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Leaving the comfort zone
Sometimes it's good to be forced out of your personal comfort zone, to take on a new challenge well removed from the ‘same old, same old’.
This was certainly the case when guide Peter Francis invited me for a day or so’s fishing in a
It was with some trepidation that I accepted Peter’s offer. He had gone to some trouble organising an excursion that included helicoptering into some pristine backcountry waters. I was concerned that my limited fly fishing experience would not do justice to my guide’s efforts.
I need not have worried. Pete’s calm, encouraging manner and expert tuition skills had me into fish in no time at all, resulting in a trip that is etched into my piscatorial memory banks and filed under the ‘highlights’ heading.
It also changed my attitude to flyfishing for all time.
Over the years I have accounted for hundreds of trout by mainly trolling and spinning. I could add on one hand the numbers landed with a fly rod, and these were mostly with a Glo-bug, and I have been told (on numerous occasions) that ‘they don’t count’.
Pete picked me up in the afternoon and spent the next three and a half hours while on the road to Murupara gently sussing out my flyfishing experience (or lack of it), while outlining the ‘menu’ for the next day.
On arrival our first stop was at the
With around an hour of light left Pete presented me with a pair of lightweight Reddington 'Barrier Flex' waders and matching felt-soled boots as well as one of Composite Developments’ new four-weight GHR fly rods. I was armed and dangerous, but was expecting more damage to be inflicted on the surrounding flora than the trout population!
Length is not everything
However my casting technique proved to be quite adequate, especially after a little fine-tuning from Peter. I had always thought casting was about length, but in many nymphing and dry fly situations accuracy is the key.
On reflection, it is the good casts and nice fly presentation that I will remember from this experience more than the fish caught. Time on the water is the best teacher, and thanks to Peter our trip provided a sharp and positive learning curve that saw a much more confident pupil emerge at the end of the excursion.
With most of my trout fishing associated with lakes, I had never experienced an evening rise quite like the one on the river. With the light starting to fade, the fish came out to play, breaking the surface all around me in an entymylogical feeding frenzy. I could have quite happily stood streamside and watched the action unfolding. Any attempt at fishing was almost an intrusion on the scene.
My sedge pattern dry fly was twice fatally mistaken for the real thing, resulting in a small brown and rainbow trout to my credit, both of which were released. No doubt there were others that sucked at my fly, but these were the only two that stuck!
Sitting in our unit at Lake Aniwhenua Lodge later that evening, my initial apprehension had turned into delicious anticipation of what they next day might bring — and I was not to be disappointed.
The helicopter gave us a bird’s eye view of the terrain we were going to fish — long runs of smooth broad reaches punctuated by fast, white water squeezed through narrow spaces.
With the chopper disappearing in the distance, the only sounds left were those associated with water and bush.
It has been quite some time since I had been in country as pristine as this. Being there was what it was all about, with the fishing a great bonus. Peter set up the four-weight rod with a dry fly and dropper nymph, while the other CD six-weight was armed with standard nymphing terminal tackle.
Feisty fish
This rod was extremely easy to cast, allowing the angler to concentrate on direction. Its lovely action also handled the aerobatics of the hooked fish well. While the trout we were targeting were not big (around two pounds was the average), they were feisty, and in the well-aerated water gave a tremendous account of themselves.
I had to admire Peter’s patience and resolve. Here he was on water he would no doubt have loved to fish himself, but to his credit the only time he picked up a rod and cast was to demonstrate a technique. My guide marked my successes with lots of encouragement, offering timely pointers when things did not quite go to plan.
Over the years I have experienced a number coaches and tutors in a variety of sporting codes and recreational pursuits, but few could match Peter’s demeanour and approach, despite being relatively new to the job. From my first tentative casts I felt like part of a team, much like a golfer and his caddie.
Over the years Peter has turned his hand to a number of jobs from army officer through to oil company rep and he has a degree in economics to his credit. He is currently manager of the internet angling site www.fishing.net.nz
Growing up on the
In overseas travels he was able to further his experiences, fishing in
Spoilt rotten
Peter says the Horomanga stream in its heyday (the early 1990s) probably saw him and his fishing buddies enjoying some of the best trout fishing the world has to offer.
“We were spoilt rotten, encountering fish up to 15 pounds in relatively small streams – the good thing was so few people knew about it,” Peter says.
Getting back to the Charter Connection, Peter put me onto a number of fish that stuck and there were plenty more that I missed through inattention.
Opportunities on this back country river were endless and when we finally reached the pre-arranged pick-up point it was a well satisfied angler and guide who toasted the team’s success. This was undertaken with a cold bottle of chardonnay, carried chilled by Peter in his backpack along with a sumptuous spread befitting the surroundings.
All too soon we were back in the chopper for the first leg of our journey back home to the big smoke. Even after such a short stint in the back blocks, it felt as if I was returning to a completely different world.
While I am a new chum when it comes to fly-fishing, I have spent considerable times in recent years on charter boats, and during this period I have come to appreciate and recognise the good from the bad and the downright ugly.
Peter’s knowledge of his fishery, his pleasant, easy-going nature and excellent teaching skills puts him up there with the best I have fished with.
Everything he did was geared towards ensuring I had an enjoyable experience and his efforts were much appreciated. His tackle was also top of the range, and his four-wheel-drive has been kept in excellent condition to access those out of the way places.
The service offered is a complete one, with Peter arranging pick-ups, accommodation, meals and all transport. His services can also extend to land-based and saltwater flyfishing adventures.
With a number of days already booked by overseas clients Peter is well on the way to a successful career as a guide, and I have been lucky enough to see why.
For more information on Pete's Fishing Adventures, visit: http://www.fishing.net.nz/charters/details.cfm?CharterID=62
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