Offsite Issue #22 Jan/Feb 2021

GET ON BOARD, WE ARE.

Because being local is at the heart of everything we do, ITM have always proudly supported the Kiwi teams we know and love. So, it wasn’t too much of a leap for us to get behind Emirates Team New Zealand as they fight to defend the 36th America’s Cup.

As an Exclusive Supplier, we’ve helped with materials for the team’s base at Viaduct Harbour and for the boat yard in which Te Aihe and her sister yachts have been built. We’ll be there to cheer the boys on out on the water too.

Emirates Team New Zealand are counting on us for the long haul, and so can you with every project we undertake.

ITM. We’ll see you right.

WORK HARD, PLAY HARD! WORK HARD, PLAY HARD!

TO ISSUE TWENTY TWO OF RHEEM OFF-SITE

2020 was just one of those years. For Kiwis, however, there’s no shortage of things to look forward to in 2021. Yellowfin tuna and mahimahi have showed up early in numbers, kingfish are hanging around our inshore reefs and all of the summer festivals and events are going ahead as planned (touch wood). With international travel still largely off-limits, NZ is definitely not the worst country to be stuck in for the summer!

To help you make the most of January’s fishing options, Nick Jones opens the issue with a beginner’s guide to lure fishing. I continue where Nick left off with the biggest Tradie Profile to date. The “Chums” are a hilarious group of lads who have dedicated their weekends to hunting, catching big fish and spreading aroha, so I went down to their HQ to find out what they’ve been up to.

Struan Purdie kicks things up a notch next, taking us through the gruelling five days of the last Alps to Ocean ultramarathon – a 323km long run. Yep. Ridiculous. On page 18, Steve Dickinson introduces his new favourite adventure tourism operator: Wanaka’s WildWire. Josiah Atkinson, aka Whakatrout, then let’s us in on some of his favourite ways to target trout in summer, before new contributor Malcom Dawson rounds out the issue by sharing one of the most sacred mountain bike rides he’s ever undertaken.

As always, get in touch if you have any stories of your own to share. Message us on Instagram (@offsite_magazine) – where you’ll also find plenty of giveaways – or flick me an email at ethan@nzfishingnews.co.nz. Enjoy!

Grant Blair QS Grant Dixon PROJECT MANAGER Ethan Neville ARCHITECT Ricky Harris

Cover Photo: Nick Jones

WHICH TO USE? LURE

A beginner’s guide for summer saltwater action

If you’ve been thinking about giving lure fishing a crack but haven’t quite known where to begin, Nick Jones has the answers. He provides all the info you need to get started with lures this summer.

There is something incredibly satisfying about fooling fish with a lure. Moreover, it’s simple – there’s no messing around with smelly bait or anchoring, and it’s super effective on a range of our desirable fish species. However, for a beginner, or a tried-and-true bait angler, it can be a daunting prospect determining which lure to use when you’re out on the big blue. So here is a brief rundown on where, when and how to use the common types of saltwater lures deployed in NZ.

KABURA-STYLE LURES

Best depth range: 30m+

Effective fishing scenarios: Use kaburas-style lures over open sand/mud areas, both with or without workups. General gear required: A light to medium slow-jigging set, spooled with 20-30lb braid and 30lb fluorocarbon trace.

Technique: Kabura-style lures are the perfect lure for beginners because they are so simple to use and catch lots of

fish! Drop the lure straight down to the bottom. Once you’ve touched down, start retrieving the line slowly and steadily – about 1-2 seconds for each rotation of the reel. Do ten winds up then drop back down and repeat. Once you’ve had a couple of drops back down, wind the lure quickly right up to the top for another full deployment – the very best time to get a fish is just after the lure has hit the bottom on that first drop. If

you feel bites, simply keep slowly retrieving until the fish hooks itself. If the fishing isn’t hot, err on the side of smaller lures, and experiment with different colours to find the ‘colour of the day’ that’s working. Kabura hooks are very small and easily pulled out of fish –reduce the pressure on them with a reasonably light drag setting and smooth action.

SOFT-BAITS

Best depth range: 0-30m

Effective fishing scenarios:

• O ver sand/mud, reefy shallows, or underwater foul ground

• Harbours, inshore areas, or exposed coasts

• Landbased

• Under gannets or terns working

• Go-to lure for kayak or dinghy anglers

General gear required: A light spinning rod and reel spooled with 10-20lb braid, 20-30lb fluorocarbon trace and a range of jig-head weights.

Technique: Soft-baits can work well when simply dropped to the bottom, left in the rod holder and dragged along while you’re drifting; however, fishing them wore actively is more fun and generally yields greater success.

To do this, cast downwind ahead of your drift, and let the soft-bait drift down towards the bottom. A ½ oz jig-head is normally a good all-round weight. As it drops, keep an eye on the belly of your line for twitches or changes in speed as these indicate it has been picked up by a fish. Otherwise, once the lure has reached the bottom, begin working it with some small twitches of your rod tip. Raise the rod, then drop the rod, wind in the slack line and repeat. If you’re working rocky, shallow terrain, fish will often take your lure soon after it lands on the surface, so you don’t need to drop right to the bottom where snags can often occur. If the bottom is less gnarly, then try to keep your lure in the strike zone close to the bottom for as long as possible.

INCHIKUS

Best depth range: 30m+

Effective fishing scenarios: Similar to kaburas, but most effective during workups or when the fishing is cranking, as they enable you to target bigger fish.

General gear required: A light to medium slow-jigging set, spooled with 20-30lb braid and 30lb fluorocarbon trace.

