SershenBros » New Zealand 2008. http://www.sershenbros.com Thu, 02 Feb 2012 17:13:32 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2 © hsershen@gmail.com () hsershen@gmail.com() Fishing reports from southeast Minnesota. hsershen@gmail.com No no http://www.sershenbros.com/wp-content/plugins/podpress/images/powered_by_podpress.jpg SershenBros http://www.sershenbros.com 144 144 2008-02-11, Peel Forest. Day Twenty-six. http://www.sershenbros.com/peel-forest-day-twenty-six/ http://www.sershenbros.com/peel-forest-day-twenty-six/#comments Mon, 11 Feb 2008 22:44:56 +0000 Heath Sershen http://52842cce-c494-417b-828b-1afa37d455fb Today is my third day in Peel Forest. It has rained since my first night here, almost steady. The rivers are running the white color of glacial silt. The reports of salmon in the rivers are regular and I remain skeptical of my New Zealand fishing successes.
I started the day at 10am. My plan for the day was to take on Erewhon, Lake Clearwater, and then to fish the Brookies in the backcountry’s Lake Emily.
The drive to Lake Clearwater was one hour and 15 minutes. I found that water skiers fancy Lake Camp, just outside of town. A sport that began on Lake Pepin, in Lake City, Minnesota, near my hometown of Winona and on the Mississippi River. A drive of about 25 minutes brought me to Erewhon, the sight of the village in the second Lord Of The Rings movie. I met a Kiwi at my lookout above the valley that told me all about the filming of the movie in the valley before heading to Lake Emily. At this point I should note that my hopes of successfully fishing today started well, when I found a 20-cent piece at camp however they soured when I found that the Rangitata and Ashburton Rivers were raging and running the white color of glacial silt.
At the Maori Lakes I spotted a fly angler and stopped for a chat. According to Derrick, Lake Emily held plenty of trophy fish and was just down the road. He recommended that I stop at the station before heading into the back-country lake and to watch the weather as a Norwester was due and that they can be dangerous when up at altitude.
I stopped at the station and first talked to the ranch hands that directed me to Paul, the owner of the station and the one that could give me permission to access the lake.
Paul was already on his way over. He was a tall cowboy looking fellow with a large bone handled bowie knife on his hip whom greeted me with, “What’s your story?”
I told him that I am a student from the States studying fly fishing in his country and was interested in fishing Lake Emily and was seeking permission to access it.
He said all right and told me where I could park my car and that it was about a 2km walk to the lake along the track.
On parting he said, “I hope you catch some fish.”
I thanked him and gave him my appreciation and a parting handshake.
I found the track easily enough and walking it kept thinking that my Toyota Corolla would’ve been able to drive down the cobble path however hurried to the lake without letting it bother me as I appreciate a good walk in the high country.
In my excitement of spotting the lake and the creek that flows out of it, I left the track to follow the creek into the lake. Bad Idea.
The hard soil turned into Peat bog with tussocks. The tussock grass is grass that grows in clumps with a solid round base that stood nearly two feet higher than the permeable and wet peat bog that it grew out of. At first, walking this terrain wasn’t bad but then the ground got softer and the tussock grass thicker making the solid walking clumps difficult to identify. One step off onto the wrong spot meant dropping nearly two-feet to the bog ground which would suck me down to knee deep leaving me to pull myself up and out using the tussock for leverage. At one point I was waist deep in bog muck with the base of the grass being shoulder high and the grasses nearly three-feet over my head. This was hell. I prayed for my life and to be out of this bog onto solid ground.
After struggling, for what seemed like an eternity, I was able to recover myself to the solid grass clumps. Whew and thank God!
I feel as though I am getting to the end of my blessing that I have on this trip by continuing to do dangerous and adventurous things.
I was stressed and scared at this point in time. I was focusing all of my energy on the present trying to get to solid ground. I thought of going back but kept going forward, why? I made my way to a loosely strung barbed wire fence hoping to find solid ground on the fence-line but finding none I found comfort in inching my hand along the fence. The fence would’ve done nothing for me had I found another waist deep hole however it gave me comfort.
I made it to solid ground, eventually, and then to the lake. My shortcut across the tussock cost me twice as much time as compared to if I had stayed on the track.
The lake is clear with silty edges and I found a flock of about 50 black swans on the water alongside species of ducks that I am not familiar with. Red Dragonflies and mating Craneflies were flying about; the wind was stiff and from the northwest and I needed to switch my flies that were tied onto my rod. I could see that it was raining on the range to the north and that where I was standing the clouds were coming from the southwest and the northwest, the weather did not look too promising for fishing. I had just walked an hour across sheep pasture and the death bog to get rained on at 2500-feet above sea level, with no raincoat and $1200 worth of camera gear that are not waterproof.
I made five maybe six casts before the rain started to come over the peak on the range that was marking Lake Emily. And so I left. This time heading straight for the 4wd track and in a hurry as I did not want to get wet.
The solid ground quickly turned to tussock bog where I fell again. This time the distance from the base of the grass to the bog was about three feet but the bog was only mushy up to ankle deep, I fell several more times before making my way to solid ground, to head straight away to the track, to beat the Norwester and to get the cameras back safe and sound.
I watched the storm consume Lake Emily as I went the other way. The rain never made it to the car.
I stopped at the Maori lakes to have a few casts before getting frustrated with the stiff wind and packing it up back to camp to eat and to be patient with the phone to try and call Shell, to shower, to write this, and to prepare for tonight’s possum hunt with Russell from the Peel Forest Outdoor Pursuits Centre at the Eco Lodge.
To note – this was my last entry in travel journal book number one.

