johnwalkley 24 Posted April 27, 2010 Report Share Posted April 27, 2010 Hey all, just got back from my New Zealand trip and thought id share a few pic’s.I had been gearing up for the trip for some time, with a week planned down at Rotorua (near taupo) on the north island for some trout fishing for large trout and high numbers of them then I had 3 weekends worth of fishing up at Auckland with the old man on his boat with large salmon (kahawai) and kings on the agenda.So after an interesting time in Auckland customs inspecting my gear and lucky I separated all my spools and lines from my reels that I carried in my hand luggage cause the customs guy mentioned that you’re not allowed line in hand luggage in case I might be tempted to hijack a plane with a fly line, lol yea right. Any way with a quick rig up and 3 hours sleep I was out on Auckland harbour casting for kings on structure, got a few rats on my fly rod but nothing huge, maybe 60 cm, then kings went quiet. Luckily the snapper were taking plastics and we bagged a few until the birds showed up on the scene and as usual under the birds was an exploding school of salmon from 2 to 3kg in size, they were brutes and fought like crazy on bream gear but most were caught on my 7weight fly rod, nothing like hearing that drag scream!The next day after an equally sleepless night we were out up north for the kings first up though we had to catch some ‘decent size’ live baits, however this proved too difficult with all the salmon tended to me on the 3kg mark and exciting to sight cast to as they cruised round molesting white bait on the surface, we did eventually find some more ‘reasonable’ sized salmon and with a 6\0 on they were back out to troll. We managed 2 kings for the day with a few misses few dropped runs but the 2 kings were around 20-25kg so they were straight into the upright smoker and were finger food for my brothers 21st the next weekend.A live bait. After the weekend my trout trip started, after 3 hours drive south I got to my first designated river and fished from the road bridge up. Caught a few small ones and missed a 5lber on a dry 4 times before he spooked. The next fish I employed the old ‘god save the queen’ count timing the strike on a dry fly and it seemed to help for the rest of the trip. Up this particular river I managed to get a nice 3lb rainbow and then proceeded to the next river the river The next river was different in character with deeper corners and faster flow and I managed to hook and loose 5 or 6 very large fish but did however manage to finally land a nice 4lb brown on a wolly bugger dangled in his face to aggravate him. The next day saw me guided on a few rivers, the first was an awesome gorge that had some pools 20ft deep and crystal clear and the fish were all of the 6 – 8 lb class, I hooked and lost a rainbow of that class on my 4lb tippet which didn’t stay on for too long and as we walked up we started to see wet foot prints on the side which was around about the time that we noticed there were less and less fish for me to spook and as it turned out a whole class from school had decided to go gorge walking up ahead of us, ‘nice one’ anyway we went to a different river close by with 3 hours wasted. Took us ages to start to see fish, then when we finally did and after emptying my fly box of flies we figured the vigorously feeding trout were feeding on willow grubs and not interested in anything I had. After half an hour on 4 fish the guide produced a small size 14 super glue rubber band tied nymph in a green colour, we though why not and gave it a go. At first we had no interest until I proceed to pull the fly out of the zone and made it move slightly and this was the trigger the fish swam a good 4 meters at pace to smash this minute offering., and I was onto a 5lb brown. The next fish came quick using the same tactic however he was broad in the shoulder and a good 6.5lb and on a 4lb tipped it fast water with a log jam and the end of the pool it was very touch and go for at least 10 mins. However luck was on my side and I managed to land my biggest trout yet , “unfortunately the photo doesn’t do it justice as the guide was on a hill zooming in and down to take the shot, but the fish was a genuine 6.5lb†with him released and another 4lb trout sighted, a quick cast produced the last fish for the day, so I managed to pull a big donut into a hat trick. Nice, http://i288.photobucket.com/albums/ll173/johnwalkley/Motu024.jpgThe next day I was up at the crack of dawn with the mist and the rain to fish a freezing spring river at 5:30. Fish were out and about everywhere and feeding on anything but flies “lol†but I still managed to fool a few of the less educated one, the tally for the morning was 8 fish most caught on nymph but a good 4lb rainbow and a nice at least 6lb brown which put up a very spirited fight ad was almost a fat as he was long. This river had some healthy fish and also a healthy population. When you spooked an 8 lber 7 or 8 more spooked with is from un seen locations. But at the end of the morning I had a blast and had one small one for the camp site smoker for lunch so off I went. Unfortunately the pics are not the greatest, it’s hard doing timer shots of yourself, the contrast and focus are always out but you get the idea.Home sweet home for 3 nights. http://i288.photobucket.com/albums/ll173/johnwalkley/P4140231.jpg http://i288.photobucket.com/albums/ll173/johnwalkley/P4130202.jpg http://i288.photobucket.com/albums/ll173/johnwalkley/P4130215.jpg http://i288.photobucket.com/albums/ll173/johnwalkley/P4130216.jpgThe last day saw me hitting a river in the morning before check out where I managed to spook a nice brown of about 12lb but then proceeded to land the midget just up from it, a modest 6lber. Nice end to a trip, this was the river they were in. http://i288.photobucket.com/albums/ll173/johnwalkley/P4140225.jpg http://i288.photobucket.com/albums/ll173/johnwalkley/P4140229.jpgWell the next weekend was a write off with bad weather and tooooo much drinking, but the Monday me and my bro went down the line again for a day trip on the trout down to matamata not labelled “welcome to hobbiton†after lord of the rings was filmed there, this was where the hobbits lived in the shire. After a nice MacDonald’s breakfast and a none too impressed check out girl after asking for a ‘fillet o Frodo meal and a samwise gamgee with extra Sméagol†we went to fish the rivers I fished on the first day. Today there were fish everywhere, my bro missed some huge fish as a novice fly fisherman but did manage to land 3 himself by the end of the day and I managed about 10 or 12 which was a good tally we went to a lake south of rotorua. Thought I’d get some trout for the smoker. 