Technique: Inchiku lures would have to be my go-to lure if you’re after a combination of big snapper and kingfish around the

workups. The beauty of inchikus is that any angler can make them look attractive. I’ve seen inchikus hook kings on the drop, on a slow steady retrieve, a slow lift-and-wind retrieve, a faster mechanical jigging motion, and even fished in the rod holder bouncing along close to the bottom on choppy days. All the colours seem to work – use more natural baitfish colours in shallower workups or if the kings are holding higher up in the water column, whereas brighter colours and lumo are effective for fish prowling deeper.

Inchikus are perfect for fishing around workups.

The writer landed this john dory on a soft-bait.

Best depth range: 20m+

Effective fishing scenarios: Speed-jigs are primarily used to target kingfish over reefs and pinnacles where there is sign showing on the fishfinder. It pays to fish this style of jig over good bait sign, or kingfish sign itself. Getting an intimate knowledge of your sounder through time on the water is hugely beneficial, allowing you to differentiate between what is worth fishing and what might well be a waste of time. Kingfish move around reefs and pinnacles depending on the tide, generally holding on the up-current side where upwellings and eddies hold the bait. Speed-jigs can also be successful when a school of kingfish shows up around a workup.

General gear required: An overhead

or spinning jigging combo – with a reel capable of holding around 300m of 2437kg braid, and a rod in the weighting range of 200-300g.

Technique: Jigging can be deadly in some areas and an exercise in frustration in others. Generally, jigs will catch smaller fish than livebaits, although they are very simple to deploy. Simply drop to the bottom, or where the sign is showing on the fishfinder, and work the lure back up. Tuck the rod under your left armpit and start slowly to get the hang of it. The basic technique is one full rotation of the reel handle for each lift and drop of the rod. Go from 6 o’clock on the reel knob to 12 o’clock through the rod lift, and from 12 o’clock back to 6 o’clock on the reel knob through the rod drop. As with all things fishing, practice makes perfect.

STICK-BAITS AND POPPERS

Best depth range: Shallower than 30m

Effective fishing scenarios: Late spring, summer and autumn are the prime times to find kingies in many areas as they populate the inshore reefs, coastlines and harbours. However, don’t write off a spot just because it’s the cold season – good-sized kingfish will still be cruising around, but they generally won’t be present in substantial numbers. When I’m hunting for kingfish, I look for current, structure and bait. Current and structure can easily be inferred from a quick perusal of the charts – think channels, reefs, pinnacles, headlands, drop-offs, mussel farms and marker buoys. An early start can pay dividends before the fish become a tad gun-shy. Topwater lures are also very popular

with land-based anglers.

General gear required: A PE6-8 rated topwater rod combined with a sturdy spinning reel with a decent drag output is a good all-around starter. Handcrafted wooden stickbaits catch more fish than their plastic counterparts but can be very expensive to lose! And good quality barbless treble hooks, like the BKK Raptor-Z Barbless, make fishing a lot safer.

Technique: Fishing with topwater surface lures is the most exciting and challenging way to catch kingfish. As a rule of thumb, poppers make more commotion while stick-baits offer a more realistic swimming action. Sweep and pause retrieves are the most effective, and it pays to practice with different brands and models as each will have a unique action.

MICRO-JIGS

Best depth range: 10-50m

Effective fishing scenarios: Microjigs are versatile lures that can be used in similar locations to soft-baits. However, they are most effective over open sand/mud areas, especially when the bite is slow and fish just want a small snack, or around surface schools of kahawai and trevally feeding on small prey.

General gear required: A light spinning rod and reel, or light slowjigging set, spooled with 10-20lb braid and a length of 20-30lb fluorocarbon trace. The ability to cast ahead of your drift is handy given the slow descent rate of these light lures.

Technique: The basic technique is the same as soft-baiting, although microjigs come in a variety of shapes and some work better with a slower action.

CHUMS

Off-Site Editor Ethan Neville had heard rumours about the Chums. Their merch was popping up in strange places, and some of their catches were getting a bit of attention online. After investigating further, he saw that they have been landing 20lb+ snapper most weekends, and even more fittingly, are a group of tradies. A time was quickly arranged to meet, and Ethan made his way to Riverhead to find out more about what these guys are up to.

Tyran managed to haul in this kingie on light gear.

Iturned up at “The Shack” just after 7pm on a Monday. The guys had already got stuck into the BBQ and a couple beers – I was five minutes late, after all. It was handshakes all round as I entered the shed and did the rounds. The space was filled with only the essentials: two boats, a couple of 20lb+ taxidermied snapper (the soft-baits still in their mouths), a pool table, a dart board, a TV and a whole bunch of Chums merch. The Shack, as it turned out, is the affectionate name given to the Studd’s family shed and, more importantly, Chums HQ.

Five of the group were present: Jake Studd (whose family property I was now on), sparky; James Tulloch, marine engineer apprentice (AB Marine, Westhaven); Tyran McRae, chippie; Jonny Tulloch, plumber (Collins Plumbing and Gas); and Ricky Massey, another chippie. Absent were about 15 others, all childhood friends, and all tradies except for one bloke who’s taken on the institution of university – I can’t imagine the grief this wins him. Collectively, they form the

increasingly popular and borderline publishable group: Chums. Each bloke was friendlier than the next, and as they cracked each other up yarning about what they get up to on their days off, I immediately knew this was going to be a strange kind of interview; instead of fighting to get a few good stories, I’d have to select the few best ones from the twenty odd that came flying my way.

So after a couple beers and some time spent trying to assimilate – I told them my dad played rugby out west – I pulled out my laptop and asked the tough questions. Who are the Chums? When did it all start? Why do I get the feeling that I’m witnessing the early stages of a cult?

Let’s start at the beginning.