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]]> http://www.sershenbros.com/peel-forest-day-twenty-six/feed/ 0 2008-02-10, Peel Forest. Day Twenty-five. http://www.sershenbros.com/peel-forest-day-twenty-five/ http://www.sershenbros.com/peel-forest-day-twenty-five/#comments Sun, 10 Feb 2008 22:35:50 +0000 Heath Sershen http://c6b7a1cb-2e2f-49c3-8bf7-09b52827a9e0 I woke up groggy. I slept horribly. I was being harassed by at least one sniffy possum until the rains moved in. At that point I was occasionally awakened by gushing down pours, which I was able to identify by the leaks in the seams in my tent that has been worn by the seasons.
After I showered I headed up Rangitata Gorge Road toward Mesopotamia in search of water that I could relate to. In the end, I found none, however was rewarded with the splendors of the Rangitata River Gorge. I returned to camp around noon to take a nap.
I awoke at 1pm with a mission to drive to Methven to find internet to buy a phone card so that I could call Shell and wish her a Happy Birthday.
Methven is an hour by car. I found the info center had free wireless. I was able to buy a phone card. I bought 10 stamps and post cards and drove back to Peel Forest to use the phone. To my luck, the access number on the $20 phone card is not reachable through Telecom Card phones.
I ran into Pacific Challenge group 3 while trying to understand my dilema. I got an invite to come to the Eco Lodge to visit. I showered and ate and headed to the lodge, had a bit of frisbee catch with Josh and headed back to camp for another rainy night on a leaky air bed.

Please click on the image below to see the Crossing’s image thumbnail gallery or slide show.

]]> http://www.sershenbros.com/peel-forest-day-twenty-five/feed/ 0 2008-02-09, Peel Forest. Day Twenty-four. http://www.sershenbros.com/peel-forest-day-twenty-four/ http://www.sershenbros.com/peel-forest-day-twenty-four/#comments Sat, 09 Feb 2008 21:46:21 +0000 Heath Sershen http://95bf1e05-4d16-45ed-be7e-e61e7250f29a I arrived in Peel Forest this afternoon. I paid $18 for two nights camping and bought some gas for my stove at $3.20.
I set my tent and headed for the Rangitata River just down the road and across the path from camp.

The Rangitata River.

The Rangi is a medium sized river with braids and strong flows. It is not completely wadeable and seemingly too large to sight fish. I spent sometime walking tussock covered banks in search of a place to fly fish to the salmon that have been reported to be in the river. I do not think that fly fishing this river is realistic.

