Ronan's Report

Falling down holes…

December 24th, 2013 Ronan Creane No comments

I tried to warn Jeff about a deep hole in the ground. I had just spotted it and managed to avoid it. I turned my head and called back to him. The message just made it to Jeff’s ears as he fell down the hole. It was pretty deep and a very funny moment. Watching someone fall over is usually funny. As the day progressed we both took a few more tumbles down holes hidden in the long grass. At the end of the day while rushing back meet Guy who was waiting for us, Jeff fell pretty deep into a hole. He got out, then fell into another. I had time to take a picture. I laughed loudly as he struggled, cursing out of the hole. Once he was out we continued our trek out. Our conversation turned to falling down holes. I was telling a story of how I just missed out on a 7′ drop earlier that day and then on to a story from the Tasmanian highlands. Just as I got to the good bit of the story (the fall!) I vanished from Jeff’s sight. My right leg went down a hole and did not reach the bottom. I was left bent sideways in the hole from my left leg to my chest, which took all of the impact. I was a bit winded and shocked but unhurt. All I could hear after some all too brief concern was Jeff’s Laughter, shortly followed by my own. I dragged myself out of the hole and continued. Within a few steps my bent hip was straight again.

The story of our 3 days on the coast is told in the photo’s below.

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Happy Christmas everyone! Guy and Jeff, Thanks for an eventful few days!

Ronan..

: After waiting for the road to re-open, we eventually got to the coast. The wind was howling on-shore and the rivers were high and coloured. We had to find a sheltered place to fish with clear water…

: Searching…

: …This will do!

: I fished the mouth with a streamer, Jeff went up-stresam with a dry, Guy relaxed with an audio book….. Panorama

: Stunning place.. Panorama

: I got a nice little seatrout displaying the dark fins and silvery grey of a seatrout that’s been in the system for a few weeks.

: Back he goes.. The high water evident in this shot. That’s a daisy in left centre!

: A 6lb brown on the dry for Jeff!

: While waiting for the Haast Pass to re-open, we fished Lake Hawea for a few hours. Jeff caught this 2.5lber which I cooked by the fire. We all ate it. I’ve wanted to cook a trout in this way for years! It was good, flavoured with smoke and lemon pepper.

: Beans and trout! We had venison too to start.. Roughing it!

: Nice night. The wind dropped..

: Day 2 started with perfect conditions but in the afternoon the wind howled. Panorama..

: The gale force on shore wind made casting almost impossible. Pretty cold too!

: A 6lber for Jeff..

: In the afternoon we took on a river to get away from the wind. It had cleared over night. Panorama..

: The fish of the trip for Jeff.. Simply stunning!

: This for me, I had another one too and lost one. Well worth leaving the river mouths!

: Back she goes…

: It’s a tough, beautiful river. It always gives a few chances but not many!

: Jeff after falling into a hole… This was not the first or last fall of the day… for either of us!

: Another magnificent vista..

: The power of the frequent floods are evident here…

: After a long day on the water, I’m happy to see my camp-chair and a glowing fire!

: Another modest West Coast campfire..

: Dinner on day 2 was a group effort. Fresh Kahawai (Guy caught it and cooked it), Onion sauce, beans, spuds and plenty beer to wash it down.

: Jeff’s fly-box.

: Buckled into his first Kahawai!

: Super fish. They are not regarded as a good eating fish, but bled and cleaned quickly and eaten fresh, they are delicious. I took 2 home and they fed 4 of us last night. We caught about 15 in total.