Ronan's Report

Contrary to popular belief I’m not living off my Stuntman salary. In fact it doesn’t pay well at all and its a risky business. I’ve been lucky in general in that imaginary career although only today I nearly cut my thumb off. Only a bloody nick but I could just as easily have put my thumb farther under the blade and lost or mangled it. I’m a cabinetmaker so this is an occupational hazard. Generally I’m extremely careful. I always know where my hands and digits are in relation to the blade. Today was a first! Anyway, I went away from my reason for this report! All I wanted to say was that if my last few pieces of furniture mated and had a baby it would be a really cool fly-tying desk!

Take care!   Ronan..

Snow is falling over much of the south island right now so it’s clear that Winter is well and truly here. Queenstown woke to a fresh, frosty morning with some snow on the ground. I got up and prepared a hearty beef and venison stew and left it simmering in the slow cooker. With dinner taken care of I had a substantial breakfast of bacon, eggs and beans and then went fishing. The Kawarau River is open all year round so I decided to give it a try. It’s a big river and I have not cracked it yet. I went to a spot where a small river flows in and had one great fish on a woolly bugger fished deep on a slimeline. I didn’t spend long on the water. It was freezing cold, I didn’t see any fish, frankly I didn’t want or need to be on the water all day. I left happy with my lot and went to another part of the river to get some firewood. A few minutes with the chainsaw and I had enough for 2 nights free warmth. Before I went home I caught up my friends Mike and Raywin over a beer. It’s important to stay in touch with your friends! I got home to a perfectly cooked stew and got the fire cranking….

The season is over now on the majority of waters but a few are open all year round. I’ll be checking those out regularly over the winter. I’m also going to tie all the flies I need for next season over the winter. I’ve started already!

Its getting cold and firewood is expensive so I bought a chainsaw. It lives in the truck so whenever I see a dead fallen tree It’ll be cut up and loaded into the back. As they say, firewood warms you twice!

Ronan..