Sandy as promised (eventually),
We contacted Kiwi Guide Brett Cameron upon Sandy's recommendation
and booked a days guided trout fishing on a small back country feeder stream of Lake Taupo with the added excitement of a Quad Bike ride in and out.
Brett came and met us at our campsite at first light with the 4x4 and quads in tow. We headed out of Taupo and drove for circa 45 minutes, parked up and offloaded the quads, that's when the fun began!
Brett had asked me on the drive up as to whether or not I had ridden a quad in the past. I had foolishly mentioned that I had ridden friends racing quads in the past and that the trail shouldn't be too much of an issue, trouble is none of my friends were from Kiwi Ex-Farming stock so hadn't grown up riding quads their entire lives! So we jumped on board and I had the Mrs on the back. Brett had said just to let him know if I was struggling to keep up and he would hold back. I had decided that wasn't going to be happening, so after another 45 minutes of flat out, and I REALLY do mean flat out trail riding we somehow made it to the river in one piece.
When we arrived at the river, Brett noticed that they had released additional water from a Dam upstream do help deal with the major drought they had been experiencing all summer, this was a double edged sword as although this meant that the river was at a nice height for fishing, it has also added a milky hue to the water, which would make spotting fish very difficult. With this in mind the decision was made to fish blind with a duo nymph rig and just work our way upstream covering any likely holding spots.
Within the first ten minutes I had hooked and landed my first trout. Brett laughed at the fact I had managed to travel all the way to New Zealand and land the smallest trout he had ever seen in the river (1/2 lb) and assured me that they could only get bigger! Sure enough 5 minutes later I landed a rainbow of 3/4 lb, he was right about the getting bigger part but I was starting to feel a bit deflated after hearing all these stories of real rod benders!
I needn't have worried though as the next 8 fish for the day all went past 3 lbs!
Then there was my best part of the trip! I had been discussing with brett all day about our trout preferences, his most definitely Rainbow's whilst my own naturally being browns. I had been steadily catching rainbows and was by no means complaining but I just HAD to land a brown! Then as we turned a sharp bend we spotted a nice brown seemingly basking in less than 2 feet of water, now was my big chance! I'm not going to lie, the thought of covering a good sized trout in 2 feet of water at considerable range was certainly a bum twitching moment. I laid out what I thought to be the right length of line downstream and reeled in the surplus. With one false cast the team of nymphs dropped around 5 feet above the fish
I thought to myself "Steven if the fish doesn't take don't be upset you have done everything you could have" I watched the hare and copper drop down in the water and the brownie lazily opened his mouth and BANG! FISH ON!!!!
Now I don't know about anybody else reading this but for me I can't imagine a better feeling in the world! I had sighted the fish, watched his behavior, worked out the correct length of line and covered him perfectly first cast!
I have not and probably will not ever have a better fishing moment in my life!
and here was my reward!
All in all it was the best days fishing I have ever had! Brett was an absolute gent who had a genuine passion for what he does backed up with a wealth of fishing knowledge! Mr Nelson I cannot thank you enough!
I hope anybody reading this has enjoyed my wee report and I would seriously advise anybody considering a trip to go for it!
Steven.
