Trout Fishing on the South Island

“Nice cast,” Paul said, looking over my shoulder. “Further out next time.”

I nodded and pulled out a little more line before starting to fake cast. One. Two. Three. Four and down. The fly landed way left of where I wanted it to go. I watched it float downstream a bit before pulling the line back in. One. Two. Three. Four and down.

That cast was better. The fly floated down again, up over the head of the rainbow trout I’d had my eye on. The trout paid no attention to it.

One. Two. Three. Four and down.

I cast some hundred times during my day fly-fishing just outside of Wanaka. I managed to hook three fish. Didn’t actually catch anything, but Paul, my guide and teacher, was sure to tell me that having never fly fished before it was pretty great that I’d gotten the hang of the cast and managed to hook three fish throughout the day.

On my part, I couldn’t stop grinning. I was having a blast. I was learning how to fly fish in a spectacular setting, walking along the banks of an unbelievably clear river. It was great. It was better than great. It was just what I was hoping for.

I finally felt like I was getting to the great outdoors like I’d been hoping to do. Yeah, I’d gone on some day hikes, but this was something different. There wasn’t a path that we were sticking to. I’d crossed the river some five times already, slipping and sliding my way across. It was beautiful out there. Gorgeous. Reds and oranges and greens. Mountains just a stones throw away.

No matter that I didn’t catch any fish. That’s how it goes sometimes. But my first day fly fishing is one I won’t forget in a hurry.