Anglers Lodge Club Trip 2003

Friday 5.00 am to hell with work, John Pellew has lent me his feather casting thing (12 foot Fryan, raised floor non trolling tinny) ha ha. I said “needs rod holders, 2-5 should do”. The whites of John’s eyes at 7.00 am in the morning, not good, when he has to go to work and his boat is going fishing. After giving him a lift to where his Bighorn was to get a makeover, I went to the Lodge post haste.

Upon arrival a wine or 3 to toast being there, “because I could”, got the pot belly going, water heats up nicely now, set up all the rods, 2 spin 3 fly rods, 2 troll, 1 jig “because I can.”

Got the lake to myself just to sit there and listen to nothing, “cause I
can”. Everyone is at work. Chris Floyd arrives at 5 pm “cause he did”. No fax, email, no phone, hell not even a black and white pigeon. Oh, there were 5 pheasants on the landing road. With only the two of us we were almost crowded but we made do with a boat each.

Saturday 5 am John’s up, everyone’s up, oh the language and the empty threats upon myself. Hot coffee and toast has a calming effect on Scotsman in the wee small hours of the morn. Fishing at 8 am, race up the lake. Unknown to us, Steve, the painter, is waving to attract us, but we had eyes only for what’s ahead. A troll up the sticks above the marker buoys with not a touch but no weed fouling the lures.

We went into the Mangawhiro where Chris had a hit in the mouth and hooked another on the first bend up stream, it pulled some line then let the lure go. It seemed to be a good fish, maybe a big brown. I walked up to the waterfall and landed a 5lb Rainbow Jack, 2nd cast on a Tokoroa chicken. Back out in the main river deep trolling with the biggest Tassi devils Chris caught one Rainbow and I caught one Rainbow and one Brown. Saturday evening I caught another Brown.
Saturday night we listened to the rugby. It’s a good thing we like fishing ore.

Sunday late start as we were waiting for all the people that might come up. Chris caught one more Rainbow. Total hours Chris fished 6 hours. Total hours John fished 8 hours. Chris caught 2 Rainbows, John caught 2 Brown and 2 Rainbows.
Steve, the painter, one burnt out valve. As always a good trip.

We also had some visitors from Raglan. Doug Milne and his wife and 3 boys liked the place so much he is joining the Club.
John.