bit of the place too.
We were staying with family and friends in Auckland but got about 4 hours south of there to Whakatane and a couple of hours north to my mate's bach at Mangawhai. Also took the car ferry out to Waiheke Island for a day. We did archery and laser clay shooting. Lots of fun. Also drove down to Hobbiton to see the movie set used for Lord of the Rings and the Hobbit movies. That was pretty cool even though I haven't seen any of the movies!
My daughter and I drove down and spent a night in Whakatane before meeting our awesome guide Cory Scott just outside Opotiki. We didn't fancy a 4 hour drive to start the day's fishing. We fished in some stunning places on the Waioeka River. It was all wet wading and pretty deep at times! My daughter hooked a couple of fish but unfortunately lost them both. I lost a trophy brown at the net which apperently wasn't my fault, a nice rainbow that was absolutely my stupid fault, and landed a couple of nice rainbows around 5 pound. We were either fishing a nymph with an indciator or a dry fly with a nymph below. The fish were all on the nymph except the last fish which was on the dry which was awesome to see!
My casting was pretty good eventually after a rusty start. All in all a bloody good day and it's got me very keen to do more. Nothing wrong with driving 4 hours either way to spend $1,000 on 2 fish that you release is there!
Few photos of the fishing and up the coast.
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Faulkner Family
Posts: 18018
Date Joined: 11/03/08
Sounds like you had a blast
Sounds like you had a blast over there. It's all about the experience.
Plan on getting over there one day to see where Sandy grew up.
RUSS and SANDY. A family that fishes together stays together
davewillo
Posts: 2389
Date Joined: 08/09/16
You should do it Russ. It's
You should do it Russ. It's an awesome place!
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tcarroll
Posts: 265
Date Joined: 17/12/13
Love it!
Landscape is amazing in NZ..... Was seriously considering a move over there about 5 years ago and still reckon it could be on the cards one day.
That Mangawhai cliff walk is epic! Surf was absolutely pumping when we were there. Must have been 8ft plus and perfect right handers from way out behind the big rock at the river mouth..... I was nowehere near game enough to make the paddle out! I got some cracking pictures of it but.
davewillo
Posts: 2389
Date Joined: 08/09/16
I owuld have loved to see
I owuld have loved to see that! The surf was pretty crap when we were there but my mate had some stories of pumping surf. The cliff walk gets the legs working for sure!
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Alan James
Posts: 2223
Date Joined: 30/06/09
Well done Dave
Good to hear you enjoyed your time over there and caught a few NZ fush to boot. Nice pics too.
davewillo
Posts: 2389
Date Joined: 08/09/16
Thanks Alan. Not hard to get
Thanks Alan. Not hard to get good photos with that scenery!
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Da pirate
Posts: 1560
Date Joined: 03/05/15
Quality ..
Some quality fish there mate .
heading too Harvey soon for the
day .. throw some lures round a few
thousand times .. cheers pirate
davewillo
Posts: 2389
Date Joined: 08/09/16
There's something about
There's something about those little spotty fish I love Pirate! I must get down Pemby way more this year.
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sea-kem
Posts: 14957
Date Joined: 30/11/09
Beautiful post Dave and
Beautiful post Dave and excellent pics. The Trout look in great condition. What a way to spend time with your daughter
Love the West!
davewillo
Posts: 2389
Date Joined: 08/09/16
Thansk Andy. We had a
Thanks Andy. We had a brilliant day and the fish were a bonus as they say!
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big john
Posts: 8749
Date Joined: 20/07/06
Quality
Quality all round Dave,
Never been to NZ but would definitely love to one day.
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davewillo
Posts: 2389
Date Joined: 08/09/16
Thanks BJ. Just so serene
Thanks BJ. Just so serene wading the river and throwing flies at those fish. They are so well-conditioned too.
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Adam Gallash
Posts: 15641
Date Joined: 29/11/05
Gotta go
You gotta go BJ, it should be on the bucket list. Place is just natural beauty everywhere of one sort or another.
Thanks for the write up Dave.
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davewillo
Posts: 2389
Date Joined: 08/09/16
Agreed Adam. Our guide also
Agreed Adam. Our guide also works on the South Island but he says the fishing can be very hard there at times. Can't remember if I asked why but it may be to do with the shallower, clearer water. A lot of our casting would have scared away any fish in crystal clear water!
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