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Sunday, March 27, 2011

A Wet Weekend




Our weekend in the Rotarua area was WET (see our blue-tarp shelter off the back of the car - the envy of backpackers all over NZ). We stopped to see the Ohau Channel diversion wall (see pics) in the Kaituna Arm of Lake Rotoiti that diverts warmer water from Lake Rotarua into the Kaituna Stream outlet of Rotoiti thus protecting Rotoiti from degraded water quality. This has, according to Matt Osborne of Fish and Game (Bay of Plenty), and Dr. Brendan Hicks at the University of Waikato, worked to protect the Rotoiti from the effects of eutrophication that have plagued Lake Rotarua.

Next we were off to the Lake Tarawera outlet to camp at a Department of Conservation campground there. This is an important spawning and rearing area for Tarawera's rainbow trout, and there is a 150 m spawning sanctuary there at the outlet (see pic - the large rainbows spawn at the lake outlet and the juveniles move upstream into the lake itself). Gret and Ari took a hike to Tarawera Falls some 3.5 km below camp, and Rio and Dave hung out in camp under the blue tarp. We followed up our visit to Tarawera at Kawerau's public pool (free) which features a natural geothermally heated hot pool for soaking. Nice!


Now, some 200 km away near Taumarunui at another DOC campsite, we're on the Forgotten World Highway on the Whanganui River (muddy after the rains) and catching up on work at the public library which features the Aotearoa People’s Network Kaharoa that provides free internet and broadband wireless access to the public as a part of the NZ Digital Libraries project. Rio is wrapping up his studies before Spring Break begins for him in a week, and we have sunny skies again! Until later, Cheers All!

Thursday, March 17, 2011

Sad News




Unfortunately Little O was put down. He was evaluated by a Vet who determined that he would probably die or require too much intervention. It is sad. We're pretty pissed off by the whole thing (his circumstances, the decision, the lousy attitude of the woman working the desk at the Taupo Pound).

Anyway, we did fish the Picket Fence on Lake Taupo, and the Waitahunai River, but with no luck. We got to see the whare (Maori for "house") at Windsor Lodge that holds many artifacts that help to document the social history of angling from the lodge and in Waitahunai. Rich at the lodge involved with the Waitahunai Angler's Improvement Association (an old club in the area) and in a flyfishing education program for kids. Neat stuff.

On leaving Taupo we saw Hukka Falls on the Waikato River that drains Lake Taupo (impressive - see pic), and a geothermal-electric project nearby (first in NZ and quite the engineering feat even if it is a blight on the landscape - also see pic).

Dave gave a talk at the University of Waikato, and now we're staying near Rotarua and doing more research, fishing, and visiting with a nice couple from Germany/Switzerland that we met in Picton before we left the South Island.
We're off to parts still unexplored for the next week or two before we return to Auckland for our 13 hour flight back to LA, then hops to SF and Portland (on April 9). May not post to the blog for awhile unless some cool sights seen and cool things happen.
Cheers all!

Tuesday, March 15, 2011

"Little O"

We went to fish the "Big O" yesterday afternoon, Lake Otamangakau, which is well known as New Zealand's trophy rainbow trout fishery. Dave was pretty jazzed as he'd just finished visiting with Dr. Michel Dedual, Fishery Scientist for the Department of Conservation's Taupo Fishery Area, who showed him fish data and fish pictures, and even told him where to fish! This on the heels of years of stories from friend Chad Newman who fished the Big O with good success on his visit to NZ in earlier days.

We got to the lake and began to check out an area recommended by Michel, this requiring some clever and careful driving with our low clearance Ford Mondeo wagon. Gret had her eyes closed for much of this - Dave had to peek once in a while since he was driving. After getting into and out of one potential area from which to launch our flyfishing offensive, we tried another little 2 track that we hoped would take us to a better spot. We reached a fork of sorts, in the narrow track, and Ari noted from the back seat - "Hey, a puppy!"