First and foremost, location is what connected these boys. Riverhead is a small West Auckland town dominated by farmland and pubs – and like with most small towns, word travels pretty fast. For a group of mates doing their

best to have fun at high school, this meant getting a reputation as troublemakers. They told the story best...

Tyran: When we were younger, we used to get up to a bit of mischief – nothing criminal – just pushing the boundaries here and there. For example, we used to hang deerskins and possum skins on the riverhead signs – it’s a sign of hunters doing well.

Jonny: We mainly did it when all the townies started arriving to let them know what it’s like.

Jake: But then people started to post on the community page about us…

James: Page full of Karens…

Tyran: Some of the mums in the neighbourhood told their kids not to hang out with the chums. And if that’s what they say we are, that’s what we are. So, we started calling ourselves the Chums.

And that was that; the Chums were born. At first, it was just a name. The boys kept doing what they always did: hanging out, fishing, hunting,

“Some of the mums in the neighbourhood told their kids not to hang out with the chums. And if that’s what they say we are, that’s what we are.”

Five of the Chums boys in the Studd’s shed – aka Chums HQ.

The Chums clothing range has been a huge success, and is available on their website www.chums.online.

and finding a few more creative ways to have fun. Around “three or four years ago,” however, they decided to get the camera out, and that’s when they started to attract a bit of attention. One of their mates, Jordan, made some logos and the Chums Instagram and YouTube channel came to life.

“Instead of posting on our private Instagrams, we just started posting on the Chums page. It was just of stuff we’d already been doing,” Jake explained.

One of their first viral videos was Jonny carrying a pig on his back past the local Riverhead dairy. He was hungry after his hunt, so it made sense to stop in and grab a pie on his way home. The dairy owner didn’t agree, so Jonny was forced to walk the rest of the way home hungry, pig carcass and all. Newshub picked up the video, and their post started doing the rounds on social media.

At another time, according to Tyran, “The boys tied a rope to the Mill Flat bridge after a massive storm and surfed the rapids.” Despite Ricky getting briefly trapped under a log, it worked amazingly well, and their reputation continued to grow. Since then, they’ve never had a problem getting good content.

“We only get two days to try create something,” Jake said. “We all work five days hard, but there’s always a Chum out there doing something.

“For us it’s not just about catching big fish or hunting down the wildest pig; it’s being out there with our mates and having a good time doing it. We are full noise when we are out there and lucky enough, a few trophy specimens get landed, caught and released along the way.”

The fishing

While the Chums have built themselves a reputation for doing some wild stuff on their weekends, it was their fishing exploits which first got my attention. As mentioned, it seems they post another 20lb+ fish on their Instagram page almost every week.

“The boys tied a rope to the Mill Flat bridge after a massive storm and surfed the rapids.”

Jake and James with two kelpy snaps taken on soft-baits.

James with a solid landbased king he nailed on topwater gear.

“It all started happening with soft-baiting,” Jake explained. For west coast anglers, of course, using soft-baits is radical. A lot of the Chums’ fishing starts with a beach launch off Muriwai, and for the locals who watch them shoot over the waves without bait, it’s ludicrous. So how’d these guys get into soft-baiting?

The answer was unanimous: Bryce Studd. Jake’s dad, who sadly passed away earlier this year, was, at least in James’ description, “the soft-baiting godfather.”

Before anyone else on the west coast had given soft-baits a chance, Bryce persisted with the original Gulp! baits, and his effort soon paid off. Bryce raised Jake on softbaiting, and Jake, in turn, showed the rest of the Chums how to get the job done.

“We all got our twenty pounders pretty quicky after making the change,” Jonny told me. “It was insane.”

While Bryce clearly had a massive impact on these guys, John Gifford was another name that kept coming up.

“Bryce Studd got us into soft-

baiting and then John Gifford got us into drinking beers and hunting and fishing,” Tyran summed up. “They nurtured us; they loved the Chums.” John, in fact, got a 1000lb marlin (a grander) out of Ahipara in a five and a half metre McLay two or three years ago. That was a great day for the Chums, the guys laughed – I imagine with their celebrations on their minds.

Over the last few years, they’ve only been improving their techniques, even they’re not always conventional.

“I didn’t have a sounder,” Jake explained. “None of us grew up with sounders. We just look for depth. I don’t know how to use my sounder right now. Technology isn’t a big thing for us. We just look for structure. ‘Cause we are fishing so shallow, we don’t need to use electronics. We cover the ground by casting.

“We always go to a reef that looks fishy,” he continued. “If someone gets a snag, that’s the right place to be fishing. 99% of the time we get a feed and a good fish under 10m. If we hit 20m, we go ‘na’ and head back inside.”

The Chums also run an annual fishing comp, which typically involves around 30 anglers. They all chip in 50-odd bucks and the winning snapper gets over a grand. John Gifford runs it, and each year some solid moochers are landed.

I got excited at this point – I thought there could be a business opportunity. The response was quick: “The chums is about fun.”

What’s next for the Chums?

Their merch is taking off, and even if business isn’t a big focus, they have been inundated with orders. As expected, their t-shirts designs weren’t a commercial project, but simply drawn from their experiences.

“Bryce used to say ‘smoking reels’ and that’s where the t-shirt came from, and John used to say ‘hammer time, and that’s where the other design came from,” Tyran explained.

“It’s amazing the attention it got. We didn’t think anything of it, and now we are absolutely blown away.”

“From North Cape to Fiordland there are Chums stickers on signs,” Jonny chimed in.

“It never ends and we didn’t put them there.”

“There’s so much aroha and it’s crazy. We just love it and we just want to bring them in,” Tyran continued.

If there’s one thing for certain, it’s that these guys are committed. Every Wednesday for five years, they’ve met to play pool and chill out at the Shack.

