Another West Islanders’ fishy story?

Ian Muntz from Melbourne is staying at TRM for his usual two weeks therapy. 

As you can see the Autumn timing was ideal to catch the early spawning runs in all the rivers feeding into Lake Taupo.  The runs have consistently produced trout in splendid condition.

Last week he hooked into a big angry jack Rainbow – about 5 pounds – which really tested his 10 pound tippet beyond the limit.  Despite Ian’s skill and  lightening fast reflexes, after a long hard battle it managed to break off – what Ian refers to as a mid stream release. 

Ian had to then tie on another glo bug which took a few minutes. 

As seen in the photos, Ian was wearing his TRM lucky hat, so he could hardly fail.  But to rig up he says he had to hide behind a tree for protection from so many voracious wild Rainbow trout. 

After arranging the usual ‘truck & trailer” rig he cast back into the same run and within a minute had another big jack hooked up. This time he managed to secure it.

You guessed it – when he examined it he found his original glo bug firmly hooked into the lip of the same fish.  True!  So he managed to get his fly back as well.

Trout seen heading through TRM smoker are all in wonderful condition. You really should be here…

These limit bags are typical of what anglers can expect at the moment but the spawning runs are expected to increase through May & June.  Images on right are with Peter –  who claims to be Ian’s fishing guide… 

The older images are for Geoff – his usual guide in the photo on right – as Geoff could not make it across the ditch this year… 

How to be more popular than Brad Pitt?

But what is even more amazing…  Last week TRM posted Ian’s image with his limit bag on Facebook.  On top of that was a short clip from the famous Robert Redford’s movie – an epic moment from Norman Maclean’s book “A river runs through it”.  This 1992 movie, starring Brad Pitt wading down the river fighting trout, was responsible for millions of Americans taking up fly fishing.  Clubs memberships doubled, etc.  So we apologised to Ian Muntz as we assumed any responses to his post would be swamped by the hot Hollywood competition. 

But Ian’s hits and ‘likes’ beat Brad Pitt by well over four to one…  On TRM’s facebook Brad scored 287 against Ian at 1345.  My own facebook received about ten times more traffic confirming the same pattern.  Ian is now firmly established as a celebrity and offering to give Brad lessons. 

So if you want to be a celebrity, more popular than Brad Pitt, there are four simple steps:

1  Book into TRM for two weeks every year.

2  Always wear a TRM lucky hat.

3  Go fishing until you land a limit bag.

4  Feature on TRM facebook.

So simple…