Dave stopped and we all looked at the pup - both he and Gretchen knew that the fishing wasn't going to happen that afternoon. The pup was sitting near a bush, with one eyelid stuck shut, and as Dave got out and approached it, the pup came over to greet him. A 6 or so week old white bull terrier or some such breed, the poor little chap was emaciated. He'd been sitting on a box on which was his dead litter-mate; both pups had been abandoned there in the bush and had been there for a week probably.

We put the pup in a box and drove the half-hour back to Turangi on the south shore of Lake Taupo. The Police station was closed, but there was a phone at the entrance that connects with dispatch, so an officer was dispatched to meet us there at the station and take the pup from us to deliver to the SPCA office up the lake at Taupo the next day. Dave asked if we could call to check on the pup's status, and noted that his name is "Little O." We will call or check in on him soon to let you know how he is.

Cheers!

Sunday, March 13, 2011

Anglers' Paradise

















We're in the Taupo area, staying at Rich and Sandy's Windsor Lodge in Waitahanui, near the mouth of the Waitahanui River which is the site of Lake Taupo's famous picket fence (see the pic!). We have yet to fish, but Rich and Sandy have been helping us make contacts with key Department of Conservation staff (DOC manages the Taupo District's fisheries - all others in NZ are managed by Regional Fish and Game NZ Councils - more on this below), a local guide, and anglers.

Zane Grey probably first described New Zealand as an "Angler's Paradise," at least in print, and this is certainly true of the entire country with it's popular bluewater, near-shore, and freshwater fisheries. Because most anglers aren't as wealthy and energetic as Grey and now often focus on a particular type of fishing, Dave would revise his title to "Anglers' Paradise." All of the fisheries are different than when he visited - recent gossip and writings indicate that the offshore bluewater fishery for marlin and other large marine gamefish has deteriorated, that the trout in Lake Taupo are smaller and less plentiful than they once were, etc., etc. There are numerous reasons for these turns of events, no doubt, but NZ still is Anglers' Paradise!

Lake Taupo is one of New Zealand's most important draws for domestic and international anglers. It is being managed for wild fish (all salmonids in NZ are introduced species), and a quality fishery. The assumption on the part of DOC is that the health of the fishery is a reflection of the overall health of the Taupo Basin - the assumption that underlies the research Dave is conducting. And what a piscatorial landscape this area displays! The signage for each community along Highway 1 along the east side of the lake features fish (see the pic for Turangi), as do many of the businesses (also an angling theme - especially in Turangi). There is the National Trout Centre just south of Turangi on the Tongariro River (when we tried to visit on Friday 3/11/11 the Centre was celebrating the opening of an expanded aquarium with many local dignitaries and benefactors attending) which has an important historic and current educational mission to educate Kiwis and visitors alike about the importance of clean water and healthy aquatic ecosystems. See the pic above of the boys sampling the fish at the Centre's trout pond!
Lastly, more about the DOC, the Regional Fish and Game NZ Councils, and fisheries management. Both the DOC and the Regional F&G NZ Councils (as well as the National F&G NZ Council) are funded entirely by license fees. In the case of the Regional F&G NZ Councils, twelve councillors are elected by license holders who have ticked the appropriate box on their license forms when these are purchased. They must specify a particular region that they wish to be able to serve as a part of the electorate, but they may fish anywhere in NZ (freshwaters only, outside of the Taupo Basin - marine fishing does not require a license!) with their F&G NZ license. The Regional F&G NZ Councils then appoint from amongst their ranks one representative who will serve at the National Council level. Additionally, councils at both levels are served by professional staffs (with heavier science emphasis at the regional level and heavier policy emphasis at the national level). Thus, Fish & Game NZ is essentially a self-financed democratic institution.

Well, it's time to leave the virtual world in favor of the real one, with real fish in it, so Cheers to all of you again. We plan on fishing the Waitahunai and at the picket fence yet - will have a big fish story for you later we hope.