“The same bros have stayed solid. There are comers and goers, but we’ve stayed solid,” James said proudly.

I don’t doubt it. And I don’t doubt the Chums will be around for a while longer. From being “forever underdogs” – as Ricky put it – to now thriving and enjoying life in some of the most Kiwi ways possible, the Chums have shown they’ve got something good going on.

Check them out @chums.nz to see what they get up to next.

“Technology isn’t a big thing for us. We just look for structure. ‘Cause we are fishing so shallow, we don’t need to use electronics.”

It’s not all about fishing for the Chums boys – a number of them are also keen hunters.

THE

LAST ULTRA

For most of us, a 42km marathon is extreme. For ultramarathon runners, that’s just stage one of five. Photographer and filmmaker Struan Purdie covered the final Alps to Ocean Ultra event last year in the South Island and was blown away by the sheer determination and strength he witnessed. He shares the story of the week…

It was 2pm. The final two competitors hobbled towards stage three’s finish line. One of them seemed to have suffered a back injury. He was bent almost double and shuffling forward painfully. They had just completed a 90km stage, which they’d started at 6am the previous morning. The timer was approaching 31 ½ hours. The other runners and volunteers erupted in applause as they approached. I rushed forward with my camera as they crossed the finish line. Emotions were running high. The worst part – these guys were only half-way through this week-long running race. 326km is a long way. It’s even further if you have to do it on foot.

The Alps to Ocean Ultra started in 2018 as the first staged ultra race in New Zealand. Brutal is one word to describe it. Crazy is another. The race starts at the foot of Aoraki Mount Cook and follows the Alps to the Ocean Trail past high

country lakes and over mountains, finally finishing at the sleepy coastal town of Oamaru. The whole thing takes seven days with runners completing between 30 and 90km per day. At the end of each stage, volunteers set up tents and provide hot water for the athletes’ dehydrated meals. Each runner can bring only 16kg of gear for the week including food, clothing and a sleeping bag. Needless to say, every calorie is weighed and counted with very few luxuries afforded.

The not-for-profit race was created by Michael Sandri after he competed in an ultra race overseas. Seeing potential for a similar event here in New Zealand, he got to work. Establishing a stunning yet ruthless course that would push athletes to the absolute limit took countless months of organising volunteers and sponsors and speaking to local councils and private landowners. In its first year the Alps to Ocean Ultra sold out,

with runners from 16 different countries registering. Its raging success can be attributed largely to a dedicated group of close friends that Michael pulled together to run the event. However, three years after it began, it was time to call it a day. Michael announced 2020 would be the final race. This was partly due to the time commitment it demanded from the volunteers, although it was fair to say everyone was gutted it was coming to an end. Of course, this made last year’s event even more special. My role for the week was to capture footage for a documentary on this iconic race. Stage one started with 119 excited runners gathering at Mt Cook’s airport. The air was thick with nervous energy. Some had competed in previous events. Others were first timers with no idea of the highs and lows that awaited them over the next seven days. It was a quick helicopter ride over the Tasman River to the start

The air was thick with nervous energy. Some had competed in previous events. Others were first timers with no idea of the highs and lows that awaited them over the next seven days.

Stage two starts along the side of Lake Pukaki. Photo: Earlybird Media

line, and then they were off. The first stage led the runners along the edge of Lake Pukaki, which meant weaving between gravel roads, high country farmland and rocky lakefront. At the end of the 55km day, everyone was in good spirits despite a few tired bodies.

The following day saw the runners up early and on their way to Lake Ohau, which was 51km away in temperatures exceeding 30 degrees. People started falling apart throughout the day. Compounding fatigue, blisters and mental anguish forced several competitors to pull out; however, the hardship of stage two was just a warm up for what was to come. The next morning, the runners were up before dawn preparing for stage three – a brutal 90km route from Lake Middleton to Loch Laird below the Benmore Dam. Most of the runners wouldn’t finish until well into the early

hours of the next day and many would be on their feet well over 24 hours. Although some competitors touted this as their favourite stage, numerous others were forced to retire with exhaustion, dehydration and even hallucinations. One runner swore he saw a herd of elephants just before the clay cliffs. Another stood in a stream for 10 minutes shaking the mud off his shoe only to discover it was his right hand he’d been waving around and not his foot. By the end of stage three, the medical tent was heaving with wary athletes, shredded feet and aching bodies.

The final three stages led the runners down the Waitaki Valley with more long days and some big climbs. A fast-paced jet boat ride at the end of stage four was a highlight for many, though the kilometres were clearly starting to take their toll. During these final

“I was struck by what the human body can achieve with raw determination and mental toughness.”

Left:A group of competitors cross the finish line during the firstAlps to Ocean Ultra in 2018. Credit:Alps to Ocean Ultra

Left: Race staff check an exhausted runner as he crosses the finish line. Photo:Alps to Ocean Ultra

Filmmaker Struan Purdie with the tools of the trade needed to capture an offroad ultra race.

Photo: Earlybird Media

days of the race, I interviewed many of the runners to understand why they did it. Some were out to simply prove they could. Others were the type that just couldn’t sit still. Then there were those that were clearly addicted to the challenge of ultra running.

On the final day as the runners started trickling across the finish line, I was struck by what the human body can achieve with raw determination and mental toughness. After 326km of physical abuse, the air was buzzing with emotion, not only from the athletes but also among the volunteers. For many of them, this race community had become a family. The fact that it was all over was now sinking in. As the final runner approached, everyone assembled to cheer her in. Alex Senior had competed in

the previous two events but was forced to withdraw both times. As she neared the finish line, the rest of the competitors held their hands high in a human tunnel, clapping her in with hoots of applause. Participating in a race like the Alps to Ocean is a massive feat. Getting to the end in one piece is simply incredible.