Group Three is staying at the Eco Lodge, just down the road from the campground. After my talk with Katie I am a bit uneasy about socializing with groups. Dave’s group four will be here in four days time on Feb 13. I still feel ill today and did not stay on the river too long as I needed a nap. I woke to write, have spiral pasta noodles and red garlic sauce. I did not call Shell today as I have no calling card or access to the internet to get a card. It is her birthday today. I feel like a shit for not calling. I hope Shell understands.
Tomorrow I may go up Rangitata Gorge in search of fish or for a look at Mesopotamia Station and then try to have a go at Lake Emily, in the backcountry, in the Ashburton Lakes area. Lake Emily is stoked with American Brook Trout. With any luck I can catch one of them as I have only caught one trout after three weeks in New Zealand.

Please click on the image below to see the Crossing’s image thumbnail gallery or slide show.

]]> http://www.sershenbros.com/peel-forest-day-twenty-four/feed/ 0 2008-02-08. Hammer Springs. Day Twenty-three. http://www.sershenbros.com/hammer-springs-day-twenty-three/ http://www.sershenbros.com/hammer-springs-day-twenty-three/#comments Fri, 08 Feb 2008 21:28:02 +0000 Heath Sershen http://37267305-abad-4c31-a4f2-3e78875bc4c6 Today I barely made it out of the hostel in Hammer Springs by the 10am check-out time. I spent two night in Hammer, fished the Waiau River and caught nothing but myself. I put a #10 tungsten bead head nymph though my shirt and my right nipple. Thankfully the hook was barbless.
I met several interesting people at the hostel. I paid $40 a night for two nights stay and had a room with a queen sized bed and a bunk set all to myself. I ate hamburgers, that I grilled, with oven cooked spicy potato wedges.
I had an older French-man laugh at my when he saw me cooking on the grill. When i was done cooking he asked me if it was done. Well, like duh man.
The first night in Hammer, I met a 37-year old single mom from London that looked quite like Whoopi Goldberg and was really creepy. She told me her life story and I do not know why. I didn’t hang long because the caddis were congregating under the street lights and thats where my attention left me.
I fished Dog Stream on Feb. 8. The creek and fish size reminded me of being in Minnesota.
I met two girls from Christchurch that were on holiday on the patio after fishing. They had been drinking since noon. Angie and Racheal told me straight away that they were not gays, which was totally akward. Like I even care. I spent a few hours with them watching them get drunker and drunker, then super dramatic, then full out fighting.
I was feeling ill so I did not make it out for the evening rise of caddis and moths.
The Waiau River was large and braided. I got stuck in quick sand to nearly my waist with the water being nearly chest deep. A man walking his dog pulled me out. I called it a day after that and was headed to Peel Forest the next day.

Please click on the image below to see the Crossing’s image thumbnail gallery or slide show.

]]> http://www.sershenbros.com/hammer-springs-day-twenty-three/feed/ 0 2008-02-07, Abel Tasman to Hammer Springs. Day Twenty-two. http://www.sershenbros.com/abel-tasman-to-hammer-springs-day-twenty-two/ http://www.sershenbros.com/abel-tasman-to-hammer-springs-day-twenty-two/#comments Fri, 08 Feb 2008 01:16:34 +0000 Heath Sershen http://a07945f2-54da-49d4-b5d2-94da59d7b25d I woke at 11am and started my tramp back to Marahau at 11.30am.

I made the coastal walk that was rated for four hours in 2 and a half hours. it truly was my missing to be the clock on this one and I was able to do just that, even finding the time to take photos along the way.

I had a can of Tasman bitter at The Barn where my rental car was parked for two nights. It cost me $3NZD a night to park it there, the can of beer was $3NZD
I piled into my car with a new plan that was different than heading back to Canvastown. the new plan was to drive through Lewis Pass to Hammer Springs where I could stay in a hostel for cheap and to fish the Waiau River for Trout.

The drive took me the better part of the day and the road wound through the mountains.

I found that the hostel in Hammer Springs was pretty laid back save for a few senior citizens that where here to experience the natural hot springs and the pools that entrepreneurs had built to contain the waters and profiteer off of.

I ate grilled hamburgers that night with spicy potato wedges. I had an older Frenchman laugh at me when he saw me cooking on the grill. When I was done cooking he asked me if it was cooked. Well like duh.

