We all know that good fish don't come easily. You need patience, perseverance and a little bit of luck to fool these cunning creatures. And sometimes, you even need another plane trip.
Mid-February 2014, we found ourselves in the midst of a very windy afternoon. The main river had blown out and our map, printed from online, suggested a spring creek was on the other side of the valley. After a 2km walk, we discovered a web of fish-less, small spring creeks. Disappointed, we continued on downstream, hoping to find some fish. The spring creeks eventually merged into a small lagoon, with a more promising stream flowing from the junction. In the afternoon sunlight, I could see a large fish sitting on the lagoon’s far side. Sneaking into position, I cast my first offering: a cicada imitation. The fish rose to the surface, and rejection swiftly followed. Two more fly changes later, he inspected the fly, but still no take. Like the flick of a switch, he made his way into cover, and the chase was over. Accepting defeat, I let him have the win on this occasion.
Fast forward one month, I'm back in New Zealand, and a rematch is on the mind. I make my way back to the same lagoon, but it appears to be void of fish. Undeterred, I scan the lagoon one last time, and notice a subtle ripple of nervous water. There he was, my old friend, cruising down the edge of a weed bed towards me. A quick fly change and I set the ambush. This time the victory was mine – a stunning New Zealand brown trout.