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OWEN RIVER LODGE

April 15, 2019April 15, 2019 John Black Leave a comment Places to go, Rivers to Fish
Owen River Lodge - South Island, New Zealand

What an extraordinary season we’ve just had—our 16th at the Lodge. If you stayed with us in that time, you probably saw for yourself what incredible condition our wild browns maintained during one of the driest summers on record. They’re fit, fat and heading into winter in the best shape I’ve ever seen. And chances […]

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The Black Family Spatsizi Vacation: Brisbane to Vancouver

August 17, 2024April 26, 2025 John Black Leave a comment Places to go, Rivers to Fish
The Black Family Spatsizi Vacation from Brisbane to Vancouver

I reckon that memories forged with your kids are the most precious assets you can acquire in this life and there’s few better places to find them than on the Spatsizi Plateau. The plateau is in the deep north of British Columbia, where the kids’ phones don’t work, the climate is outside of your control […]

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Taupo region today.

October 3, 2023October 3, 2023 John Black Leave a comment Places to go, Rivers to Fish
Picture postcard waters from the Taupo in New Zealand region today.

More picture postcard waters from the Taupo region today.

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A good day

October 3, 2023April 26, 2025 John Black Leave a comment Places to go, Rivers to Fish
Jeanine and new friend, from today. A good day for us all on our flyfishing adventure.

Jeanine and new friend, from today. A good day for us all.

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Tongariro Lodge

October 3, 2023 John Black Leave a comment Places to go, Rivers to Fish
Tongariro Lodge was established in 1982 by legendary angler and guide Tony Hayes and has earned an excellent reputation for providing guests the finest of accommodations, friendly efficient service and fine dining, quality outdoor activities and some of the best fly-fishing in New Zealand.

You couldn’t get a nicer picture on a chocolate box, folks. Here’s the adjoining villa at Tongariro Lodge this morning as we were starting to gear up for the day’s fishing. The mighty Tongariro River is about 20 metres away. Fly fishing awaits, for the first time here in 4 years, thanks to Covid lockdowns.

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Good to go 👍

September 17, 2023September 17, 2023 John Black Leave a comment Places to go, Rivers to Fish
I can tell New Zealand Customs that, in all honesty, I definitely packed this bag myself. Not quite a triumph of three dimensional spatial optimisation.

I can tell New Zealand Customs that, in all honesty, I definitely packed this bag myself. Not quite a triumph of three dimensional spatial optimisation.

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Kids’ Packing List

September 17, 2023 John Black Leave a comment Places to go, Rivers to Fish
After a week working on combined SQL and AI data and text modelling, I decided to go low tech for the kids' packing list for our Kiwi trip.

After a week working on combined SQL and AI data and text modelling, I decided to go low tech for the kids’ packing list for our Kiwi trip.

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Angling for a share

September 17, 2023April 26, 2025 John Black Leave a comment Places to go, Rivers to Fish
The kids and I are getting our fair share of the pie before packing for our trip to NZ next week. Apparently, I’m fact finding, as well as fish finding, as my AFR editor is angling for a hook on a NZ election story. I’m in party mode already, as you can probably tell.

The kids and I are getting our fair share of the pie before packing for our trip to NZ next week. Apparently, I’m fact finding, as well as fish finding, as my AFR editor is angling for a hook on a NZ election story. I’m in party mode already, as you can probably tell.  

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Off to Tongariro

September 17, 2023September 17, 2023 John Black Leave a comment Places to go, Rivers to Fish
Our first trip to Kiwi in four years, thanks to Covid.Packing the gear, as I type and hoping the waders haven't shrunk. More to come ...

Guess who is taking the family for a fly fishing trip to the mighty Tongariro? 🎣 Our first trip to Kiwi in four years, thanks to Covid. Packing the gear, as I type and hoping the waders haven’t shrunk. More to come …

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Klahova Lake Today

July 1, 2022 John Black Leave a comment Places to go, Rivers to Fish
I cannot believe this! Here's Tim's perfect Canadian toasted marshmallows #Spatsizi The man does it with an electric drill on slow speed. Unbelievable. Fantastic taste.

Beautiful final day with no. 1 son at Klahoya Lake today. We parked the float tubes for a camp fire lunch by the lake. Unbeatable #Spatsizi   No. 1 son in float tube on Lake Klahoya today. The stone flies were landing on the tube, by way of a hint on fly choice #Spatsizi Our […]

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Grayling Hole – Spatsizi

July 1, 2022 John Black Leave a comment Places to go, Rivers to Fish
Number two son with Papa Ray and soon to be released Grayling at the Grayling Hole #Spatsizi

We’re all off to the Grayling Hole #Spatsizi today. Woo hoo! Spot the Bald Eagle on the nest in top of the broken tree #Spatsizi My little girl getting a lesson on fly selection from Master Guide Ray Collingwood at the Grayling Hole today #Spatsizi Lunch around the camp fire at the Grayling Hole today […]

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  • The Black Family Spatsizi Vacation: Brisbane to Vancouver
  • Taupo region today.
  • A good day
  • Tongariro Lodge
  • Good to go 👍

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