My New Zealand Experience

[bolden]

Well, i just got back from 3 weeks in the south island of NZ, and it was quite a trip. The fishing wasn't that great, in fact it was actually fairly bad, but the area was incredible.

Normally January is one of the best times to fish in NZ, but they have had practically no rain since October, so the waters were low and not as cold as they should have been. This resulted in not many fish feeding or even being spotted, and the ones we did spot were spookier than any fish has the right to be. I had never spooked a fish from 200 feet away while standing on the bank until fishing in NZ. Even the Kiwi's who have grown up fishing NZ were having trouble, and the story from every one of them was the problem with low water.

Even though the fishing wasn't great, we did catch fish, and had opportunities i could never dream of in the US. On one river i fished, the Doubtful River, i spotted a 30"+ brown feeding on my side of a nice run. I managed to get about 30 feet below him, but the 40mph wind blowing in my face was a bit difficult to cast into with the delicacy needed not to spook him. I did manage to get one drift over him in which he nosed my fly, he was sooo close, but eventually the wind got the best of me and one bad cast was all it took to put him down.

The most surprising thing we found was the variety of rivers you could fish. From big valley rivers to spring creeks to rivers running through rain forests, it is hard to imagine so much in such a small island.

Anyway, the trip is over, i go back to school tomorrow, but i have plenty of great memories, as well as many pictures.

First, of course, are a couple nice fish. This one was across the run from the monster on the Doubtful River. He was about 24-25", and even on 3x i had to chase him about 100 yards downstream.

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a31/bolden916/New%20Zealand/IMGP0526.jpg

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a31/bolden916/New%20Zealand/IMGP0529.jpg

On the second to last day my dad and i found this unnamed side creek to the Hokitika River. Luckily for us the fish rose to a natural so that we could see him. After a few casts he rose out of the fast water for a parachute adams. He was only about 21", but he came out of the water at least a half dozen times.

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a31/bolden916/New%20Zealand/DSD_4622.jpg

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a31/bolden916/New%20Zealand/DSD_4640.jpg

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a31/bolden916/New%20Zealand/DSD_4643.jpg

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a31/bolden916/New%20Zealand/DSD_4657.jpg

Here are a bunch of shots of the places we fished.

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a31/bolden916/New%20Zealand/DSD_3109.jpg

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a31/bolden916/New%20Zealand/DSD_3303.jpg

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a31/bolden916/New%20Zealand/DSD_3309.jpg

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a31/bolden916/New%20Zealand/DSD_4179.jpg

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a31/bolden916/New%20Zealand/DSD_4229.jpg

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a31/bolden916/New%20Zealand/DSD_4224.jpg

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a31/bolden916/New%20Zealand/DSD_4697.jpg

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a31/bolden916/New%20Zealand/DSD_4738.jpg

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a31/bolden916/New%20Zealand/DSD_4747.jpg

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a31/bolden916/New%20Zealand/DSD_4674.jpg

On this river we found a nice pool where we spotted two big browns working the shallow water. Unfortunately by the time we got to our position the river had turned to mud.

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a31/bolden916/New%20Zealand/DSD_2958.jpg

Finally, here are some pictures of bugs, plants, birds, beaches, and anything else i took a picture of.

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a31/bolden916/New%20Zealand/DSD_4717.jpg

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a31/bolden916/New%20Zealand/DSD_4566.jpg

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a31/bolden916/New%20Zealand/DSD_4541.jpg

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a31/bolden916/New%20Zealand/DSD_4535.jpg

I did not have my tripod for this shot, so i had to stuff my camera in a slot in a tree hanging over the creek.

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a31/bolden916/New%20Zealand/DSD_4393-2.jpg

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a31/bolden916/New%20Zealand/DSD_4587.jpg

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a31/bolden916/New%20Zealand/DSD_4348.jpg

This is was i caught my biggest fish on, a Cicada. These things were everywhere, but they just would not fall in the water.