My room was $40NZD a night. Its one window face the mountains in the direction that the sun set and there was no screen on the window. I took a long hot shower and watched the caddis and moths fly about the lights. I could imagine a rise going on in the gorge below town. I was tired and went to bed.
]]> http://www.sershenbros.com/abel-tasman-to-hammer-springs-day-twenty-two/feed/ 0 2008-02-06, Abel Tasman National Park. Day Twenty-one. http://www.sershenbros.com/abel-tasman-national-park-day-twenty-one/ http://www.sershenbros.com/abel-tasman-national-park-day-twenty-one/#comments Wed, 06 Feb 2008 21:20:07 +0000 Heath Sershen http://8e974ebc-026f-4f00-a07a-b7801fd4bfa4 I slept until 10am. The campground is barren save for our Pacific Challengers and two late rising kayakers. My shade tree kept me cool well past sunrise. I awoke to the buzzing of a giant Kiwi bumblebee that was trapped between my rain fly and tent. I swatted the bee with my pillow a few times and it was able to find its way out.

Last night the camp was full of enthusiastic people from all over the world. Kiwis, Brits, Canadians, Staters, Italians, Dutch, Swedish, German, French, Japanese, Israeli, and possibly more tourists of other nationalities were present.

There is a two night maximum stay in this campground and there is no fear of anyone stealing your things as the only way to get here is by two hour kayak, four-hour tramp, or by a $25 water taxi. It seems to effectively keep out the worst of the hooligans.

In this campsite there are six picnic tables, two water spigots of non-filtered water, a filtered water tap under a gazebo that is a cooking area, and a set of four flush toilets and a waterless urinal accompanied by two wash sinks. There is no mirror here.

There is only on designated camp area that is about an acre in size. Part of it is shaded with brush trees while about 1/3 of it is open field and exposed to the sun. There are two fire pits and where you camp is determined by a first come first served basis. No one here will sweat you for putting your tent up directly next to his or hers.

The Pacific Challengers decided to tent in the unshaded area last night and the majority of them were up at day break due to the intensity of the sun and the microwave effect that it has on tents with rain fly’s. By the time I awoke several of them had moved their tents nearer to mine in the shaded area.

The camping area is about 30 meters from the beach, which is on a bay that is host to anchored yachts and sailboats, seagulls, mussels, crabs, and sand flies.

The water is a wonderful sea green colour and the bay is affected by the tide offering different lengths of beach at different times of the day.

The toilets here are flush toilets and you do not have to pump the water spigots to get water to come out. Also – the toilet paper is provided. There are hoses that you can use to bathe under and also a shower on the beach.

My legs and feet are feeling fine today after the three and a half hour hike in yesterday. Tomorrow I walk out, alone, as the group is catching a taxi back to Marahau.

Last night I photographed the stars using my tripod and 30-second exposures with a 200 speed ISO. According to my 2.5-inch LCD preview, I was successful in capturing Orion and The Southern Cross. I did this between 9.30pm and 10pm when these two constellations were the most prominent in the sky. At 10pm they disappear into a sea of stars. By the time I went to bed at 10.30pm the Milky Way was prominent and the Clouds of Magellan were beginning to make an appearance. The clouds of Magellan are the next galaxies nearest to ours.

The most common critter in this campsite is the sparrow. Flocks of them are busy cleaning up after sloppy campers.

Today, I intend to hike the 45 minutes to Cleopatras pools during low tide in order to photograph the natural water slides, pools, and waterfalls.

The common sounds of Abel Tasman; buzzing bees, chirping sparrows, airplanes, trampers, the waves on the beach, and the wind through the trees.

My thoughts are coming and going sporadically, at times I am lost in the moment of the present, consumed by the birds, bugs, and the breeze, at others I am overwhelmed by the thoughts of family and friends back home. I really miss my dog Hatch and am sure he misses me.

I miss my love of my life, my girlfriend Shell. Her birthday is in two days time. I hope to ring her for her 21st birthday, which I will be celebrating with her on a belated date.

I do not miss my cell phone or my computer, however have traveled to this campsite with many unnecessary electronics that are mostly unnecessary; an iPod, a digital SLR camera, a video recorder, a multifunction watch, and a GPS unit and with all of this I have extra batteries, seemingly too much unnecessary weight.
I do not know what I will do tomorrow after leaving the Anchorage camp, as I will be on my own schedule until I catch my flight back to Los Angeles.

