Taking a friend out for a fish must be my most enjoyable part of fishing. Catching trout has long become more of a relaxing past time rather than a serious type of deal for me.
The average fish doesn’t pose a huge challenge like it used to, although the odd fish really will stump me from time to time, so taking a friend who doesn’t have as much experience as me, is much more rewarding. Most importantly, very fun! When you add fly fishing into the mix, things get a little bit more complicated too.
Recently a good mate Anthony was down from Auckland to visit Hawke’s Bay and was keen to get into some trout. It had been a while between fish for him so it was now my mission to try and put him onto one.
The Tukituki River was nearby so this was the chosen location, and thankfully I knew just the stretch that might be holding a few fish.
We arrived and headed straight down to the chosen run where I had found fish earlier in the season. As I looked into the lie, I could see at least two dark shadows holding in a lovely spot, it was an easy short cast in rippling water. They weren’t likely to spook or head too far if they did.
As Anthony was up first, I scanned the rest of the pool and spied five more shadows further back. This pool was absolutely stacked. The first few casts went over the fish with a wee bit of drag so I gave a bit of tuition and on the third cast, under the indicator went and it was all on.
A bright silver rainbow leapt downstream and the fly-line tore off the reel. Anthony’s fish put up a terrific fight and thankfully moved its way downstream of the pool leaving many of the other fish unbothered. After some convincing the jack rainbow slid into the net and that was job done. Anthony held up the lovely fish and then let him swim back to his mates.
That one trout is more memorable than probably the last 25 or so I had caught, great to see someone else succeed after some perseverance.
With time almost up, it was my turn and I had my eyes on one of the larger shadows at the rear of the pool. Five or so drifts went by without a touch, and just as it seemed like the bite wouldn’t come, I locked in the perfect cast, the indicator smoothly wafted down to where the fish was tailing and just as I had hoped, dropped under the surface.
A short and sharp fight with a gleaming hen rainbow ensued with the trout almost ending up in the willows at one point. I applied extra pressure, and we soon had our second fish to the net. A wonderful female of just under six pounds, an epic way to round out a time limited trip. She was sent on her way and we scampered back to the car. What a way to end a day.