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a31/bolden916/New%20Zealand/DSD_4126.jpg

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a31/bolden916/New%20Zealand/DSD_4142.jpg

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a31/bolden916/New%20Zealand/DSD_3510.jpg

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a31/bolden916/New%20Zealand/DSD_3500.jpg

My Personal Favorite. This was an 11 minute exposure using the full moon and it was taken at about 11 oclock.

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a31/bolden916/New%20Zealand/DSD_4591-2.jpg

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a31/bolden916/New%20Zealand/DSD_4078-2.jpg

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a31/bolden916/New%20Zealand/DSD_3451.jpg

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a31/bolden916/New%20Zealand/DSD_3246.jpg

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a31/bolden916/New%20Zealand/DSD_3024.jpg

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a31/bolden916/New%20Zealand/DSD_3025-2.jpg

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a31/bolden916/New%20Zealand/DSD_3842.jpg



The rest of my pictures are here, http://s8.photobucket.com/albums/a31/bolden916/New%20Zealand/

[jlmelend]

Stunning! Thanks for posting the images. Beautiful fish...and a beautiful place! Wow!

[JT]

Awesome photos! You truly have a gift!

[Langenbeck]

Ben,

Thanks for sharing the trip story and the awesome pictures as usual. If you ever go back to the North Island please send me a PM as I have been there 20 times just to trout fish. I go in early winter rather than summer.

[Flycanoe]

:shock: Wow, what an awesome place and thanks for sharing your wonderful pics. Very inspirational.

This is my favorite pic, very nice.
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a31/bolden916/New%20Zealand/DSD_4566.jpg

[mike N]

Very nice.

MN

[Charlie S]

That looked like a great trip. Thanks so much for sharing and your photography is definitely at a pro level!!!!

[FISHEYE]

I usually don't post these types of responses but in this case I will.....

WOW!!!!! Beautiful / stunning photos. Looks like a place I need to go see.

[windknot]

Great shots and nice camera work! The nice thing about NZ is that even if the fishing isn't up to par, the scenery usually is. 8)

Matt

[Adam Grace]

Nice shots Ben, looks like a fun trip

[dtp916]

Beautiful! What a great trip!

[bolden]

Here are some more pictures.

I caught this 21 or so inch fish on a spring creek we fished and he took me deep into the weeds. I had to stick my arms completely in to get him out, but unfortunately he was still so fresh he popped out of my hands before a picture was taken. He was feeding just to the left of where i was on some big mayflies that were hatching. Also, that is just dirt on my rear end, not something else like my dad pointed out.

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a31/bolden916/New%20Zealand/IMGP0578.jpg

This was on a hike up to the Karamea Gorge, which you can see. The giant ferns they had were very trippy.

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a31/bolden916/New%20Zealand/IMGP0571.jpg

This may not look special, but there is a 28" brown sitting behind the big rock. I put some casts on him, and even hit him with a weighted nymph, but he was not feeding. I thought about trying to catch him with my hands, but he spooked before i tried it.

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a31/bolden916/New%20Zealand/IMGP0553.jpg

[davkrat]

Bolden,
Great photos. The newer digital SLR's are stunning. I just got an EOS 1D mkIII and the high ISO images are unreal. I wear a Fishpond Wasatch vest/pack. The vest has a rod tube holder that is great for wrapping around two legs of your tripod. As I'm sure you know you always need a tripod when you don't have one. I'm looking at their newer pack that has the same front as the Wasatch but the larger backpack. A large bodied SLR won't fit in the pack of my Wasatch with a lens mounted on it. Also learned the hard way to keep my camera in a dry bag, the one time I forgot my drybag I toasted my 1D mkII. That's a $4000 mistake you don't make twice. Thank god for insurance.

