Are trophy trout are as common as they were a few decades ago in the New Zealand? I believe not. However, they are still out there for the accomplished anglers who put in the effort and let’s be honest, have a wee bit of luck as well. Two mates and I recently made our annual trout hunting pilgrimage to a favourite declared wilderness area (i.e. no helicopter access permitted). The first fish of the trip, was a cracking rainbow landed by Arthur ‘Scotty’ Scott who being born and bred in one of the trout fishing capitals of the world, Turangi made short work of deceiving it into taking his small black nymph. As there were no scales with us we made a rough estimate of the fish to be 12 -13 lbs. We endeavoured to beat that fish for the remaining 3 days on the river catching fish between 3 and 8lbs - all great fish but nothing got even close. In the past 10 years I have noticed a steady decline of some of New Zealand’s great fisheries, be it due to fishing pressure or environmental degradation, but often for reasons I believe we are unable to exactly pin point. To see a great wild trophy rainbow like this does bring hope that all is not lost and some of these declining fisheries may one day bounce back to their former glory. However, it will take more effort to understand and preserve them.

 Submitted by:Richard Arderne

 Email: rlarderne@nettel.net.nz

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