Brownie on Lake Taupo

Around the month of March is my birthday, I will keep the actual date secret to avoid the multitude of cards that release of this information would bring forth. Maggie was crewing today, she and I were waiting patiently in Taupo harbour for a customer from the UK to witness the delights of our famous trout fishery. After around 45 minutes we realised that today would be one of those "no show" days, little did we know what the Lake had in store for us.

The boat Fish 'N' Fun was had been prepared for a three hour trip, fuel was on board, rods in holders tea and coffee fully charged, we were feeling a bit dispirited that on my birthday of all days our preparations were in vain.

Around 1.30 p.m. we decided to take a trip on Lake Taupo to try and find what at this time of the year are Taupo's elusive trout.

After heading out to an area where I had seen interesting underwater features, (amnesia now sets in as to the exact whereabouts on Lake Taupo) we dropped two lines on the down-riggers. After 30 minutes or so we had a hit on the port rod, Maggie reeled in a superb 3lb Rainbow that was well over size, what a treat for dinner tonight. We put the lure down again and continued for around 20 minutes before we had a hit on the other rod, my turn to reel in. I lifted the rod carefully, we were in 100 feet of water, I tightened the line and started to reel in. Oh dear, caught on the bottom for the second time Maggie took the boat out of gear and I struggled to move the line.

Suddenly the line broke away from the bottom, what was this, it was moving away from the boat at great speed, I allowed the line to peel off the reel but gradually tightened on what was another fish. Once again line disappeared at an ever increasing rate, what a run, I started to claw back the yards that the fish had taken when another run started, not as quick as the last, I was again reeling in, the fight was starting to swing in my favour. The fish was beginning to tire, yard after yard was being retrieved, and a dark shape rolled near the surface. Slowly I eased the fish toward the net, once again it was off for a last run, and again I inched it toward the boat and netted it cleanly.

It was a beautiful Brown Trout, once we had cleared the line, hooks and lure out came the scales, down they dropped to read 6½ pounds. We felt after an hour and a quarter out on the lake that we would be unable to better our catch and headed for home.

Scales can be notoriously optimistic, I headed for the local tackle shop and had the weight confirmed. Then the coincidences started. I mentioned to the shop owner, Matthew, that it was a great birthday present. Did you mean for me he said, unbelievable but it was also his birthday. Suddenly one of the customers interrupted us, it was her birthday also, there were seven of us in the shop and three celebrated birthdays on that date.

I still think my Brownie was the best present. View Picture

Anglers often ask "when is the best time to go fishing" I always reply "Mondays"!

Skipper