Early Season Fishing Is As Good As They Say!

Early Season Fishing Is As Good As They Say!
By Mike McClelland

The fishing guides and lodge owners have told me for years that some of the best fishing in New Zealand is in the early season after the streams have been closed for six months. After receiving several reports of brilliant weather and great fishing I decided to sample the early season fishing and the new Premier Business Class sleeper seats on Air New Zealand.

I departed Los Angeles at 10:30pm, watched a movie (one of approx. 50 available on the personal video) while eating a light dinner and sampling New Zealand’s excellent wines. When it was time to sleep the seat turns into a flat bed with a standard size pillow and soft comforter. Eight hours of sound sleep and a fully charged ipod made the experience in my cubicle much better than previous flights in both Business Class and First Class. Before going to sleep I filled out a breakfast menu, much like at a hotel, and when I awoke I was served a hot meal. The twelve hour flight passed quickly and I landed at Auckland at 7:30am local time. However, as New Zealand is 21 hours ahead of Los Angeles, the time change to my body was only 3 hours --an easy adjustment.

After clearing Immigration I learned that my waders were not as clean as the Bio-security officer thought they should be so I experienced a three minute delay while they were dipped in a disinfectant and given back to me in a plastic bag. Few airports can solve problems as efficiently. Off to the Domestic Terminal and a shower & snacks in the lounge before my 1:10 minute flight to Christchurch. I picked up my rental car from AVIS and drove north to Pegasus Bay Winery for lunch and the acquisition of a couple bottles of the 2001 Prima Donna Reserve Pinot Noir. Then on to Riverview Lodge in Hanmer Springs with a stop at the Flaxmere Gardens in North Canterbury. This garden was established 38 years ago and the tulips, azaleas, rhododendrons, and other Spring flowers were in full bloom. Then on to the fishing lodge.

Upon arriving at the lodge I learned from owner John Gemmell that we were going to attend a birthday party for a sheep station master at one of the nearby stations (these stations can run from 250,000 to 500,000 acres) -- a real Kiwi affair in the Woolshed. Barbecued lamb was served along with beef, ham, venison, chicken and, of course, lots of New Zealand beer and wine. The party gave John the opportunity to get the keys to the gates for one of the stations for our fishing the next day.

After a breakfast of farm fresh eggs, crisp bacon, and lots of coffee, John and I took off in his 4WD vehicle. The weather was overcast and raining lightly as we drove to the station where John’s gate keys allowed us access into the station and the long drive to the head of a gorge. Unable to drive further we put on our waders and hiked along the river with John leading the way and looking for fish. After a couple of unsuccessful attempts (we will not dwell on those) John spotted what appeared to be a large fish actively feeding. I moved into position about 25 feet behind the fish, being careful not to make any noise in the water. After several casts without success John changed my fly to another nymph. On the third or fourth fly a take -- and a miss. The fish moved off and John decided it was time for lunch and a pot of coffee. We built a fire, boiled water for the coffee and ate our lunch.

After lunch we discovered that the fish had returned to its feeding position and I took up position behind it again. Again, several casts with a fly and when no sign of interest from the fish a change to another pattern. On the seventh fly I got a take and this time the fish was on the hook --and off up the river. Finally we were able to net the fish. The scale on his net indicated 4 kgs --better than 8-1/2 lbs. A few quick photos of this magnificent fish and then a release.

We continued our walk up the gorge and caught an smaller New Zealand brown trout --only about 5-1/2 lbs. Beautiful colors and full of fight --and again--was taken after presenting it with three or four different flies.

Satisfied with the day’s fishing we hiked back to John’s truck and enjoyed the cold bottles of Speights beer John had chilled in the stream. Back to the lodge for fish stories and a great dinner of scallops and pheasant prepared by the lodge chef.

I awoke the next morning to a bright sunny day. John told me this weather would allow us to fish a different large station where sunlight on the stream was needed to spot the fish. Again a repeat of the previous day - a drive to a different station where John received permission to access. A drive to the stream and another hike following John up stream while he looked for fish. Bottom line --several missed fish, but then I landed one of about 7-1/2 lbs. which we photographed, and released. As was true the day before, several different patterns were offered before the fish found one it would accept. My only disappointment: no cold beer was waiting for us after we hiked back to John’s truck as we forgot to bring it!

Another great dinner with New Zealand wines as I prepared to depart the next morning for three days of visiting a number of new properties; meet new owners and/or managers at properties that we already use; and check out the improvements at some properties that underwent refurbishing over the winter. Then home after only a week in New Zealand.