The Darkroom.
We like our photography almost as much as we like our fishing, here is the place where we get to show off a bit of both.
Pat and Matt
Pat and Matt have been fishing on the south island with us for years - we all first met on a river in Mongolia, we spent the week together chasing the elusive taimen. Little did we know at the time how many future adventures the world had planned for us. We always have a lot of laughs and manage to catch a few fish in between. Here are a few photos from one of their last south island road trips.
Autumn Backcountry Bliss
Sometimes when we venture into the backcountry late in the season we have to thaw our wading boots out next to the fire before we can put them on in the morning but that’s nothing an extra cup of hot coffee can’t help. Autumn can be one of the most settled seasons of the year in New Zealand. The team ventured into the high country on a bluebird forecast and it appears safe to say that they weren’t too worried about the weather or their boots.
Mongolia 2024
Mongolia holds a special place in our hearts, hopefully these images can help give you in glimpse of it. Jeff has personally made it there almost every year for a decade now and in 2024 we got to host an intrepid group of anglers on a grand Mongolian adventure - 7 days of floating and fishing through Ghengis Khans home waters chasing taimen, lenok and grayling. A trip to Mongolia is truly about more than the fishing.
Brent.
Brent said he wanted adventure and adventure is what he got. Four days marching up a backcountry stream with no roads and few trails is not for the feint of heart. But when the time comes to set your backpack on a rock and cast to one of the south islands wildest brown trout it sure seems worth it.
Brazil 2022
The earths largest peacock bass live high in the Amazon rainforest - these fish can grow to upwards of 30lbs. and are some of fiercest predators you can target on the fly. We hosted a group here in 2022 and cannot wait to go back. This program accommodates the angler in world class comfort on a luxury liveaboard in one of the most inhospitable environments on earth. There really is nothing like it.
Winter.
Winter is a time for rest or as we like to call it, hibernation. We hibernate in our own fashion which mostly consists of sitting in the raft and wailing on trout. And coffee, we drink lots of coffee in winter too.
Travis and the boys.
Travis spends at least two weeks on the south island every year and a part of that trip always includes a reunion with old friends Fraser and Gregor. The location is always different but the good times are always the same. There is nothing quite as enjoyable as spending quality time chasing trout in beautiful places with old friends.
Type II Fun.
October can be confronting with heavy winds and spring precipitation but it can also be one of the best months to target happy brown trout that have had the past 5 months off. Venturing into the backcountry this time of year takes it to the next level and that’s exactly what Adam and Jeff did this spring. They covered about 60km in 4 days enduring cold, wet and fatigue - we like to call these kind of adventures Type II fun. Probably not for everybody but the lads sure were in their element and have some incredible captures to show for it and more importantly memories that will last a lifetime.
