It is so hard to describe how I spent today, as words can’t match where I have been. I’ll try. About 3 miles outside of the town of Lake Wanaka the lake empties into a river heading to who knows where. It really doesn’t matter.
The gravel road to the outlet is fairly well used and when we reached the end this morning the parking lot was empty as a cool mist was falling. It had snowed in the Southern Alps last night and the snow capped mountain tops peaked through the clouds every so often. In a soft gentle rain I started to cast at the outlet and the rain became more intense. It really did not matter I was in heaven. The views, the river, my bride, the warmth inside my sweater and windbreaker. It was perfect, or so I thought. I fished in the mist until it let up and then headed downstream away from the lake. I was on the wrong side as the current pushed the deeper water to the other side of the channel. It didn’t matter. The rain let up, the sun poked through and so did the snow capped Alps. As I traveled downstream the waters became calmer and clearer. At spots I could look into the shallows and see the edge of the slight weed beds along the shore and into the absolutely perfectly clear water of the river. A trout, about a pound or so slowly drifted along the edge of the shallows on the edge of the clear blue river. I cast several times out past him without success. It did not matter one single bit. The views, the perfectly clear water, the temps and the day were all I needed. My lifelong dream of fishing in the rivers of New Zealand was now complete. The sun was now shining and constant. I waded in the water with my flip flops on and pants soaking wet. It did not matter. I have experienced fishing nirvana.
We’ll go back this evening and try again. I went back to the tackle shop and picked up another day’s license and a few more baits. He asked where we had been, what we had tried and made a few more suggestions. I bought the stuff he suggested, which was different from what his helper had suggested yesterday. It really does not matter. I gladly paid for the new offerings and will try again. He put on a couple trailer type baits to improve our chances. OK, but it really doesn’t matter.
Katy is in heaven as well. She is a river girl, having spent her summers at a cottage on the river in southeast Michigan. She is playing Sherpa, bringing me drinks and “snicky snacks” as needed, helping with new baits, and taking and retrieving clothing as the weather changes. And just sitting quietly along the bank, soaking up the day, the moment and our life together.
I wish you all could be here. Or, if your dream is elsewhere, please go for it, wherever it may be. The peace, the solitude, the pure joy of just being alive and at heaven on earth. May you all be so blessed.
If anything I share with you, helps you to travel and see the world, my mission will be accomplished.
I am at peace.
Rick
BTW: I confirmed today that the rainbow trout in Lake Wanaka were planted in the 1880′s and are considered native as there have been no additional plantings. When the photos are done, I’ll show you the picture of the one I caught tonight. It was as beautiful as the day was.
