[Sam B]

We just had a great day fishing on Lake Arapuni, about 40 minutes away from Cambridge. My friend Jan, who I work with, has a boat, and we went to try out Poppy's new fishing rod, which her grandpa bought her before he left. Well, we had just set off from the jetty (or whatever it's called) when her line started bobbing around, and within minutes she was pulling in (reeling in?) a 4lb rainbow trout!

Of course, that was the only fish we caught all day, but it was gorgeous on the lake, really calm and beautiful and we saw lots of birds, which I actually do know something about, unlike fishing....

Well we cooked it up for tea ... it had an essence of mud about it which I wasn't mad on, even after I stuffed it full of herbs, fennel, seasonings etc, but Poppy loved it. Such a good day!

http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t118/brydons_2007/DSC_5889.jpg

http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t118/brydons_2007/DSC_5913.jpg

[Caroline and Dave]

Wow, Thats something to be really proud of. All I have ever caught is a minnow


Dave and Caroline

[Jo Jo]

Wow - that's a beauty! Can't wait to show the pics to D tomorrow.

[StevieD]

Well done Poppy, great first fish eh!!!

[AndyR]

thats awesome! I loved fishing but I haven't been in years! Its something I really want to get back into over in NZ

[dusk]

very impressive! :D

[peebles16]

Fab fishing Poppy - we're hoping to get the boys into fishing so can't wait to show the the pics tomorrow :D

Karenx

[vixxann]

Wow - what a great first fish to catch :clap :clap

I'm currently a vegetarian but have sneaking feeling I will be eating fish when we get to NZ !! (Sam and boys all want to get into fishing there)

[Pebbles]

Well done, Poppy :clap
What did you use for bait?

I remember when I was about 8 yrs old we went fishing for catfish :confused: in Canada. What I enjoyed most was putting the worm on the hook :p When it came to unhooking the fish a got into a right panick ..

[The Hodges]

Congrats Poppy. Excellent first fish. :nice1

I must say that the fishing in NZ is nothing like that in the UK. Not that I ever tried it in the UK, but I know plenty of people who did.

In NZ though, it is bad luck if you do not to get any bites all day and while they say that 20% of the fishermen (and women to be pc) catch 80% of the fish, I find that the proper bait shops (for which there are plenty and I don't mean the garages either) are more than happy to give to advice on what to use and where the fish are at certain times of year and get your percentage rates up.

We've still got a snapper in our freezer from a couple of weeks ago and we had the fillets off another last night breaded, with chips. And cracking fis'n'chups it was too!

Once you know that you're able to catch fish, you'll be target specific types and trying different bait, rigs etc. And okay, you might cost more to fish than the buying the fish in the supermarket, but for a day out, it's one of the best.

[Sam B]

Thanks everyone.

Pebbles - the bait was a 'lure' (that's what they called it) and it looked like a small colourful minnow with no head and a bit twisted so it went around in the water. We pulled it behind the boat at a slow speed. I can hear the real fishers on the forum roaring with laughter at my lack of technicality....

[Kim39]

Thanks everyone.

Pebbles - the bait was a 'lure' (that's what they called it) and it looked like a small colourful minnow with no head and a bit twisted so it went around in the water. We pulled it behind the boat at a slow speed. I can hear the real fishers on the forum roaring with laughter at my lack of technicality....

Why laugh Sam cos thats the way. Lures are like spinners, you can either troll it, or spin it from the rod. Thought Arapuni was a fly fishing venue though, so that means i'll be off with my gear in the near future. Brought all my gear(coarse) and have only fished Ngaroto.....just outside TA.

Not a bad un' for her first fish. Its fish like that that get people hooked...excuse the pun.

Kim

[kowhai]

Thats a beautiful rainbow trout. They can be feisty and Im sure it put up a good fight. I know what you mean about the mud flavour - perhaps try the next one smoked on the bbq.

Ask your friend to take you out on the ocean. We went out yesterday and the fishing was FANTASTIC.

Some fish and chip shops will cook up your filleted fish for you. Our local charges 50 cents per/fillet.

Well done again Poppy!

[Tia Maria]

Sam B wrote:

Well we cooked it up for tea ... it had an essence of mud about it which I wasn't mad on

:laugh

There are quite a few girls round our way into fishing off the wharf and I notice they've all got pink rods.

Personally I'm just impressed she's holding the fish, you wouldn't catch me touching them unless they are battered! ;)

Cheers

Tia

[JayBee]

Wow...very impressive. We watched quite a few people fishing when were on our recce and OH definately fancies having a go.
That NZ lifestyle is really awful isn't is!!!!!

[Jo Jo]

Tell Poppy that D is very impressed, and says she has to aim for a 20lb snapper next time we go out on the boat. He'll be glad to have a new fishing partner.

[Sam B]

She is dying to go out on the boat with D!!

[Sam B]

Well, we've had some more successful fishing - in the sea this time, courtesy of Jo Jo's lovely husband. He took Poppy out for 2 whole days, and they had quite a haul - including snapper and trevally. The sea was dead calm, it was really beautiful (East Coromandel) and I have just eaten more fish in one night than I have all year (groan), not a hint of mud - phew.

http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t118/brydons_2007/P1020633.jpg

http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t118/brydons_2007/DSC_6089.jpg

[BaldyBeardyBloke]

All I have ever caught is a minnow
Dave and Caroline

I once caught my finger in a door, that's the closest I've ever come.

Fishing has never tickled my fancy before, but want to try dangling my maggot in the water to see if I can get a nibble one day now that we've moved here.

[Leccy-Lee]

Same here Sam, never ever been fishing or been interested. But now i do feel the urge to get me own dinner from the great ocean..

Might have try one those day-trips fishing from the harbour..

[jent]

These fishing stories are making my husband very excited. When he was a student his nickname was 'fish', but he hasn't got to fish much for tooo long.
Poppy, there is nothing like eating your own fish. Yum!!

[Jo Jo]

My husband went fishing AGAIN today, and between he and his father they caught about 14 fish, including an 18lb snapper! (Plus six crayfish, he's shouting out to me now).

[BaldyBeardyBloke]

When he was a student his nickname was 'fish', but he hasn't got to fish much for tooo long.


Years ago a friend of mine was manager of an off licence. She had 'pet' names for many of the customers, mostly boring ones like 'Mrs Sherry' or 'Mr Special Brew' but one guy she called 'Soul Man'.

Bear with me, it's worth it.

Anyway, 'Soul Man' got wind of his knickname, and apparently thought it was because the girls in the shop thought he was cool and funky. In fact it was because he had a very odd shaped head and from certain angles looked like he had both eyes on one side, like a flat fish - hence Soul Man.

Brilliant!

[Sam B]

Wow - 18lb snapper - I won't tell Poppy, she's been sulking all day to be back in landlocked Cambridge...

[Timbo]

A lovely Trout there Poppy, well done.
I wish I had known you guys were coming up here, I would have chucked my boat in and we could have had a little inter-forum competition. Mind you, I think "D" probably has the best of the local knowledge, so you were in the right hands.

[Sam B]

We'll be back Timbo - so next time....