The people I met during my seven days of filming the race were utterly inspiring. It left me wondering how they managed to achieve what they did. At the end of the documentary Michael sums it up perfectly: “Everything starts from a thought or a dream. If you have a drive and you want to do something, then you go and do it. And if it doesn’t work out, it doesn’t matter. It’s what you get out of the journey that you’ve been on.”

Competitors tackle a long stretch of gravel road with Mt Cook in the background.

Credit: Earlybird Media

Race Director Michael Sandri embracing a competitor during the 2019 event. Photo:Alps to Ocean Ultra

Runners load a helicopter at Mt Cook airport that will take

to the start line. Credit:Alps to Ocean Ultra

RAINBOW’S RETURN

in their wake in the trout fishing department. And this trip promised more outdoor action, with a hunt for some venison at a property near Rotorua on the agenda.

It was four in the afternoon when Geoff guided his boat out from the jetty at the lodge and five minutes later, the first line was set on the downrigger.

But John Bebbington from Rheem was right onto the target as it flew out of the trap and bounced along the track, smashing four out of five ‘rabbits.’ Most clay targets fly up and out at different angles, but the round orange clay which simulates a running rabbit is always a difficult shot because it rolls along, upright on its edge, and bounces off every bump and rock, making each shot unpredictable.

“You have to get onto it early,” mused David Booth.

‘Boothy’, as he is fondly called, was testing his shooting skills along with business partner Liam Mulligan and JB (John) while travelling to Rotorua where they were looking forward to a couple of days at Geoff Thomas’ (GT) lodge, Rainbow’s Return, on the shores of Lake Tarawera.

“Grab it Boothy!” shouted JB as the rod bent and buckled before the second lure was even in the water. Boothy soon had the fish at the net – a fat, silver 1.5kg rainbow, perfect for the smoker. Geoff re-set the gear and five minutes later Liam was pulling in his first trout of the day.

Boothy waits for another trout to strike.

Boothy and Liam, who run their Universal Plumbing Plus outlets at East Tamaki and on the North Shore, conceded the clay shooting honours to JB, but hoped to leave him

“This is the hottest fishing we have ever seen here,” said Boothy. And so it continued. They had 10 trout in the fish box by 5pm when it was time to head in and meet a couple of local characters who had popped in for a beer.

A wild pork casserole and a bottle of wine topped off the day, and an early night ensured that when the alarm jangled its ragged intrusion at 4.30 the following morning, the boys were in pretty good shape to head into the hills for a hunt.

Having never fired a rifle before, let alone shot at a deer, Boothy and Liam were pumped. The trees were dark

The rabbit is one of the hardest targets to ping when doing the rounds at Ric Black’s clay target shooting operation, Loaded NZ, at Pyes Pa near Tauranga.

Boothy scored the first fish.

shadows in the dawn light as the team followed the guide, Dave, along a bush edge. Two deer spotted the hunters before they saw them and scampered off, but 10 minutes later Boothy lined up a fallow spiker with Dave’s .243, but it was a long way out and the shot went wide.

The rest of the day was one to remember. The lake was like a millpond, the trout were biting, and a swim to cool off completed the experience.

Well, not quite. GT sliced out all the bones and put some of the trout through the smoker, and turned the rest into fillets for pan-frying. They joined the venison steaks in the chilly bin for the trip back to Auckland, while fresh whitebait fritters helped the wine go down around the dinner table.

“That’s why we call it Rainbow’s Return,” said GT. “You are expected to return.”

Liam enjoys the tranquility on Lake Tarawera.

Another shot also missed, and with the sun high it was time to head back to the lake.

“What a fantastic morning,” said Liam. “We saw some animals, and had a great walk.”

Having experienced their first hunt, Boothy and Liam will certainly book in for another crack at a deer.

DID YOU KNOW?

PROUDLY SUPPORTED BY

To help us help kiwi, please visit www.kiwisforkiwi.org/donate

Liam (left) high-fives Boothy with another fat trout.

The kiwi is the only bird in the world that has nostrils at the tip of its beak. Bills are measured from the nostrils to the tip of the beak, so not only do kiwis have one of the longest beaks in the world, they also have one of the shortest bills.

CALL OF THE WILD WIRE

Adventure

The story of WildWire goes something like this: Laurel, a glaciologist from Canada, met her adventuring Kiwi husband Mark on a trip to Antarctica. She was doing her masters in glaciology and he was working for Antarctica New Zealand as a safety guide. When the two met, Mark was travelling with Sir Edmund Hillary’s entourage, who were commemorating Hillary’s South Pole expedition. Their mutual love and appreciation of the outdoors, and particularly rock climbing, led Laurel and Mark to the idea of developing a via ferrata (a protected climbing route) in their now hometown of Wanaka – and Mark had found the perfect place. The Twin Falls are two side by side waterfalls that cascade 450m vertically down through canyons and crevasses on the outskirts of Mt Aspiring National Park, 20 minutes from Wanaka. It was while Mark was abseiling the multi-pitched falls that he realised they would be perfect for a via ferrata, so he took Lauren “bush crashing” to show her the spot and their dream became a reality.

Laurel informed me that via (as in direction) ferrata (iron) literally translates to the iron road. The iron, in this case, is the bolts and footholds (over 2000 of them) placed on the cliff face to enable almost anyone with a thirst for adventure the chance to experience what it’s like to climb a rockface. Protected climbing routes and paths have been used for centuries, with villages in the Alps using them to connect with neighbouring settlements. In WW1 they were used to help transport troops across steep mountain ranges.

