Rakaia River Holiday Park

We travelled all around the South Island of New Zealand for three months. I can honestly say that was the best three months I have ever spent and that this place is utterly, utterly beautiful!

One of the most exciting moments was catching a wild salmon in the Rakaia river. We stayed at the Rakaia River Holiday Park (http://www.rakaiariverholidaypark.co.nz/) which is just next to the river. We set out very early in the morning and I was wondering if this was going to be worth it, because I am just not a morning person.

I must say the morning was gorgeous though and once the sun came up it got warm. Everything seemed to be good.

At least for the first hour it was all good, but I didn't really have the patience to be a good fisherman. I gave up and sat on the edge of a fast flowing part of the river and gazed into the water. It seemed there was a shadow in there moving back and forth towards me and away again. I summonsed our guide, Rob, who informed me immediately that this was a good sized salmon and what was I doing sitting down?

I had what Rob called a "ticker" (sp) on my rod and I cast it just where he told me to as we slowly Wales up stream.

There was an almost instantaneous sharp pull on the rod as this mighty ( writer's privilege to exaggerate here) fish took the line.

Instructions were hurled at me, but is was all a blur, the excitement was so extreme. I remembered my early morning briefing, to my surprise, about how to keep the tip of the rod up and always maintain pressure on the line. With what I remembered and what I could assimilate of what Rob was saying I must say I did a marvellous job. Don't believe what Rob say, though. Still the end result was a 6.5 kg salmon on the bank and quickly dispatched by my minor assistant.

We were back at the camp by id day and hungry, so it was not long before the barbecue was hot and the salmon was wrapped in foil and backed.

There is nothing to compare to the taste of fresh salmon. I mean fresh, like 20 minutes fresh!

My next holiday will be here at the Rakaia River Holiday Park for sure. Watch out salmon!