That seems like a dream trip of a life time. Now that duck season is over it's time to get back in to photography again. Ever thought of selling your stuff? I have an Espon Pro4800 printer and started making sutom wooden frames recently. Maybe I'll see you at a 2nd Saturday Art Walk this summer. I'm sure there are some flyfisherman here in town that would be willing to buy some of your photos. Definately adding NZ to my list of must see places. Right now my 3 year-old son and 3 week old daughter are keeping me close to home for a while. Pictures like that sure make you dream of the future. Thanks for sharing.

[bolden]

Bolden,
Great photos. The newer digital SLR's are stunning. I just got an EOS 1D mkIII and the high ISO images are unreal. I wear a Fishpond Wasatch vest/pack. The vest has a rod tube holder that is great for wrapping around two legs of your tripod. As I'm sure you know you always need a tripod when you don't have one. I'm looking at their newer pack that has the same front as the Wasatch but the larger backpack. A large bodied SLR won't fit in the pack of my Wasatch with a lens mounted on it. Also learned the hard way to keep my camera in a dry bag, the one time I forgot my drybag I toasted my 1D mkII. That's a $4000 mistake you don't make twice. Thank god for insurance.

When i only had my d50 i used one of the big Fishpond backpacks with the single chest pack. It fit just fine and has the nice spot for the tripod. Now, with my d300, i almost always use my Lowepro Dryzone 200, which i got for the NZ trip. It is completely waterproof, which i have accidentally tested once, but the trade off is weight. Luckily im only 19, so carrying around 20 or more pounds all day isn't that bad.



That seems like a dream trip of a life time. Now that duck season is over it's time to get back in to photography again. Ever thought of selling your stuff? I have an Espon Pro4800 printer and started making sutom wooden frames recently. Maybe I'll see you at a 2nd Saturday Art Walk this summer. I'm sure there are some flyfisherman here in town that would be willing to buy some of your photos. Definately adding NZ to my list of must see places. Right now my 3 year-old son and 3 week old daughter are keeping me close to home for a while. Pictures like that sure make you dream of the future. Thanks for sharing.

I have thought of selling my stuff, i guess i am just a little hesitant to get started and get myself out there. I am probobly going to send some of my fishing pictures to some magazines to see anything sparks their interest. I think that picture of my dad fighting the fish that is midair would make a great cover.

Anyway, I am glad you like my stuff, and i am truly envious of your new camera. Hopefully this can become an actual job in the future.

[davkrat]

I've talked to many photographers and on the nature photography front you pretty much have to do it as a second job. I look at it as a way to hopefully pay for a couple of trips and some equipment. I don't really plan to make much money with nature photos. Weddings, journalism and the like are better options for careers in photography. I wish I could afford equipment like that when I was 19. I'm definately jealous that I didn't have digital when Iw as your age. God I'm only 31 and I sound like an old man! But the learning curve with digital is in so many ways batter than learning with film. You have instant gratification or dismay when you take a picture on a digital camera. Learning techniques on exposure, depth of field, shutter speed it's all so much easier with instant playback. Having to finish shooting the entire roll of film, drop it off, wait for it to be developed before you got to see what the different techniques you used took for ever. My first digital was a Canon D60 that cost a couple thousand bucks. I figured though that buying slide film and having it developed, $12-$13 per 36 frame roll, I paid for that camera in the first 6 months. I never would have taken that many photos with film. Looks like you are off to a great start. Keep up the good work. If you ever have any questions feel free to ask.

[SteelieD]

Hopefully this can become an actual job in the future.

Without a doubt! Great photos as always!

The composition on this picture is awesome!...
http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a227/SteelieD/DSD_3510.jpg

[bolden]

Some more wildlife from NZ.

First, the flying machine. This thing was out when i was taking bird pictures in a big tidal area. It was a very cool thing.

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a31/bolden916/New%20Zealand/DSD_3699.jpg

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a31/bolden916/New%20Zealand/DSD_3715.jpg

And some birds from the same day.

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a31/bolden916/New%20Zealand/DSD_3350.jpg

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a31/bolden916/New%20Zealand/DSD_3675.jpg

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a31/bolden916/New%20Zealand/DSD_3677.jpg