 Standing
waist deep in the freezing waters of Lake Taupo from twilight to midnight
proved to be the most productive method for the four members of the
club during their visit.
The 2 younger team members, Dennis (The trout slayer) Sleep and
Alex (baby doll) Sarcevic were more than happy to suffer the pain while
the fish were searching for and finding the lumo baby doll flies they
were casting into the river mouth drift, while the senior team members
John (I need a new reel) Hare and myself, Rod (rally driver) Jenkins
preferred to stay dry and warm.
Since it was only 2 weeks the devastating floods of February
2004 the fish in the world renown Tongarriro River were only providing
spasmodic reaction to lures. Dennis and Alex landed 2 or 3 fish with
an average weight of 4 lbs each night they went out. They found the
method of dead drifting a lumo baby doll fly that had been freshly
charged with light from their head lamp in the drift of the Omori and
Tauragna-Taupo rivermouths provided an exhilarating experience.One particular
fish that Denis hooked took off into the middle of Lake Toupo running
out his line and 60 yards of backing before he was able to control it
enough to begin retrieving line. His vision of a great trophy fish was
dashed when Alex tried to net it and found it had been by hooked
by the tail fin.
The fish that took Alexs” baby doll fly just as he was lifting his line
for a back cast leapt out of the water between Dennis and himself ,
did a 360 around him , Alex did a timely pirouette to avoid tangling
all the drifting line as it headed back out to the centre of the lake.
In true Rex style Alex was so excited whhen he finally landed it
he gave it a big kiss.
 Just
to add some more excitement Rod set a new record for the 14 kms of winding
road to and from their base camp at the Turangi and Lake
Toupo Angling Club cottage which is part of the excellent club
accommodation and clubrooms complex in Turangi.
John
Hares'story
OH! WHAT A FISH IT WAS, IT REALLY WAS!!!!!!!!!
"On my own as usual, I left the base camp by 9.30am on the
best sunny day we have had so far. And it was our last full day to catch
fish. I met an old guy named Ron by the riverside a long way south of
where we had previously fished. In a moment he told me his life story,well
a lot of it anyway,then offered to show me “the best water in the whole
river'.Ron was 82 years and had suffered a lot of CANCER during that time
but had beaten it.Lucky fellow.I carefully selected a great water hole
and after only a few long casts hooked what I thought was another of those
small ones we had all caught.Holy hell, IT WASN”T. After quickly collecting
my thoughts I began to bring him in and there he was on the bank in all
his glory.On arrival back at base I weighed him in at 3 ½ lbs but
Rod reckoned he thought it was 4 ½ lbs. Silly Rod !Thank god I
landed him successfully.Arriving home again fishless would have put paid
to any further NZ trips!!!!!"
There
are a few strange things about New Zealand and the Kiwis that anyone contemplating
a trip there should be aware of::
• They have bachs instead of sheds or holiday shacks.
• The dollar coins are arseabout, the big one is 2 dollars and vice versa.
• A “section” is a block of land.
• They barrack for the cricket team that is playing Australia first and
NZ second.
• You may be referred to as a Ausrtafuckalian.
• We go after big fish, they chase beg fush.
• Big fast waters require very long leaders –at least 1and half times
your rod length.
• There are very strict etiquette rules on the picket fence lines that
form along deep river pools and at river mouths.
• “Heave and leave” is a popular method of fishing bombs. (Heavily weighted
nymphs)
• “Wet lining “ is using a fast sinking line or shooting head so that
the heavy nymph gets to the bottom quicker.
• In most areas there is a commercial smoking shop that will smoke and
vacuum pack your fish so you can bring them back into Aus. (Its
not cheap, but).
Be
that as it may, The hospitality of Kiwis has to be experienced to be believed.
Johns friend Jim Swetman and his wife Mary could not do any more to ensure
that we enjoyed our stay. The 2 tackle shops in Turangi are mines of information
and assistance with putting lines on reels etc.
The Turangi And Lake Tauopo Angling Club (TALTAC)club rooms and accommodation
complex is an ideal base camp, very reasonably priced and comfortable.
We were very fortunate with the weather, being very mild, Jim emailed
3 days after we got back, that they had snow in the mountains !
A great trip, lots of fish for the tough guys, proving the adage that
the number of fish you get is directly proportional to the amount of time
you spend with a fly in the water. But it is amazing how your perspective
changes, the 3 one and a half pounders that I got were not regarded as
real trout !
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