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Topic: Fiordland Moments, Ettrick Burn adventure< Next Oldest | Next Newest >
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fisherlinz Search for posts by this member.

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PostIcon Posted on: Nov. 29 2011,17:20  Skip to the next post in this topic. Ignore posts   QUOTE
I was lucky enough to get a ballot to the Ettrick Burn on the 28th November. The Ettrick Burn flows into Lake TeAnau in the Murchison Mountains wilderness area and is usually closed to all but the Department of Conservation staff to protect the Takahe. Ballots were limited to four people but I chose to take only my brother as our shift rosters matched up. The weather had been very unsettled for the week prior to us going in and heavy rain fell during the night before we went in.

Marty and I met up on Sunday and got the boat sorted and ready to go for an early start on Monday morning. A few brews before bed helped to settle the nerves, only to wake at 3am to hear heavy rain on the roof of the house we were staying at. Lunches made after breakfast and we were putting the boat in the drink at TeAnau just after 6am.. We headed off up the lake into a gusty nor wester that made for slower travel but thanks to the hardtop on the boat we arrived safe and dry. We took the obligatory pics at the sign, quickly sorted out gear and headed off up the marked track.

The first marked river crossing threw up a suprise as the river was flowing fast so we attempted to cross only for Marty to get swept off his feet in the current causing us to both get a wakeup call about how easy things could go wrong. Another crossing point was found further up river  but it was around mid thigh in depth, still we managed to cross without hassles. Following the track up we came across the Fish and Game signage and continued up over the hill to circumvent the gorge arriving at  the first fishable bit of water about 1 1/4 hours after leaving the boat.
It was still raining steadly and looking at the rocks in the river it looked up about 150-200mm on the normal level.
We set up the rods and started fishing, after a couple of casts I hooked into a nice fish of about 7 pounds.


After another dicey crossing Marty lost a rainbow of about 5 pounds, and with it still raining and the river still rising we got back on the side that would allow safe return and headed further up river only to be bluffed out before the best fishing could be accessed.


It was with dejected hearts that we turned and headed for the boat knowing that a sou wester was expected to pickup on the lake later in the afternoon. Arriving at the boat we knew it was going to be a slow ride back to TeAnau but there were no problems even with the wind making the trailering of the boat character building.

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May the hours spent fishing not be counted in my time on earth...... :)
Linz
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DMJ Search for posts by this member.

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PostIcon Posted on: Nov. 29 2011,22:38 Skip to the previous post in this topic. Skip to the next post in this topic. Ignore posts   QUOTE
A shame you had  to cut the trip short, but it sounds like  a great experience anyway.

Would have loved some more photos though  :D
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PostIcon Posted on: Nov. 30 2011,07:11 Skip to the previous post in this topic. Skip to the next post in this topic. Ignore posts   QUOTE
Thanks for the read, Linz.

Sounds like a very typical fishing expedition - a mixture of anticipation, frustration, failure, success, and a willingness to do it all again as soon as possible!

Looking forward to the next report.

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All the best
GarthS
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fisherlinz Search for posts by this member.

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PostIcon Posted on: Nov. 30 2011,09:39 Skip to the previous post in this topic. Skip to the next post in this topic. Ignore posts   QUOTE
DMJ I would love to have taken more pics but with all the rain I was a little reluctant to pull the dslr out of the dry bag to take pics. The valley becomes more scenic above the point we were forced to turn back. Next time........

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May the hours spent fishing not be counted in my time on earth...... :)
Linz
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PostIcon Posted on: Nov. 30 2011,19:52 Skip to the previous post in this topic. Skip to the next post in this topic. Ignore posts   QUOTE

(fisherlinz @ Nov. 30 2011,09:39)
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DMJ I would love to have taken more pics but with all the rain I was a little reluctant to pull the dslr out of the dry bag to take pics. The valley becomes more scenic above the point we were forced to turn back. Next time........

Looking forward to it ;)

/Dennis
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fiblet Search for posts by this member.

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PostIcon Posted on: Dec. 01 2011,00:00 Skip to the previous post in this topic. Skip to the next post in this topic. Ignore posts   QUOTE
Great article Linz, just the right length, keeps you thinking what might have been...
Dont think you need any more pictures, what is there tells a nice story
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PostIcon Posted on: Dec. 02 2011,07:39 Skip to the previous post in this topic.  Ignore posts   QUOTE
Yes good one Linz, looks great country

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Steve Gerard
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