The next
day was turn of the tributary. Shortly after the camp it has a gorgey section
than can be circumnavigated by following the track on its true right side. That
means, in case you find the track and don’t lose it too often. Which is quiet
impossible if you are there for the first time and don’t know the track as most
of the markings can only be seen from the other direction and the track by
itself is most of the time absolutely not obvious. That is tramping about.
After the gorge there should be a pool with big big trout. But before that
there was sweat and severe bush bashing. Coming out of the bush after the gorge
the river flows through a lovely valley with low gradient. The pool is right on
the end or start, however you wana term it, of the valley. And the pool is like
an aquarium in which the huge fish chase the big fish of around 5lbs. The big
ones looked dwarfed. The huge ones must have been considerably more than 10lbs
- all of them Rainbows. And on a no-wind bright day with the structure of that
pool more or less uncatchable. I was watching and filming them for half an
hour. Preparing for a few unsuccessful casts, as the fish were altogether
ignoring my flies but chasing each other around.
I headed
upstream trough the really nice valley. Just seeing to more fish of which one
briefly inhaled my fly but did not stick to it. Unfortunately I had to turn
around 2pm, to be leaving the camp around 3pm to be at the hut at 5pm where the
boat taxi would arrive at 6pm. Too bad. On the right day with more time this
could be fun up there.
The way
back went considerably quicker than expected, because as mentioned before, the
trap line track was much better visible going downriver than upriver. Still it
needed very close attention not to lose it. Turning around to see the track in
the other direction without the markings, there were some sections which were
absolutely not visible. For the next time, I now have the GPS track.
Oh by the
way, the only fish this day where from the camp pool. Or did I get none to the
net – cannot remember. At the camp, packing, getting ready for the way out. The
track / trap line out has the same structure, better marked on the way out.
Some sever detours with danger of losing the track due to fallen trees. But I
think I now have in 98% correct in my GPS for the next time. In a forest where
you sometimes can only see 10 meters and there are no obvious marks it is good
to have this digital line.
Arriving
after exactly two hours at the hut, I was happy to end the five hours walking
of the day and to get rid of the backpack. Ines did pack everything and swiped
the hut, so I was ready after twenty minutes, just about in time for the a head
of time arriving boat taxi
Bye bye to
the hut, with more good memories and nice fishing. Again we had the luck
to fish fresh water and did not get in interference with other fishermen.
The way
back went smoothly, some more waves and wind than on the way in. Ines picked me
from the boat ramp at around 7pm and we headed towards the Motel she had found
a room the day before. Coincidentally exact that Motel I spend a night two
years before. Everything else in Te Anau was pretty much booked, prices where
high.
The day
before the plan for Ines and Tobias with the boat taxi went pretty smooth. Except that the Milford
Track boat taxi is not used to transport guests by short notice that do not
have a ticket. But they nevertheless took care of Ines and Tobias. And the
captain did this in a special way, looking like a real pirate, Tobias was so afraid of
him, that he started to cry seeing him. Very unusual for him as he is always
excited seeing new people. Reunited we spend another night in the Motel. A
Motel Ines fixed for the two nights at some kind of “last minute Te Anau is
booked price”. Traveler’s advice: Te Anau can get busy and prices change by
demand.
The idea for the next days, was not yet determined as the weather
looked unclear and some rain was likely. For the next day nevertheless the idea
was to relocate to a shearer’s quarter 15minutes outside of town that I found
in the net (accommodation for sheep-coiffeurs). But we were unable to get in
touch with the lady in charge. Too sad as it seemed to be available for the
days we planned. Hanging undecided around in Te Anau. Doing some
internet/Café-stuff, groceries we did not know what was going on. At the
afternoon we gave Karen and Rob a knock, as announced. We had a nice Saturday afternoon
with them at their second-home in Te Anau. Fishtalk. Did you fish that? How is
access there? How was this stream? Tea. Fly swap. Tobias playing with the toys
of the grandchildren. A real nice afternoon!
Still not
knowing how to continue, we drove to the station to find it deserted. The shearer’s
accommodation had the nice typical stile of the 50ies of the last century. After
considering plans and weather (rain for Fjordland) we decided to go back
towards QT / Garston and called Naylor House close to Garston (see post before
on this fabulous vacation home near Garston!). And it was available again –
lucky 3F! Within in shorter than usual time for that stretch, we were again
close to Garston in the Naylor House – welcome home! Fishing the Mataura the
next day was not a too bad option.
This night
we had our traditional dish again: beef filet. But this time in a special form
as at the supermarket in Te Anau, the ready cut filet steaks were pretty much
sold, but there were whole filets still available. For a price per kg we are normally
used to pay for good diced meat at home. But one filet pretty much meant either
inviting people from the street or having beef filet three days in a row. We
went for the last option. Starting with steaks for the first two days and a very
special dish for the third day I will mention later.
Doctor’s
advice: do not eat so much meat, it is not good for you and not good on the
environment (but it tastes good)!
Plan for
the next day (Sunday) was to fish Mataura River on an access close by.
Wondering, if we would have the stretch of the river for ourselves, or if a
coach full of fishing tourists would be on the water before us.
After a
relaxing night without meat poisoning we got up to fish the Mataura – on a
Sunday! Before that Tobias had its first close encounter with a close to adult
lamb. He enjoyed it and was excited. 
The other
day I went to fish a little downstream and drove there by the car – I drove
exactly to the next access point just 1,5km down the road. Not a wise decision,
as it turned out I would have to walk that way anyway to fetch the car after
fishing upstream. So letting the car sleep would habve been more logic. I
caught a couple around 3-4,5lbs. Of note was one real decent fish of close to 6lbs
that took my fly from an awkward casting position. Just short before the cast I
discovered a very deep hole exactly left to me covered with grass. The fish
took, I tried to take care of the line warped around my arm and avoided successfully not to fall in the
hole, slowly sliding down the high bank to the water, fish still on – shoot –
no he was gone. These kinds of fish are the ones that gona stick much longer to
your memory than the other ones caught without any obstacles ore curios casts.
