Once again the Reel Recovery shemmozle is back in town, and for the 6th year in a row, TRM have had the pleasure of hosting them. So many fishing stories emerge after dinner, but we cannot post them all. So this is just one of many from Tuesday.

As you know, Reel Recovery provide these retreats all over the world for patients suffering from cancer. That makes them more challenging to learn fly fishing skills, as everyone has their own ailments that restrict their physical and mental ability. The organisers, Criag & Wendy, do an amazing job in finding fishing guides to manage to try to overcome any additional negative issues, but generally it is fair to say that with so many complete novices, the trout are quite safe.

But 2026 retreat threw up an additional handicap to test them further. You may have picked it in the photos. Willy (William Te Wani from Hamilton) arrived with only one arm. Stop right there. This was his first attempt ever at fly fishing. So how can anyone hope to learn the skills of wading, casting, catching, and handling a rod with only one appendage? This shows that after Reel Recovery therapy, these guys have greatly enhanced courage and conviction, as evidenced by their being here, wading in a river, hoping to catch trout.

To try to compensate, Willy was allocated two guides – Charlie and George. They escorted him down to the Hydro Pool to explain the simple skills of dredging. All you readers know there’s nothing to it. Just flick the fly line out there for the trout to hook themselves. They had it all worked out. Willy held the rod and George was to do the winding bit. Stop for a second and admire Willy’s concentrated determination when he hooked up. The trout did not stand a chance. Wow! But where was Charlie?

This is where their adventure became more interesting. A bloody shag then swept in and attacked their trophy catch. So they had to quickly revert to a violent team strategy. Charlie’s vital new role was to stand on the bank (DOC and tender young children should not continue reading this bit) aiming a barrage of stones at the shag. It worked. But in the heat of the violence, the line tangled into a bird’s nest, complicating their challenge. It should have been a certainty for a long-distance catch-and-release. But look at the final successful result… Willy cannot grin wider than that. What a natural fisho! Hamilton Fishing Club will want to sign him up.

And yes, the wild fighting 2 pound Rainbow trophy was released. So was the shag, still laughing at their team work . By the time I heard their story with three different versions, they were suffering more from PTS (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) as during all the drama, they had forgotten to tell me all about the cancer and failed to mention anything about who fell in. I needed a strong cup of tea.