Thanks Craig actually lots of wind and rain on this trip, but with true dedication and well picked spots by Butch kept us in the game,I was throwing first lines within 30 minutes of arriving on the 8.50am flight .We got out on the boat 5 out of 6 days.The wind switched from south to east to north so always something to fish, but mostly east so lots of nice sheltered motus.. I had 1 day of real rain but still fished in-between samade and inanos on that day chasing I,m sure the same fish for 3 days straight.
Each day brought something great, the big bones down at one foot, spotting and throwing at bones on windless evening,s on Samade, down to the last two shots of the trip off mangere with two massive bones which came to sniff the fly but decided to leave me in suspense till next time.
Even though visibility wasn't the best with Butchs eagel eye and help we saw lots and lots of bones but I noticed not as many tails as past trips . Was a definite change in mood, maybe was me improving or the fish where hungrier as often came to the fly , watching them finally smash it was well worth the hours put in for the reward, did loose a couple of hook up,s as well so not a bad score.
I used the same fly for the whole trip and scored a nice trev as well.
I learned a heck of a lot on this trip, mainly stripping techniques and patience which effectively turned the tide on finally getting some results.
Travel tips.
The hotel in Raro over the road from the airport is now called the Islander Hotel, They have a transit lounge for $45 and you get lounge, showers/toilets, cofefe tea facilities etc is well wroth considering if want to make the best of the air NZ time schedules, this meant I arrived in raro at 1am and was able to get the 8am to Aitutaki and get straight on the water for a full day. In-between I saved on a nights accommodation and was the only one there so was a nice air-conditioned lounge with real comfy couches :), bacon and eggs with frsh coffee at the airport café which seems to be open 24 hours topped the morning off before getting on the 8am flight to Aitutaki
If you get the works deluxe you get awesome seats in the plane and get to use the showers and lounge area in NZ and Raro which includes full bar and wine and cheese and ****, this means you can fish till the last minute on the lagoon. I got 11.50 am from Aitutaki and had a nice lunch and shower in the Air NZ lounge at Raro and got on the 2.55 to NZ.