I am pleased with the thought of returning to fish the stream that flows through Canvastown as I know the trout there are large and having one of them in my hands would make for a great photo. I am convinced that I must throw smaller flies at these spooky fish. Nothing larger than #18’s on the surface and #16’s as a dropper. I am convinced that 4x tippet is required even though the smallest fish that I spotted in this creek was 20-some inches. I will stick with the Winston LT six-weight and Ross Cimarron 2.

I will need to find a place to sleep for the night as the drive to my next destination, the Peel Forest Campground, will be a long one and very tiring,

I have decided to cut out the Aussie leg of my journey for numerous reasons to include; finances and lack of enthusiasm, as well as having the chore to rely on public transport. I put in a request to switch my flight back to LAX from March 16 to Feb 25. I may have to spend sometime in Los Angeles before returning to Minneapolis hover I believe that it will be fine with Shawn and Bridget.

I should be able to find camping at Mount Richmond Park, which is just outside of Canvastown, and with any luck catch one of those down-under Browns.

This afternoon I made the 45-minute walk to Cleopatras Pool. It is a section of the Torrent River that features several waterfalls with pools below them. Given this year’s drought, the water was very low.
I packed in my DSLR, tripod, and camcorder and entertained myself by laying with 10 second exposures, f/22, and ISO 200, shots with my Sigma 28-80mm lens with circular polarizer and neutral density 8 filters on shaded waterfalls.

My left heel and ankle are weak and sore.

Our group opted to cut across the tide flats instead of returning on the track we took in to Cleopatras Pool. The tide was low revealing millions of shells throughout the 15-minute walk that we took along the Torrent River flats to the Tasman Sea. Half of the group scrambled the coral and mussel covered rocks of the seashore back to the Anchorage camp. This return route took 1 hour and 15 minutes. I suffered a few knicks from the sharp rocks of which the sand flies have become very enamoured with.

I have started a fire to dry my wet shoes prior to my 3.5-hour walk back to my rental car parked at The Barn in Marahau.

The Anchorage.

I believe the Anchorage to be called so because the ay that the site is on is only mildly affected by the tide. This being so, boats are able to anchor in the bay allowing their crew to ferry ashore to enjoy Abel Tasman National Park.

The park is pristine, without road, and features flush toilets, running water, and counter tops under roofs to cook at. There is a hut for visitors to stay at if they choose.

To get here one must walk, four hours at most, hire a water taxi, hire a sea kayak, or drive their own boat. Please take your pick and get here and you will surely enjoy it.

The clientele and other visitors you will share the site with will be friendly and more than likely as foreign to New Zealand as yourself. This place truly permits the opportunity to live in the present, to be aware of surroundings and to have new experiences regardless of your previous experiences or memories of sharing with foreigners as each and every individual visiting this park will succumb to the challenges that New Zealand’s most visited national park has to offer.

Marahau.

Marahau is one of the gateways to Abel Tasman. The other is Kaiteriteri. Marahau is not congested with traffic or overrun by heaps of tourists however is seemingly a quiet fishing village on a tidal bay in a remote part of the South Island New Zealand.

Marahau has two campgrounds, two water taxi services, a grociery/conveinience/information store, a few kilometers of shoreline, a small resident population, one main road, a few kayak hires, is on a bus route, has no gas station and thousands of tourist traveling though it every day.

Marahau is not choked with garbage or crime or unfriendlies however is nearer to seaside paradise than one could imagine.

The Water Taxi’s.

I have twice now experienced the Abel Tasman water taxi services. One with the Water Taxi’s and once with the Aqua Taxi’s. Two different brands offering the same service. The boats are the same save for their decals. They are 23 or so feet long with 225 horsepower four stroke motors and can hold about a dozen people and their gear within bus style bench seating. Some drivers go fast while others go slow however they all follow the same buoy marked taxi route along the shoreline from Marahau through Abel Tasman and vice versa.

The boats are similar to any regular boat, with a small cabin; in style however seem to be reinforced with steel in the shape of a raft. They handle the sea swells very well.