“The modern via ferrata,” Laurel explains, “typically involves a steel cable which runs along a route and is periodically fixed to the rock. This allows climbers to secure themselves to the cable and climb using iron rungs, pegs, bridges and ladders. This allows those with no climbing experience to reach remote locations and enjoy places and sights that they might not

specialist

Steve Dickinson has nearly done it all when it comes to outdoor activities, but a recent trip to the South Island provided him with a new favourite. Wanakabased WildWire has brought an ancient mode of climbing to NZ waterfalls, and it’s every bit as good as it sounds.

1)The writer and his group loved every minute of theirWildWire experience. 2)The final cable bridge is supposed to be a challenge – but there is always a moment to take in the view. 3)The bridges break up the climb and offer something a bit different. 4)Almost the whole climb is within metres of the waterfall. 5) For the writer, looking up was a lot easier than looking down.

otherwise be able to experience.”

Overall, there are over 2600 rungs at Wild Wire, and over 1000+ metres of cable. There are seven bridges, and two wire bridges. Wild Wire offers three levels of climbs.

Level 1: “Go Wild” takes you to the top of the first waterfall, 150 vertical metres above the start point, crosses four bridges and takes around three hours to complete (approx. one hour of climbing).

Level 2: “Wild Thing” carries on another 170 vertical metres further and takes approximately five hours, adding in another two bridges and a three-wire bridge with a 60m drop below (approx. three hours climbing).

Level 3: “Lord of the Rungs” is for the more experienced climber. It takes you to the very top of the waterfall, 450 vertical metres above ground, over all seven bridges, as well as two wire bridges, and finishes with a helicopter ride back down to the beginning (approx. seven hours to complete).

On our trip down to Wanaka, we chose to take on “Wild Thing”. Looking up from the bottom, it seemed impossible to think it would take over three hours of actual climbing to reach our destination. Still, as Laurel explained, it may only

be 320 vertical metres to the end of the Level 2 experience, but there is over 750m of climbing needed to reach that point and looks can be deceptive.

After a briefing at the practice boulder, we set out on our climb. Safety was obviously high on the list, and unlike other via ferrata we’ve been on, Wild Wire have added a third carabiner called a ‘shorty’ that you clip in whenever moving your main crab claws (one at a time) so you are always linked to the wire by either two or three clips. We also found throughout the day that the layout of the rungs was challenging enough for us all, without being too daunting. What first impressed me first was that it was all on within minutes of leaving the start point. We were clipped into the line, and before long, we were hanging off the side of a sheer cliff, climbing our way towards the first bridge. Those in our group who knew that “fear was a factor” for them gained confidence on those early pitches. Laurel encouraged them to test the safety of their equipment while they were still close to the ground by sitting back in their harness and relying on the carabiners and safety ropes to hold them in place. For

anyone slightly scared of heights, this goes against all instincts, but it was incredible watching the faces of my friends as they realised they could really do this. As the climb continued and the distance underneath our feet increased, the solid metal rungs gave everyone the reassurance they needed.

As we climbed through the hidden pools and over suspension bridges, we stopped numerous times to take photos. Never far from the cascading waterfall, we found ourselves transfixed by the noise and the spray, and exhilarated from being a long way off the ground – or with “plenty of air under your feet,” as Laurel would say.

After approximately an hour of climbing, Laurel pointed out the exit point for Level One. I was surprised by how much you would still get to see and experience just by completing this level. However, we were destined for higher things, and after a short break, we continued upwards. Although I knew we were safely clipped in at all times and the rungs offered us a huge advantage that most rockclimbers don’t have, it still felt like we were really climbing. The higher we climbed, the more challenging the experience became. As we continued, Laurel encouraged us to use the rungs as much or as little as we liked and the more experienced among us could still enjoy the climb as a result.

My only regret is that it came to an end. Before having this experience, I would have thought you could do it once and it would be ticked off your bucket list. That’s definitely not the case. It was unbelievably fun, and such a fantastic mixture of adventure and sightseeing that I would go again next week.

I am fortunate enough to have done a lot of these adventure-based experiences in some of the most amazing places on earth, but this would absolutely be at the top of my list. From the location and challenge, to being Kiwi owned and operated, I loved everything about it. If you do not do anything else while the borders are closed, make sure you experience Wild Wire. Check them out at

Every pitch is breath taking.

There is no shortage of photo opportunities.

HOMEGROWN

After being sent a WilliamsWarn kit, Josh Rudd from Off-Site HQ took a break from his brown bottled beers to give homebrewing a crack.

The after work beer. The airport beer. The post-game changing room beer. The shower beer. The Friday beer. The filleting fish beer. The spa pool beer. The ski slope beer. The balcony beer. The sports stadium beer. The road trip beer. Sure, beer is just a fizzy liquid but it comes in many shapes and sizes.

It’s no secret that Kiwis’ relationship with beer is far from a complex arrangement. A celebration is hardly required to justify the cracking open of a cold one. Folklore says that any occasion that speaks of contentedness, excitement, winning, or just having one of two hands free, is enjoyed more so when a cold beer is in the picture.

The beer/man partnership has been around for many an innings. On Saturday 27 March 1773, Captain James Cook brewed up a little something and drank it on an island in Fiordland – Resolution Island in Dusky Sound to be exact. This was made of rimu, manuka, wort and molasses, and was brewed to combat scurvy. After an unreasonably brief Google search,

there appears to be few, if any studies that deny Cook’s claim of beer as a health-focussed medicine, so we’ll roll with it.

