This is by far our busiest time of the year and for me trying to balanced work and family commitments is a must.

Leaving home early and arriving home late doesn’t leave me a lot of time to always update the blog,so I’m putting a photo dairy on of the last week or so.

No fish were seriously harmed in the making of this blog.

Well I had a great day with 2 clients on the river the other day.It’s great when people want to have fun fishing and after all that is why we do it.

Jack and Scott, smiles all round the whole day.

We were off heli-fishing but the heli could not pick us up untill 9.30am so wanting to make the most of it Scott and I headed out early and had a beautiful morning and got a tricky Bow to the bank.

Just to be out would have been enough for Scott but like I say ”it’s a little bit better with a fish on the bank”

Scott would be the most animated guy I have seen on the river,it was cool and all about fun.Sometimes people are just concerned about how many fish they catch rather than style or coming so close that your heart nearly stops,or just being in a beautiful place eating lunch,to me that’s still fly fishing.

Yip,fly fishing I love it.

We return to home picked up Jack and  the wife’s hoped in the heli and were off to fish a back country river.It’s a great way for the non-fishing companion to come and see the country side we fish in.The ladies returned to Queenstown for some lunch and shopping then jumped back in the heli for a scenic flight on it’s return to pick us up. Beleave me, every body is happy.

People are always amazed by how we can see the fish,but it’s kind of what we grow up doing and getting taught to do.

Fishing dry fly’s, it doesn’t really get any better,the fishing lately has been so much fun,trout slamming drys or coming up for a look and saying no to the first one then hammering the next fly on offer,the strike, this is a cool time of year.

Scott playing a healthy Bow.

Jack with a nice one.

We had quite a few chances with fish taking the fly but then not sticking but the boy’s were having a blast seeing action and having a few hard battles.

Loving it.

Away you go.

Great day, thanks guy’s.

I had the pleasure of guiding two father and son team on a beautiful local river which we accessed by helicopter,we cracked the weather and the boys had a great day out.

Steve and Eddie White and Ian and Hamish Lomos had all done a lot of sport and out doors things but never fly fishing.They were quick learners and understood it is about the guy fishing at the front, likein a big game boat you all get a go in the chair.

All dads crack a smile watching there sons catch fish and this day was the same,to young boys had a good attitude and were keen to learn and that makes it a lot easier for me.

Do you think Eddie was happy with this or what.

Big smiles all round.

Everyone was getting fish to the bank,we had a few missed chances, but that’s fishing if you don’t go you get nothing.

And more fish.

It’s not always about size.Where we were casting for this guy was hard not to mention were we landed him.

What a setting,I think these guy’s will come back,they have a real good attitude about the outdoors and they loved it.

Alex Armitage from the U.K come out for a spot of fishing.We used the Heli and got into a back country river I know quite well.

The day started off a bit over cast,but by mid morning it was hot and the fish were on the feed.

Alex had done a far share on the fly rod and after getting familiar with the new gear he was putting in some good casts and the fish were responding.

Every one is surprised by how good these Bows fight,we had our chance with quite a few, hooking 17 in total and landing 7. It’s a real thing setting that hook,sometimes you think you’ve got it right then nothing or the hook kind of sets but just pops out mid battle,well that’s fishing.

Some times it’s good just knowing you’ve done enough to fool the fish,and to do this you have to get the drift right and as the day went on Alex was keying into this and understanding mending the line.

One real good thing with Heli fishing is it’s all up stream, no walking back to the car and you get more time on the river.

Camera on a pole.

Magic.

Another Bow on the bank.

Alex was loving it, we actually hooked into 2 big browns but…..well we still had some great fun with them.

This old boy was a bit beat up but quite wise he looked at 9 flies before taking the 10th,we just got him back in the water and Brendon arrived with a cold beer and our ride home, what a day.

What a way to end the day,happy boys.

Lindsay from Australia had done quite a bit of fishing but never on the fly.

The fact he was a fisherman helped heaps when playing the fish and he understood ”it’s fishing not catching”

We went to a creek and lagoon not far from home and tried our luck on some Brownies.

Lindsay knew we had to put a bit of time into casting and it didn’t take him long and he was getting it out there.We got this guy on the bank after some great aerial displays,people that have caught a lot of fish know how to play them and Lindsay had it sorted.

To hook up and land a Trout like this on your first day on the fly rod.Pretty good.

And another for good mesure.

This time of year there are people every where, guides should be getting you into places were this type of stuff can happen not fishing over the same water as other people have,make sure your guide is going the extra mile for you this time of year,get an early start and be prepared to walk that little extra,or even better go heli fishing.

Well done Lindsay,hope you do get a fly rod and get into it.