{"id":16800,"date":"2024-10-02T23:37:50","date_gmt":"2024-10-02T21:37:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sexyloops.com\/blog\/?p=16800"},"modified":"2024-10-02T23:52:25","modified_gmt":"2024-10-02T21:52:25","slug":"the-coast-old-memories-and-new","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sexyloops.com\/blog\/2024\/10\/02\/the-coast-old-memories-and-new\/","title":{"rendered":"The Coast, old memories and new…"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

My first visit to South Westland was during my initial visit to New Zealand back in 2003. I had an immediate connection to the place. It felt like home. Over the years I spent lots of time there with many friends made along the way. I lived there for 4 months at one stage. So many adventures and stories – roofing sheds way down the Cascade River, night time earthquakes in the wilderness knocking me to the ground, trouble with the cops for night shooting where we shouldn’t be, catching a big shark at Open Bay Island, trying to surf, trying to hunt, camping with Iza, lots of fishing and so much more.. On a recent trip to the Coast I brought my 2 kids for the first time. We rented a little beach house in Okuru for the week. An ideal base. The beach in front of the house can be a great fishing spot. The scene from the beach back towards the mountains was the scene that connected me to the place 21 years ago. I remember the moment because it was much more than just a beautiful view. It was like I recognised it. It was very special for me to see my 2 kids in that scene.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I wasn’t sure how the kids would cope with the sandflies! On the first day they didn’t seem to be around but at the end of the day they both had lots of bites! especially Adaline. Lesson learned for me. Every day after that I put repellant on them – non deet stuff. It worked really well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I didn’t have to try too hard to entertain them. They made their own fun. They loved the fishing and spin casting, building dams, skipping stones, shooting cans with the air rifle, beach walks, climbing rocks and so on. All the stuff that kids are supposed to do but that seem to be less and less of a priority these days. Not for me though. I think proper rough and tumble play is essential for kids. Their playful, adventurous personalities suited the coast. They loved every minute of it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Adaline is just old enough to learn to drive the boat. She was pretty good at manoeuvring me around the shorelines while I sight-fished from the roof of the cabin. Her throttle control nearly threw me off the roof at one stage but she learned not to be too quick with it. When she gets a little stronger she’ll be better. It’s great fun for me watching them enjoy and learn about all the stuff that surrounds fishing. I’m not pushing them in to it, I’ll just expose them to it all and hopefully they’ll find their own path. I’ll be there to help them along.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It was a great week for everyone. Wesley had his own boat with him and had some very good fishing on the lakes. 7 coast days and only one rain day. Thats as good as you can expect over there. Iza was away visiting her family so unfortunately she wasn’t with us. I know she’d have loved to too. Also if she was there I wouldn’t have forgotten the hair brush for Adaline – I improvised with 3 forks. The kids are looking forward to going back – and so am I.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some photos below from a few guide days over winter. Also some blind and sight fishing from recent trips to the Mackenzie lakes and a coastal lagoon. Buzzer fishing in the calm was superb at both locations. Early season buzzer fishing on NZ lakes can be unbelievable – and it’s still a relatively under appreciated way to fish. Buzzers – aka midge, chironomid or duck fly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The new season has landed. I went out on Oct 1 to explore new water but couldn’t get there. Private forest roads and lambing kept the obvious 3 ways in unaccessible. I learned a bit though, including who to contact to get access and how to get there so I’ll have another crack when the lambing is over.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To check out my flies available at Fulling Mill click here<\/a>. To get in touch about guiding this season or next you can email me ronan@sexyloops.com<\/em><\/strong> or visit my website<\/a>. Here’s a link to a recent Fulling Mill blog<\/a> I wrote about September and October in NZ.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tight lines and free Palestine – what a horrible year it’s been for them. Ronan..<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Paul from Chicago<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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We had a good day!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Landed a couple and had other chances – good mid winter fishing.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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A happy angler..<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Graeme on the Clutha in July.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Into one..<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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A nice drop-off<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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A tough day but we landed a few.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Misty morning on day 2..<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Very hard to find fish..<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Checking out new water in Mackenzie Country, just a week ago.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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I had some super trout..<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Lovely..<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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I hadn’t fished this for about 10 years.. Last
time I was here Iza broke my brand new HT6!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Sheep in a lovely place..<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Blind fishing open water was unusually slow..<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Sight fishing in a backwater was really good.. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Buzzers..<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Buzzer fishing on the lakes, especially in September,
October and November can be incredible.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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I enjoy tying buggers..<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Coastal lagoons in early September –
I thought they’d prefer buggers but no, buzzers!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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These gleaming silver bars were the prizes.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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What a trout..<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Basic, warm, cozy accommodation..<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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More lagoons, more buzzer fishing..<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Heading home after 4 great days on my own.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Off to the coast with Wesley and the kids last July…<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Fishing, shooting cans, fires, boating they loved it all..<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Lochlan loads a pellet in the air rifle.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Calm conditions..<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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A few trout on the edges..<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Best buddies..<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Wesley scopes some water.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Mud!!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Fresh water mussels.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Spinning for seatrout.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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We got 5 of these that day..<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Back with him..<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Lochlan..<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Adaline collecting firewood.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Lochlan battles a good one.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Team work.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Time for toasted marshmallows.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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happy..<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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A very special place for me.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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So many great memories here from the last 21 years..
It’s so good to see these two making new ones.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Adaline..<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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We had a fire on the beach most days.. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Mussel Point, Wesley in the distance.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Jackson Bay.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Every day Lochlans shoes had to be dried at
the fire. We rented an idyllic little house in Okuru.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Adaline was great at manoeuvring me around the edges..<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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The best part about this trip was how much
the 2 enjoyed it – even with the sandflies!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Speed demon!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Craic..<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Wesley into one..<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Hectors Dolphins cruising the beach.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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What a cool rock..<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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No idea what this is..<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Such lovely timber – shame to leave it there.. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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A beautiful, secluded spot.. and no sandflies! A great 7 days..<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

My first visit to South Westland was during my initial visit to New Zealand back in 2003. I had an immediate connection to the place. It felt like home. Over the years I spent lots of time there with many friends made along the way. I lived there for 4 months at one stage. So […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[1284,740,617,1395,1125,1396,1271,1394,547,862,552,936],"post_mailing_queue_ids":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sexyloops.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16800"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sexyloops.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sexyloops.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sexyloops.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sexyloops.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=16800"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.sexyloops.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16800\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":16865,"href":"https:\/\/www.sexyloops.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16800\/revisions\/16865"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sexyloops.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=16800"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sexyloops.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=16800"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sexyloops.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=16800"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}