If you are thinking that you board the boat at a dock then you are incorrect. At Marahau your boat is pulled to the front of the building that you book your service through, on a trailer by a tractor. The tractor is your typical big wheels two wheel drive farm tractor. To load the boat; the trailer is tipped and the ladder lowered so that guests may easily board the vessel. After boarding the tractor pulls the loaded boat to the landing ramp on the sea in order to launch.

At times when the tide is high you will be dropped at the ramp. When the tide is low you will be towed across the tide flats to the nearest deep water.

When arriving at Marahau your captain will taxi you to a waiting tractor-trailer. Again the level of the tide dictates this. After the captain trailers the boat he drives the tractor to the building where the taxi service operates out of to drop you off.

When being picked up at the beach in the park the driver backs the boat to the shore as far as possible and drops the ladder so that depending on the tide, you may not have to get your feet wet.

Me.

I held my feet too near the fire for too long melting that soles of my shoes. My right knee is weak, my left ankle is sore, my feet are badly blistered, I have a sinus infection, I miss Shell and my dogs and my family however am in good spirits enjoying the air and the smells it brings here.

I have 19 maybe 20 days left on the South Island to catch that fish of a lifetime. If I leave this country without experiencing that fish then it is fine with my as just being here is an amazing thing.

I smell very bad and am in need of a bath, would like a cigarette, a slice of pizza, and a make out session with Shell and a hug from Hatch and Bella.

I do not miss the hustle and bustle of back home, the politics, the low-grade food, the televisions or the garbage in the streets, however I do miss the cold and snow and the river valleys that I am acquainted with.
Who will I be when I return to the States? To Me? To my family? To Shell? To my friends? To my dog?
What am I becoming? How is it changing my life? Where will it lead me? Will I lead it?

Changing everyday yet the same sun is still shining.

]]> http://www.sershenbros.com/abel-tasman-national-park-day-twenty-one/feed/ 0 2008-02-05, Abel Tasman National Park. Day Twenty. http://www.sershenbros.com/abel-tasman-national-park-day-twenty/ http://www.sershenbros.com/abel-tasman-national-park-day-twenty/#comments Tue, 05 Feb 2008 21:05:50 +0000 Heath Sershen http://9d4d911a-c0e5-4ee4-b9db-be534a03f007 I feel that Mother Nature has directed me back to me. I spent the last few nights in room seven of the Nelson Youth Hostel Association hostel with five of Pacific Challenge group four’s students.
Today I walked 11 kilometers in three and a half hours from Marahau to the Anchorage campsite, of which, this is my second night in Abel Tasman, however not concurrently.
I spent my first night on the South Island in this campsite. In fact, my tent is under the exact same tree.
After catching the 8.25am Interislander Ferry from Wellington to Picton, I picked up a red 2001 four door Toyota Corolla rental car and drove it straight away to Marahau taking Queen Charlotte Drive to SH6 in Havelock. I had Erika McCauley, the travel photography teacher for the Pacific Challenge, as a passenger. We arrived in Marahau just in time to catch the last water taxi for the day into the Anchorage. We rendezvoused with Pacific Challenge group two at the campsite.
Today I walked the track that wound along the Tasman Sea shore for 11 kilometers. It began by going through tidal flat and then into the forest.
My feet are tender. I have several large blisters on my left foot. The blisters are in difficult places and deep into my calloused feet. I could blame my shoes however am keen to believe that it is actually just my tender Minnesota winter feet. The walk was very leisurely and the vistas were very beautiful.
I spent the day relaxing in the shade and found the time to swing the cricket bat on the beach. I had fire cooked frankfurters for dinner and found the time to photograph the constellations Orion and the Southern Cross as dusk turned into night.

]]> http://www.sershenbros.com/abel-tasman-national-park-day-twenty/feed/ 0 2008-02-03, Cable Bay. Day Eighteen. http://www.sershenbros.com/cable-bay-day-eighteen/ http://www.sershenbros.com/cable-bay-day-eighteen/#comments Sun, 03 Feb 2008 20:40:55 +0000 Heath Sershen http://00534587-c5fd-4b49-931a-127ddb7c68b5 I drove the half-hour or so west of Nelson in search of Wuakapuaka Stream. From what the stream was described, as it would be similar to fishing in southeast Minnesota. A small stream with smallish trout.
I scouted the stream by car driving down a winding road to the coast aptly named Cable Bay as many power lines ran cross the estuary where the stream met the ocean. The views here were amazing.
I took a walk on the stream to find Rainbow and Brown trout on average of 12-inches. These little guys were not worth even tossing a fly to, as they were not the preverbal New Zealand trout. I headed back to Nelson satisfied with my stream walk and the photos that I had collected from the Cable Bay estuary.

