Reverie in the backcountry
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More recently, I've traded conventional transportation for less conventional methods, using pack rafts and drift boats to access new waters and even regularly visited streams to fish them differently. These vessels aren't just tools for fly fishing; they're a gateway to new ways of engaging with fly fishing. These methods, speak to the versatility of fly fishing, and while fly fishing and boats are not always mutually inclusive, they seem to enhance one another in many aspects – particularly when placed in the right environments. Recently, I journeyed with a pack raft into Fiordland National Park, a 12,000 Square Kilometre wilderness zone located on the bottom end of the world, and I was overwhelmed by the magnitude of the experience. We accessed areas that likely hadn’t been visited in some time and were unreachable by foot in those conditions; we may as well have stumbled onto Valhalla.
The allure of outdoor gear plays a significant role in my pursuit of backcountry fly fishing. From pack rafts to lightweight tents crafted from fandangled materials like Dyneema and ultralight chairs that weigh less than your water bottle. And while these items aren’t critical to the experience, I find myself spending hours perusing outdoor gear websites, envisioning how these innovations could elevate my next adventure and getting equally stoked when this translates well when I’m out there.
But in all honesty, the true magic of the backcountry lies in the unexpected. It's the moments when everything seems to be going wrong, yet a single experience makes it all worthwhile. I have this deep-seated belief that when lots of things aren’t going to plan, its setting the experience up for some sort of miracle that will salvage the entire trip. Sometimes those miracle moments are not abundantly obvious and are only realised once the trip has been, gone and you’re reminiscing over a beer with your mate that you dragged along promising some sort of transcendental fly fishing experience.
Then there are the people who seek out and readily accompany you on these backcountry fly fishing journeys. They are not just fellow anglers; they become people whom you’ve shared an experience so grand that it might be beyond explanation or comprehension to others, individuals who share your passion for the outdoors and your intrinsic need for this type of adventure. These are the friends who become lifelong companions, bound by the unforgettable experiences of the backcountry.