Just as we were heading into last summer, in a well-timed fashion, the Off-Site HQ acquired a WilliamsWarn BrewKeg10 homebrew set up. Now, admittedly, I’m a pretty simple man when it comes to beer. Lion Red ranks as my favourite which probably explains the depth of my palate. I’d always thought of homebrewing as a half-assed science experiment which required a cheese cutter hat, with the only reward being glorified bin juice. So, naturally, I spent a few days sceptically staring at this metal thing as it sat in the corner of the office.

It wasn’t long before scepticism turned into curiosity, and I started looking into the homebrewing process and how I could put this keg through its paces. The setup came with a Dutch pilsner ingredients kit and the process was concerningly easy. I added all of the provided ingredients in a keg and kept it at room temp under the right amount of pressure. After four days of fermenting and another two

to three of chilling and clarifying, I was rewarded with a frothy, golden pilsner that resembled a genuinely nice beer. I couldn’t believe it!

Long story short, there are now homegrown Kiwi companies offering a premium homebrewing experience. You can now enjoy crisp beer after less than a week of brewing, and without needing a masters in chemistry. The best thing is that by brewing your own beer, you’re doing your part to decrease your carbon footprint by a few half sizes. Fun fact: the amount of transportation required to produce and drink home brew is about 1/7 that of packaged beer. It’s also believed that Kiwi WilliamsWarn Brewers alone prevent around 1.8 million 330ml bottles or cans from going into recycling bins or landfill every year (and let’s not get started on the pesky bottle caps and plastic can rings).

So, I say give it a go this summer. We all know the beer in the sun with mates is a top tier beer. We also know how much more satisfying something is when you’ve made it yourself, and beer is certainly no exception.

Josh Rudd enjoying the results of his homebrew.

UNLOCKING SUMMER’S

SECRETS

For avid freshwater angler Josiah Atkinson, summer brings some of the most exciting trout fishing of the year – but this doesn’t mean it’s the easiest time to catch fish. He lets us in on some of his tips and tricks for landing more trout in summer.

The cicadas are chirping, sun burn is now in fashion and mozzie’s aren’t the only animal looking for a feed!

Summer is an awesome time on the trout calendar. With clear skies, light breezes and low waters, summer is such a great time to be outdoors. However, it turns out that these conditions actually make trout fishing that little bit harder. The clear skies cause blinding glare, and the low waters make the trout lazy, picky and, worst of all, spooky!

Sight Fishing in Rivers

The summer sight fishing in rivers is one of the prime reasons people all over the world come to New

Zealand. To see a fish and apply the necessary skills to get that fish into the net is an achievement avid trout fishermen long for.

It all starts with the stalk. While you’re walking along the riverbank, always have your eyes on the water and take note of all the “fishy” spots. Taking your time will improve your success rate ten-fold. The amount of people I’ve taken out who have been loud and careless in their movements is unbelievable. Of course, they will utter the classic phrase, “there’s one,” just as the fish shoots downstream. Take your time, because once a fish has seen you, it’s too late.

Once you’ve found the fish and confirmed it’s not spooked – you

guessed it – take your time! Look at where the fish is holding in the water column. Is it up high? If yes, then a single dry fly usually does the trick. In the middle? A dry dropper rig with a lightly weighted nymph will be the best choice. Down deep in the pool? Heavy nymphs should be your go to. Make sure you’re set up for your cast so you’re not going to be giving your flies to Papatuanuku (Maori for Mother Earth). Remember, the water is most likely low and clear, so placement is key with each cast. I’ve found casting a little to the left or the right, two to three metres ahead of the fish is perfect as you avoid ‘lining’ the fish. This also gives the fish enough time to see and eat your fly of choice. Now it’s all up to you. Once the fish is on,

The WilliamsWarn® brewing systems are designed to allow anyone, whether you are a brewer or not, to brew and serve world-class beer on tap in your own home. With a brew cycle of 4-7 days depending on the style and about 20-30 minutes worth of work, not only is it easy, it is extremely rewarding! Get in touch NOW to discuss what package will work for you and get yourself setup for a Summer full of beer!

the age-old angler vs fish battle begins!

Lake Fishing

If the long walks and swift currents aren’t really what you’re looking for, searching for smelting trout in the lakes could be your answer. As I only have experience in the North Island, I can’t speak for all of NZ’s lakes but going off numerous videos and having spoken to people from all over the county, there seems to be a very similar pattern for success wherever you are in NZ.

When summer has fully set in and the lake temps are getting up around the 20 degree mark, the fish are drawn to the cold currents that flow from the rivers into the lakes. In some cases, the fish will be holding in the nearest drop off which the cold currents are flowing out over, snatching at the smelt and small nymphs that come with it. In other cases, the fish will be holding right up in the river mouth where they can be easily sighted and targeted.

One thing I’ve always loved about lakes is that where there is one fish, there are usually many more around it, which can make for a fun session on the water. The wading is also very easy. You don’t have to do a lot of walking and the fish are usually a little bigger and a little nicer to eat as well.

Fishing for trout in the lake is usually done with a sinking line. Getting the smelt or bully fly in the fish’s face seems to be key. The lake is always a little different each day as well. One day the trout will be smashing the smelt, and the next they’ll be sipping nymphs off the bottom. It’s really all about changing your approach until something works. Start by mixing up the size of your offering, and then the colour. If these changes don’t produce results, try varying your technique as well. Finding that critical combination is absolutely essential. Don’t be afraid to ask as well! If the fish are around, anglers will be too. Don’t hesitate to make

friends and work out what the fish are doing together.

Summer trout fishing isn’t all sunshine and trout to the bank. It is, in my opinion, the hardest season to catch trout, but that also makes it the most rewarding. It’s taken me many days on the water to figure out what works around my area so I can consistently land fish in the summer months. However, we are very fortunate in New Zealand. Even if we have a tough day’s fishing, the valley or lake or river we find ourselves in still makes the day worthwhile. It’s hard not to enjoy basking in the sun and taking some time out to relax! The important thing is to learn from your trips and apply this knowledge to the next one. Eventually, something will click and you’ll be making memories that last a lifetime!

