11/28/2018
The Trip Of A Lifetime
New Zealand…In the Southern Hemisphere lies Lake Taupo and its over 30 tributary rivers that flow into this 240 square mile body of water along with its lush and wild backcountry wilderness.
Clients have been heard saying, “as close to a perfect trip as we could have imagined”, “best guides on the planet”, “we never saw another angler the entire week”, and “amazing beauty, amazing fish, both in numbers caught and size…on dry flies no less!!”
Kevin Wigfield, at Distant Waters, has been helping anglers fulfill their fly fishing and travel dreams to this incredible destination for over 20 years.
The temperatures here rarely dip below the fifties this time of year, and by lunch it will sit perfect in the mid/upper-seventies.
But we are not fishing the Lake Taupo tributaries today. Instead, the sound of a helicopter…the thud of its blades whirl overhead. Over the radio our pilot explains his flight route will pass by a waterfall and over a forest made up of thousands of jasmine green trees. The river systems that make up this awe inspiring backcountry are home to some of the wildest Brown and Rainbow trout known to mankind.
The helicopter descends into a forest below, and there is no trace of civilization – no roads and nothing artificial to break the landscape. The helicopter touches down on a remote stream bed that looks so untouched it is almost prehistoric. The scene cuts to the heart of any true sportsman, and creates an immediate realization that we are truly removed from the outside world. From here on out it is the angler, his guide and the river. Gear unloaded, a quick inventory, the blades are still thudding and deafening while kicking up a whirlwind of dust and stones. Then it ascends, and escapes above the trees.
An angler knows when he has found a good river, and this is it. My Distant Waters guide instructs and helps set up a size #8 or #10 dry fly on my line in preparation to sight, stalk and catch an average trout ranging from 4lb to 6lb…all while looking for that elusive double digit size “BIG BOY” that calls these rivers home as well.
Having fish of this size consistently rise to a dry fly is on every angler’s bucket list…landing this bigger than life fish justifies why a person travels halfway around the world. A destination of a lifetime, feels larger, more wild, and yet so familiar.
Like anywhere else, going with a trusted guide in these rough backcountry waters is essential. In other words, guides and visitors don't just “luck into” the big fish. An experienced outfitter like Distant Waters ensures this trip is well worth the effort. Many of the clients who book with Distant Waters will stay an extra week or even a month after the fishing ends to enjoy an idyllic land that offers so much.
Kirk Klancke, President, Colorado River Headwaters Chapter of Trout Unlimited purchased a Distant Waters trip at the Colorado Trout Unlimited Gala for him and his wife. “We weren't sure how it would go but Kevin Wigfield, the owner of Distant Waters, took care of every detail of the trip, including working with our flight schedule to allow us additional time in New Zealand. We still talk about the size of the fish and the attitude they showed when hooked. The trip included a helicopter trip into remote backcountry, where Darlene caught her largest trout. We are grateful to Kevin for his generous and ongoing support of Trout Unlimited and for organizing a fishing trip that created such special life time memories.”
Another example is Keith Lovin's latest trip….When he explained to his wife about wanting to book a fishing trip she was quite disappointed, and wanted to know how she could get in on the action. Distant Waters was able to arrange for her to arrive after the fishing portion, and draft an itinerary that included touring both islands for three weeks. Distant Waters was able to line up B&B reservations, travel arrangements, and even activities like world class wineries, golfing, bike excursions and whale watching. The end result was a custom tailored tour which created a trip of a lifetime.
What's more is that the cost can be very much in your favor. The kind of adventures that New Zealand offers are something unique to be experienced, and the amenities are in line with something one would expect in an Alpine village…yet the remoteness and exclusivity both work in favor of the adventurous traveler hoping to find the best bang for their buck.
Keith agrees, Kevin at Distant Waters puts together a trip that is an incredible value for all you get—cost, extended travel planning, the kiwi people and hospitality, culture, fish (size and numbers), dry flies (cicada hatches…out of your mind!), phenomenal guides, and overall experience--it was world class in every respect.”
A full-service fly fishing outfitter specializing in planning and hosting your dream New Zealand expedition. We think it might be true.
