The McKenzie Country is home to a world class fishery—the canals and the behemoth browns and rainbows that haunt there. Salmon, escapees from farms, are also a popular bycatch.
I was fishing Twizel canals with the fatherin-law and his Dad, when I lucked onto this thumper 20lber on my third cast. I thought it was a snag at first but managed to coax a bit of life into it.
Not being greedy, I actually shared this fish with an Australian couple who were watching my antics in awe. Imagine the look on their faces when I handed the rod over and let them have a scrap before bringing in a fish of a lifetime. I think it made their holiday. So it was cool to do that.
Mind you, it was no skin off my fillet—I’d already caught a 16lb trout on my first cast!
