Adventure #238

Top left to right: I watched this fish eat my fly in knee deep crystal clear water! Sight fishing the shorelines in winter fishing can be exhilarating. / A local lake of mine that offers stunning
scenery and fishing all year round with no closure.Bottom left to right: Heading up a favourite river full of fish that have started migrating up from a lake to spawn. In competition mode!
Netting a fish on a training weekend with the Sports fly fishing New Zealand development squad.
If you have any questions or need some advice, Ben is happy to help out. You can contact him on @hentonguiding
Leaky waders and no idea what I was doing in sub-zero
temperatures, but absolutely driven to land some of the
monsters I’d seen dad bringing in night after night. It took
about two winters and many hours on the water before I finally
landed my first fish on the fly. A moment I’ll never forget. I was
hooked. Pretty soon, I was saving every dollar I could scrape
together for my first fly rod, the Kilwell innovation, a rod I still
use to this day, 23 years later.
For me the excitement of fishing after dark is second to none.
Your senses completely change when you can no longer
rely on sight. In the dead of night, touch and sound are all
you have to figure out where to aim, your rhythm, and when
to strike. I can often tell who’s fishing next to me just by the
sound of their cast, and when the line goes tight, the chance of
it being an 8lb plus fish is common.
Night fishing is also one of the rare times I’ll catch for the
table. Fish and Game do a great job managing the fishery and
ensure a healthy stocking of fish every year. A fish will grow to
about 8lb in just three years. Any wild fish or double digits that
meet the end of my line will be returned to the water, in order
to carry on its good genetics, but I’ll make an exception for
one, a fish of a lifetime. A trophy that I’ll know when I see it, but
I haven’t seen it yet.
I came close not long ago. It was me, my dad and two
other mates. The fishing was hard but in perfect conditions.
Torrential downpours and no wind. We were fishing a favourite
bush-clad local lake, the two mates had finally had enough and
pulled the pin early. Just me and dad left to battle it out, the
whole place to ourselves. Suddenly like a switch, the fishing
was on! Multiple fish came to shore, including a trophy most
people dream of catching - a beautiful 11.5lb rainbow jack. I
took a few photos and let him go. He wasn’t destined for the
wall, but what a moment to share with my old man. One we’ll
never forget.
In recent years my focus has been on competitive fly fishing. I
started with the goal to represent New Zealand and test myself
against the best in the game. What I didn’t realise was the
sheer skill needed to compete, and the benefit to my fishing
that would come from battling it out, weekend after weekend,
with some incredible anglers. Skills I now bring to night fishing.
Though it’s a slower pace, night fishing feels like home. It’s far
more relaxed than comp fishing and reminds me why I love
this sport so much. It’s just me and my mate out there, losing
track of time into the wee hours. Talking rubbish over a brew,
unlike competition fly fishing which takes complete focus,
endless work and constant refining the process. There are no
medals in night fishing, just camaraderie and a box of beers at
the end of the season for the mate who landed the biggest fish
- it’s good for the soul!
With the arrival of my son a few years ago, the memories of
night fishing with my dad come flooding back. Thankfully the
young fella is pretty partial to a fish himself and often heads
out with me in the backpack for a cheeky flick after work.
Hopefully, with any luck in years to come, he’ll catch the
bug, and be out fishing the night away, maybe even with his
grandad too. I’ll just make sure he only needs a bread bag
on one side for leaks - he can’t have it too easy. For those
who aren’t mad, and prepared to get wet socks, todays gear
is out of this world. I’m using the Orvis Pro jacket, which has
stood up to some of the most torrential downpours you could
imagine. Staying warm, dry and comfortable means I can focus
on my fishing and stay out for longer. The guys at Killwell carry
a good range of Orvis gear to cover all your bases and have
the expert local knowledge to point you in the right direction. If
you’ve ever wondered whether to give winter fishing a chance,
I’d encourage it! Come out and join me in the picket line. Make
sure you say ‘g-day’ when I’m having that half-time cuppa, I’m
more than happy for a yarn or to offer some friendly advice.
Most people call me crazy when I tell them I love winter, but
for me nothing beats the hunt. Standing out in the lake, rain
falling, just you and your mates. Even better when everything
goes your way, for me, the long nights are when time is
inconsequential and nothing else matters.
This is my happy place.
28//WHERE ACTIONS SPEAK LOUDER THAN WORDS/#238