New Zealand a short report and pictures
- This topic has 11 replies, 9 voices, and was last updated May 3, 2010 at 12:22 pm by
.
-
Posts
-
This report is long over due and still I don’t have the time to give it the true love it needs. Vacation is awesome but catching up when you get back can be tough sometimes.
The trip over was a little slice of airline hell. Delayed 5 hours out of Montana, missed conections, rerouted to Canada and Australia, lost luggage and loosing two days of vacation is how it all started, but once our feet were on the ground in NZ all was right with the world again.
The short of it is New Zealand is a very special place and will always have a spot in the hearts of me and the wife. People like Simon Chu and Tony Davys just add to that. Simon is a hell of a good mate and took very good care of us even though we didn’t get to wet a line together. We can’t wait to get back!
The long of it…luggage arrived 4 days late, rain on the west coast, swimming in waders, water proof camera not that water proof when the battery door is not closed tight and the river Styx has no fish!
Guys I am sorry for the lame report but feel free to ask as many questions as you want and I will do my best to answer. In the meantime enjoy some photos from the trip!
I have to say one last thing about the trip. The rod I fished the entire trip was a Sweetgrass Rod made by Sam Drukman. It was the most incredible rod I have ever fished in my life! Rods don’t always impress me and this one did. If you are in the market for a high end rod I could not recommend one of Sam’s rods enough! This may seem like a shameless plug but I assure you if you had the chance to fish one you would probably be doing the same.
Joel
I can 2nd Joel on the Sweetgrass Rod, I fished one on their waters last summer that belonged to Zach Sexton, only #5 I’ve ever fished that felt like a #3.
When I get the custom Gheenoe project out of my pocket book, will be my next purchase.
Corey I think your first question was answered about the rod and as to your second question, yep that was a pet goat. The guy was walking it down the main street of Blackball. His lady friend was walking three dogs and he had the goat. It was something that you don’t see everyday so I asked him if I could take his picture and he said “no problem mate”! Real nice guy.
Tim those waders are a special addition that Simms put out last fall for guides on their pro-staff. I love them. The cool thing about those browns is they were caught within a 100 yards of each other yet looked so different. I wish I had more fish pictures to share but unfortunately I don’t. My camera was in my luggage which I did not get until we were on our way out of Southland. Simon loaned us a camera of his but I was nervous taking it on the water with us. Then the one underwater shot I took of a fish with my water proof camera ended up being the last. Lesson learned to always check the battery door…
Joel
Great trip Joel! But, I’m really glad you are back in Montana so you can boss me around some more! 😉
Joel,
nice pictures. The last shot looks like a real challenge to fish and wade 😉
I was fortunate to spend 4 weeks on the south island with my wife in December/January and it is truly a very special place. The down side was coming back home to -14F and 4 weeks of snow fall. Cant wait to get back. Thanks for posting the pictures, those spring creeks haunt my dreams every night.Knut
Come back for a month Joel!
Give Debbie that Southern summer Christmas  🙂1080 is an indictment on our clean green image. Its truly unbelievable we use it. >:(
Trust me mate, she is working me hard for that Southern summer Christmas right now. We will be back I am certain of that I just don’t know when yet.
1080 sort of blew my mind because the country does seem so environmentally conscience. Just goes to show you how powerful the agricultural industry is in NZ…
Joel
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.