]]> http://www.sershenbros.com/cable-bay-day-eighteen/feed/ 0 2008-02-02, Nelson / Marlbourough Reigon. Day Seventeen. http://www.sershenbros.com/nelson-marlbourough-reigon-day-seventeen/ http://www.sershenbros.com/nelson-marlbourough-reigon-day-seventeen/#comments Sat, 02 Feb 2008 20:31:10 +0000 Heath Sershen http://c12df89b-1bab-446e-b5af-3aae775625e9 I made my way from Kaikoura back to Nelson today as I was to meet and asist Pacific Challenge group four on their way into Able Tasman in a few days time. On my way back i decided to have a go at some South Island Trout on Wuakamarina Stream.
I drove a logging road into the back country past miles of sheep pasture in search of a marked access to the stream. Finding none I turned around and headed back to the highway watching the stream all the while as I drove past it. I spotted a trout and was encouraged by this to pull over at the next spot that looked like it had a clear shot to the stream.
I parked the car at the end of a driveway and headed to the nearest house to ask if was alright to fish the stream.
I found the home owner to be making deep sea lead weights on a mold in his driveway, had a bit of a chat with him, he told me, “If you have your license is all good and all legal to fish the stream.”
I thanked him and was off to gear up for an afternoon on the Wuakamarina Stream.
The stream was of medium size and was shallow in depth. The water was as clear as tap water. The fish were massive.
As I walked along the stream I spotted several fish that all refused my weighted nymph offerings. The fish in this stream were on average six pounds by my best estimate.
I switched over to a Stimulator pattern, of which still got refused. Eventually the day began to cool and the sandlfies came out in full force which encouraged me to return to my car and head into Nelson for a night on the town.
Fish landed, zero. ]]> http://www.sershenbros.com/nelson-marlbourough-reigon-day-seventeen/feed/ 0 2008-02-01, Kaikoura. Day Sixteen. http://www.sershenbros.com/kaikoura-day-sixteen/ http://www.sershenbros.com/kaikoura-day-sixteen/#comments Sat, 02 Feb 2008 06:07:39 +0000 Heath Sershen http://f89e389c-0ee8-47d3-92c2-08d30882af58 I drove several hours to the other coast of New Zealand to have a bit of fishing near Kaikoura as I had heard the the fishing was good there right now.
I drove through a wine country named Marlborough onto the east coast. As I drove past seals resting on the rocks memories from home overwhelmed me. I could feel myself beginning to get itchy. This is the point where I begin to loose myself.
I should had you know at this point that one of my purposes in coming to New Zealand was to loose myself and to find myself. This isn’t anything that I had planned on doing however was a last minute decision that I made under the watchful and influential eye of my very inspirational older brother Shawn.
Shawn and I were normal brothers as kids. I have at least one lasting scar from him on my head from when I was in first grade however nothing but fond memories of him, Shawn is an artist and the person whom gave me my first camera when I was eight years old. This was in the summer of 1987. We had lived in Albert Lea for nearly one year. Shawn got the camera in a department store promotion while staying with my great Aunt Patty in the summer and had given it to me as gift. It was a red point shoot camera that took 110 film. He has long since been an inspiration in my life. He encouraged me to wander and explore more and is responsible for reigniting my passion for fishing salmonids by giving me my first quality nine-weight fly rod for my 23-third birthday and then taking me fishing for my first fall run Chinook Salmon of Lake Michigan.
At this moment I knew where I was but did not at the same time. This moment and realization of unkonwn-ness was emotionally overwhelming. I sucked it up and drove to Kaikoura where I had a message to call Dave and a try at casting the surf with my 8-weight into gale force winds before the storm came up.
I stay in the Kaikoura hostle for the night and played a few rounds of Presidents and Assholes with Pacific Challange group three in celebration of Mandi’s 21st birthday. ]]> http://www.sershenbros.com/kaikoura-day-sixteen/feed/ 0