Lake Wanaka Fishing Trip

After threatening us for so long with a ride out in Colins boat, the weather cleared and the winds were calm enough for the first launch of the season.

We both helped launch the boat down the ramp at the lake front and then all clambered aboard, with the last one on shoving off at the same time. Within seconds we were hurtling up the lake doing 70kph, which is not bad for the little boat (well it did have a huge 140hp outboard bolted to the back). The water was really calm and you could honestly say it was 'glassy' - just look in some of the pictures.

Colin wanted to take us to Pigeon island where we had a heart pounding 1/2 hour hike to the top to get some great views, in particular of a lake on the island (a lake on an island which is in a lake...see?). After that we headed back to the boat and set up two fishing rods over the back. With the trawling motor chugging away slowly (a small 8hp outboard) we settled back and had some lunch waiting for a few bites. As we headed out into more open water Daves line started clicking...

The always rare picture of us in the same shot!
Here we are at the top of Pigeon island. Thankfully you cannot see us sweating and puffing heavily after the march up!

From the lookout point we had a great view of the the two lakes. Lake Wanaka itself is over 180km², with a length of 44km and 11km at the widest point we only saw a few boats in the whole afternoon!
The water level of the lake on the island rises and falls with lake Wanaka, so it is believed that the two are interconnected but no one has found out quite how.
Notice how the top of the photo is very pale? I think this is a combination of particles in the air reflecting back at the camera - especially with the distances involved.

Skipper Colin!
This is Colin, the owner of Fairway Lodge Motel. Colin set a good old pace for me and Dave to get to the top, where we were all puffed out there was not a sign of weakness on our hosts face! The benefits of living and working outside of a city no doubt.
In the background you can see a small bit of the lake just after a patch of land, this is Stevenson's Arm and we were going to have a look up this part of the lake when we got side tracked.

Oooo, similar shot to above.
I got a little closer to the edge and managed to fit more of the island lake in with the same background. It really was worth the short hike up to see this view, all around was nice. Behind us we had great views of some snow capped peaks just to top it off.

Ahhh, me at the wheel!
At this point we had the rods over the back and were 'trawling' the lines behind us. The lines Colin used are coated in lead to help them sink to about 80 metres (the lake is over 300m deep). While trawling, we used the smaller 8hp outboard engine which is quieter on our ears more than it is on the fish!

Dave seems very happy with his new rod!
No sooner had we moved into open water, and I had sat down for my lunch, Daves reel started clicking and then whirring into action as something (bet your wondering what eh) pulled on the line and started making off with it.

After a short struggle, which Dave won (his arcade experience of fishing gained in Alpe D'heuz came in handy here) we found that he had reeled in a 1/2 kilo of brown trout!
Nice choice of lure Dave, as no sooner had the line been reset we had another one to deal with.

Colin was not quite so lucky with his line...
We rushed Daves two new friends back to the Motel and while I nipped out to get a few beers to go with a bottle of NZ finest, Colin set up his smoke box. With the Manuka sawdust lining the box we soon got a wiff of the smoked fish coming through (but there was no getting the recipe for the secret sauce off of Colin!).
Smoking did not take long, about 15 minutes, and Lorraine bought out the crackers. Tasty!

On the return journey Colin spotted the boat of a friend of his tied up on a beach. We made a quick detour and pulled up alongside.
No sooner had we said hello Colin whipped out a mini bar from the cabin of his boat and laid them out on the bow! With Whisky, Rum and a few beers on offer it was a welcome beach side stop to admire the view and have a chat.
Thanks Colin!

	The always rare picture of us in the same shot! Here we are at the top of Pigeon island. Thankfully you cannot see us sweating and puffing heavily after the march up!
From the lookout point we had a great view of the the two lakes. Lake Wanaka itself is over 180km², with a length of 44km and 11km at the widest point we only saw a few boats in the whole afternoon! The water level of the lake on the island rises and falls with lake Wanaka, so it is believed that the two are interconnected but no one has found out quite how. Notice how the top of the photo is very pale? I think this is a combination of particles in the air reflecting back at the camera - especially with the distances involved.
	Skipper Colin! This is Colin, the owner of Fairway Lodge Motel. Colin set a good old pace for me and Dave to get to the top, where we were all puffed out there was not a sign of weakness on our hosts face! The benefits of living and working outside of a city no doubt. In the background you can see a small bit of the lake just after a patch of land, this is Stevenson's Arm and we were going to have a look up this part of the lake when we got side tracked.
Oooo, similar shot to above. I got a little closer to the edge and managed to fit more of the island lake in with the same background. It really was worth the short hike up to see this view, all around was nice. Behind us we had great views of some snow capped peaks just to top it off.
	Ahhh, me at the wheel! At this point we had the rods over the back and were 'trawling' the lines behind us. The lines Colin used are coated in lead to help them sink to about 80 metres (the lake is over 300m deep). While trawling, we used the smaller 8hp outboard engine which is quieter on our ears more than it is on the fish!
Dave seems very happy with his new rod! No sooner had we moved into open water, and I had sat down for my lunch, Daves reel started clicking and then whirring into action as something (bet your wondering what eh) pulled on the line and started making off with it.
	After a short struggle, which Dave won (his arcade experience of fishing gained in Alpe D'heuz came in handy here) we found that he had reeled in a 1/2 kilo of brown trout! Nice choice of lure Dave, as no sooner had the line been reset we had another one to deal with.
Colin was not quite so lucky with his line... We rushed Daves two new friends back to the Motel and while I nipped out to get a few beers to go with a bottle of NZ finest, Colin set up his smoke box. With the Manuka sawdust lining the box we soon got a wiff of the smoked fish coming through (but there was no getting the recipe for the secret sauce off of Colin!). Smoking did not take long, about 15 minutes, and Lorraine bought out the crackers. Tasty!
	On the return journey Colin spotted the boat of a friend of his tied up on a beach. We made a quick detour and pulled up alongside. No sooner had we said hello Colin whipped out a mini bar from the cabin of his boat and laid them out on the bow! With Whisky, Rum and a few beers on offer it was a welcome beach side stop to admire the view and have a chat. Thanks Colin!