1st cast to the lake landed me a 4lb rainbow and in the next 15 mins I had 4 for the smoker, so we called it a day. http://i288.photobucket.com/albums/ll173/johnwalkley/P4190307.jpg http://i288.photobucket.com/albums/ll173/johnwalkley/P4190309.jpgThe next weekend it was back on the kings and on stupid sized salmon got to our spot x and after pulling salmon hand over fist on small flies and lures we sent two down the back trolling. And continued to catch salmon while we trilled for kings, it didn’t take long for a strike and it was so quick we didn’t even see it on the surface, just had a screaming rod, well being a super rod grabber I was on and into that fish in no time. Once we got him into the 20m mark I gave him a bit of stick and had him on for a good 20 mins or so, but what a strange fight, kings normally go deep like tuna but this one was coming up on the surface like a salmon and doing large circles then went back down and the up and so on, it was strange. Anyway we landed him and he weighed in at a comfortable 30kg, not so comfortable for me holding him though lol! My bro got one straight after of about 25kg and we had 7 missed hook ups for the rest of the day. On the way home in glass conditions we saw a fish tailing in deep water on closer inspection I got wobbly knees from seeing 30+ kings up to 80lb swim under the boat. What a shock. Unfortunately by this stage the only livies we had were too small to warrant interest out of them. http://i288.photobucket.com/albums/ll173/johnwalkley/IMG_0402.jpg http://i288.photobucket.com/albums/ll173/johnwalkley/IMG_0404.jpg So all in all it was a fantastic trip with a PB king and a PB brown trout caught. Till next timeJohn Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ninja 0 Posted April 27, 2010 Report Share Posted April 27, 2010 John,What an awesome trip.The report and pictures put me right there with you.Congrats on a few PB's and a great report.Dame Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Softy 2,991 Posted April 27, 2010 Report Share Posted April 27, 2010 Best report i have read in ages... sounds like an AWESOME trip!!!!Next question is... when is the next one, and can i come? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
pescados 1 Posted April 27, 2010 Report Share Posted April 27, 2010 +Thanks for the write up and pics John.Awesome trip.Throwing in a karma as well Quote Link to post Share on other sites
urhookedfish 12 Posted April 27, 2010 Report Share Posted April 27, 2010 Ever heard of inviting your old next door neighbour. wow seems like you had a better trip than last time...SENSATIONAL....FEEL SOME MORE DROOL OOZING OUT OF MY MOUTH.MONSTER KINGS AND MONSTER TROUT.PHOTO'S TO DIE FOR....YOUVE DONE IT AGAIN BRO. :ohmy: :ohmy: :ohmy: :ohmy: :ohmy: :ohmy:Hey what sort of rod and reel did you use to slay those big Kings? And that creek in the last shot with the Big Rainbow looks perfect. Good water speed and depth. :)Yes after another look, I think that could be up there with one of the best posts Ive seen. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Goldys_Fishin 0 Posted April 28, 2010 Report Share Posted April 28, 2010 Top post mate.... great pics Quote Link to post Share on other sites
reelin 2 Posted April 28, 2010 Report Share Posted April 28, 2010 Great Report John ! We Have family friends that live just outside of rotorua and one is a mountain guide! I think a trip is in order!Awesome kings and salmon as well! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
bocky 2 Posted April 28, 2010 Report Share Posted April 28, 2010 Great write up mate. What a ripper of a trip pb kings and trout couldnt ask for much more. The rivr scenery looks fantastic not a bad place to wet a line. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
fishnuts 55 Posted April 28, 2010 Report Share Posted April 28, 2010 Great write up and pics John boy, glad that new Streamdance did the job for you and also glad to hear some of my special tied flies worked for you aswell :woohoo: I think you've finally convinced me to come along with you next time that's for sure, that just looks too good . Did your bro christen his new rod and reel?Now all you have to look forward to is catching a few bream e.t.c. around here, I personally wouldn't pick up a rod around here again after a trip like that Well done mate, I'll catch up shortly with you.Cheers Darren Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Hatchmanss76 0 Posted April 28, 2010 Report Share Posted April 28, 2010 Great read , good fish, nice scenery and the pics to go with it all, what an awesome trip :woohoo: How do you come back to the daily grind after that ?Thanks for sharing :cheer: Quote Link to post Share on other sites
brenton 637 Posted April 28, 2010 Report Share Posted April 28, 2010 now thats a report worth reading. cheers brenton Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Guest shagging Posted April 28, 2010 Report Share Posted April 28, 2010 Softy wrote:Best report i have read in ages... sounds like an AWESOME trip!!!!Next question is... when is the next one, and can i come? What he said lol! thumper fish mate! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
johnwalkley 24 Posted April 30, 2010 Author Report Share Posted April 30, 2010 cheers guys, yea loved it over there now i gotta wait a year or so to go back, might get as chance to do fiji though later in the year, and this time ill take something heavier than just my fly rod.yea brett just used my 4000 heartland with 20lb saltiga braid on a sol 8foot 10-17lb rod. worked alright, bit sporting, got some on my dads 10kg overhead outfits too. so yea either or, only got rats on the fly this time though. oh al also me and my brother caught the same salmon at the same time both on fly, so it was a bit of a tug of war lol! :woohoo: Quote Link to post Share on other sites
MarsOne 137 Posted May 4, 2010 Report Share Posted May 4, 2010 awesome write up, like a fishing magazine. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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