1) LakeTaupo offers some of the best lake fishing in NZ.2)The writer with a healthy summer rainbow trout.3) Even if you don’t catch fish, the stunning NZ scenery around most lakes and rivers makes the trip worthwhile. 4)The writer has perfected the art of catching trout in clear summer waters. 5)Wading in lakes is very easy on calm days like this one. 6) Rivers can be quite low in summer and require even greater levels of stealth from the angler.

THE RIDE

SACRED

After my regular riding mate did the Motatapu in Otago a couple years ago and raved about it, it’s been on my bucket list.

The Motatapu, not to be confused with the island in the Hauraki Gulf (Motutapu), runs through a South Otago valley into the high country between the famous Cardrona and Treble Cone ski fields. Early Maori named it after the sacred river and they used the valley to travel between Lake Wanaka and Lake Wakatipu. Later, the trail was used extensively in the gold rush years of the mid 1800’s. The land covers three stations: Motatapu, Soho and Gencoe. Access was closed for many years in the late 1900’s, but fortunately, for the

Once a year, the sacred land of Motatapu is temporarily available to riders. Keen mountain biker Malcom Dawson headed down south this year to take advantage of this window, and was blown away by the event.

off-site Mountain Biking

past 16 years the private leaseholder has opened Motatapu to the public for one day a year for us to enjoy.

Thankfully, I didn’t have to wait long until I got an invite to join a crew. The group assembled at Queenstown arrivals, intros were made and off we went to a fantastic B&B in Queenstown, directly opposite the Sherwood Manor. After some rather awkward moments assembling my bike, I was ready for a beer and to soak up the beautiful views of Lake Wakatipu and The Remarkables. A bit of banter had already started among the team, and the expectations were high for the next day.

Saturday started early as we needed to take our bikes to Arrowtown, then jump on a bus to Wanaka. This sounded like it could have been a logistical issue but with the help of the event organisers it went faultlessly. Last time I drove the Crown Range Road it was gravel but the road’s now in excellent condition, which gave me plenty of time to enjoy the vista.

We arrived at Glendhu Bay in no time, and were quickly herded into groups at the start line of the 50 kilometre ride. There are over 1200 riders so we were staged off in waves. Knowing there was a lot of vertical meters and 3-4 hours in the saddle ahead, I started off at a moderate pace, enjoying the climb away from Lake Wanaka and up the Motatapu valley. Surprisingly, I found the uphill not too bad and actually

pretty comfortable. There were also a few short 50m sections that everyone was forced to walk, which gave me the opportunity to take a few photos and see the trail of people behind. It must look very cool from the air – like a trail of ants.

For the first hour we were on a nice farm road so passing slower riders (or riders passing me) was easy and safe. In the second hour, the scenery only got better. The Alps are such a cool place, filled with wild country, magnificent views and spectacular terrain. There were a few minor water crossings and some fuel stops on the way. These stops were awesome, with water, electrolytes, cake and lollies provided. In the third hour, we were up in the high country. There were a few more shallow river crossings and the track grew narrower (but riders could still be passed). Some hero racers had already finished their day when I reached this point, while others were only halfway, so we were well spaced out, making the ride really enjoyable. There was such a mix of athletes, from the inexperienced to the elite. Fortunately, the elites were ahead of me so there was a reasonable amount of chat with fellow competitors. Finally, a sign popped up saying we were at the summit. Theoretically, it was now all downhill to Arrowtown. After three hours of a lot of uphill riding, I was certainly looking forward to the drop – and man the downhill was good.

1) Over 1200 riders compete in the event.Photo:Ross MacKay 2) Competitors working hard in the long grass.

Photo:Ross MacKay 3)The scenery only got better as the race continued.Photo:Ross MacKay

I was getting up to 50km/h on a gravel track and the final kilometres clicked past in no time – and I am not even that quick on descent, as a few younger guys made very clear. My opinion is that you can save more time by being quick uphill than shaving off a few seconds on

the way down, so this is the way I have my bike set up. And I think my theory was correct, especially when we came across a rider down injured who had been a bit too ambitious. A bit of a mess for the lad. There were people assisting and officials keeping the track safe for incoming

riders, so further trouble was avoided. The final run in had some deeper crossings that most were walking. I was fortunate enough to be able to ride the rivers. The trick is hitting a low gear before you hit the water. I had a few gentle smiles at other’s mishaps when riders could not unclip once the pedals were underwater. The rider just slowly tips over, and when horizontal or even underwater, it takes a bit of effort to unclip. No one was hurt, but there was a bit of damage done to pride.

The last 200 metres through the bush opened suddenly to the domain and the finish line. Mission accomplished. I met up with some of the crew, and found three had already finished, and three more were still on their way. Before long, we were all having a few beers in the domain, watching the prizegiving and giving the officials some praise for such a well-run event.

Paul, our lead rider, did especially well, winning the over 50’s section and getting 30th overall with a time of 2hr28min. Considering the 1200m climb, this is a fantastic effort. My time was 3hr16min which I was very happy with, but I still am aiming to take 10-15 minutes off in 2021.

We live in such a wonderful country with adventure everywhere. Every sport is covered and every season is catered for through a wide range of organised events. I hope you get the chance to get out amongst some of them this summer!

1) Refreshments were not far off for these riders.Photo:Ross MacKay.2) Running the track is also an option.Photo:Ross MacKay.3)The 875m climb is gruelling but makes for some fantastic views at the top.4)There is a buzzing atmosphere at the finish line.

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