Fly fishing

Of all the fishing sports, fly fishing is one of the most passionate among anglers worldwide. FlyFishing.com is the definitive website for all fly fishing anglers, beginners to the professional fly fishing guide. Fly Fishing is a sport that has international appeal and the mission of this website is to provide you with easy access to our vast database of fly fishing-related information, an online directory updated daily. Whether you are planning your next fly fishing vacation or looking for new fly fishing gear, FlyFishing.com can lead you in the right direction. We will also offer up-to-date fly fishing news, weather, tides and travel information to plan your next fly fishing trip. Our “featured” content will provide you with the articles on the latest fly fishing equipment and tackle.

A Trout Fishing Epiphany

The door opened and needless to say, my heart nearly stopped. The chill of the air didn’t affect me physically, but mentally it made me a little uneasy. No backing out now. Roy tapped me on the shoulder and showed me his altitude watch, which read 12,000 ft. His eyes expanded two-fold and with a demon-possessed look, he mouthed the words “GO TIME!” I have to admit I don’t remember much about the first 45 seconds (which was how long it took me to fall 8,000 feet). But I can tell you my eyes were open the entire free fall and I loved every second of it. I was temporarily living my reoccurring dream of flying. At 4,000 feet, the parachute deployed and the contrast was dramatic. Immediately, the transition was complete…from mach 2 in a fighter jet to a Sunday stroll in the park in less than 5 seconds. Here is the weird part. Instead of breathing deeply, gazing at the turquoise colored water filling Lake Taupo and preserving the glorious view to my memory, I was looking for where I had fished the day before. This should have been one event in my life in which I was not thinking of fishing. But, New Zealand trout fishing is addictive, mysterious and has a way of seducing all of your thoughts. What else would you expect from a place known for its gin-clear water, big trout and near virgin wilderness?

When I was younger, I wasn’t the most patient of anglers. Yes, when there was a hatch, I would sit on the bank and take note of what was happening. And for the most part, I always tried to “read the river” before I jumped in and started casting. But, I can’t say I sat there too long making journal entries, meditating or sketching the landscape. As the old saying goes, you can’t catch a fish without a line in the water. That was my mantra. However, the older I get, the more patient as an angler I become. I’m just not in a hurry like I once was. I walk slower and try to take it a little easier. No question, the more patience I practice, the happier I am.

Normally, the central region of the North Island is very dry in February, but not in the February I decide to go. From Auckland to Taupo, my wife and I noticed high water marks that were unreal. Rationalization stirred in my thoughts…”I’m sure it didn’t rain that much in the Taupo region” and “this has to be from several weeks ago.” Upon my arrival, Rob, the owner of Tauhara Sunrise Lodge, informed me that I have just missed several days of the worst rain the region has seen in 50 years. UGH! He shared with me a few headlines… mass flooding, homes swept away, rivers overflowing, and several other headlines that accompany a flood of this caliber. When Rob said all the rivers were pretty much blown out, I seriously felt like crying. All these years, dreaming of New Zealand fishing and the bad news hits me like a right hook to the jaw. No backcountry fly outs, no fishing multiple rivers like I had hoped. Rob mentioned that the only prospect was the slight chance of fishing a spring feed stream. Little did I know what lay ahead the next few days.

The next afternoon, Grant Bailey, my Kiwi guide for the next few days, picked me up and had that look of “you should’ve been here two weeks ago.” The infamous look that so many guides are experts at giving. None the less, he offered a few words of hope and we were off to inspect the condition of a nearby stream. Grant was noticeably disappointed that we couldn’t fish some of the more favorable rivers in the area, but sometimes you have to take what you can get. My first reaction when we arrived at the Waitahanui was “this is what you call less-than-favorable?” It was like the perfect marriage between Idaho’s Silver Creek and a classic chalk stream in England. And within 2 minutes of walking, Grant had spotted a beautiful brown holding in the shallows, positioned perfectly for me to offer up my pheasant tail as a temporary gift. Flooding? Rivers washed out? No backcountry fly outs? Thoughts of the past! The sun was shining and the fish were tanning. It was the classic New Zealand scene I had always dreamed about. That first fish refused my hand-tied offering, as did the second, the third and the fourth. Matter of fact, the first day (which was notably only a half day) yielded exactly zero fish. I can honestly say that was the best zero fish day I have ever had…of which I have had plenty. Sight casting to monster bows and browns, formulating strategies with my new friend Grant, and making some excellent drifts….it was all so wonderful.

I could tell Grant was questioning my faith in him. Glancing down from his vantage point saying to himself “Trust me Bert, just trust me.” And I did, not a single thought went through my head to contradict or question anything Grant said. These were his waters and I was his student. When he said keep casting, I didn’t flinch, smirk or doubt. And as if he knew all along, the next cast was the magic one. Grant said “NOW”, I lifted the rod immediately and I sensed that feeling all trout fisherman love, moving weight on the end of the line. Finally, I had a solid hook-up on my first New Zealand trout. Earlier, when we had first arrived at the pool, I had told Grant how beautiful the setting was. But due to how the trees lined so closely along the banks and the shallow rapids were positioned five feet downstream from the holding fish, I didn’t see how in the world you could land a large trout here. Grant casually replied, like it was the norm, “You have about a 10% chance of landing one here.” So, I have the fish on, feelings of bliss consume me, but I have no idea how, where, and when I will try and land this fish. But I was not in this alone, for I had two friends by my side, Grant and Patience. With the help of both, I somehow kept the fish in the upper pool, out of the rapids. And after several failed attempts to land the fish, Grant was finally able to get a solid grip and land the fish. Wow, what a beautiful rainbow, over five pounds and right at 24 inches. Not the biggest New Zealand trout, but due to the conditions, I was elated.

Grant and I fished until late afternoon and I caught fish all day. We established a routine I grew rather fond of. Catch a fish, wind up, walk to the next pool, spot fish, he gets in position, I get into position, he tells me where to cast, I cast, catch a fish, repeat the cycle. My favorite part of our trout tango was not the catching (believe it or not), nor the casting. It was the time we actually took to spot fish, the strategy we carefully crafted and the whole setup process. All of my trout expeditions before New Zealand were missing this element. And as it turns out, it resulted in an epiphany that is one of the top highlights in my personal novel of fishing experiences. Slowly walking up to a pool, patiently deciding the best vantage point to find the fish, mapping the optimal drift, and finally positioning. That’s it. Being rewarded with a large trout on the end of my line was a huge bonus and one that I enjoyed thoroughly. But, it wasn’t the element of the experience that made me want to go back to New Zealand. You can catch large trout in a lot of places, but the New Zealand experience is truly unique and that is exactly why I am already planning my next trip back.

So, not only was my trip to New Zealand a surprising success, in spite of Mother Nature, it also resulted in a trout fishing epiphany. An epiphany that marked a significant milestone for me, giving me a whole new perspective on everything. In a lifetime of fishing, our journeys are filled with unexpected turns. One way or another, our opinions, perspectives and attitudes change with every experience. New Zealand is special place and I will forever remember it as the place that made me slow down a bit, look around and try and enjoy the subtle things in life.