New Zealand - by Sally I. Stoner »

Happy New Year. Women in the Stream is looking forward to more exciting adventures in 2005. It will be hard to surpass the past year. We are working on our fishing schedule, and it looks to be full of promise. First, we will tell you about our trip to New Zealand.

The planning for the trip to Trout Paradise began in 1953. That Christmas Sally purchased a book for her dad about Zane Grey's fishing life. Grey was an author of western novels, who wrote to support his fishing addiction. He particularly loved to fish in New Zealand, so the book contained several photos of huge trout and giant Marlin. Sally and her dad consumed the book together.

Her father died during Sally's senior year in high school, and the Zane Grey book became one of her most cherished memories. Fifty years later, it was well past time to visit New Zealand and make her lifetime dream a reality.

Three separate coincidences made the trip a certainty. The first one was meeting Lynda Topp. The second was chatting with Kevin of Distant Waters at the Los Angeles ISE show. The clincher was the presence of Heather and Jen at the Padre Island IWFF Festival.

Lynda and Amy called Deb and Sally for fly fishing lessons a few years ago. During the routine introductions Lynda explained she and her twin sister, Jools, were entertainers in New Zealand. She was very interested in fly fishing and taught herself how to tie flies with a kit Amy had given her. Yet, she had not yet actually angled with fly. After their lessons,Lynda shared a video tape of the Topp Twins television series. It is hysterical character comedy in real life situations such as motor races and fairs. The Twins also write and sing country western songs, which feature Lynda's yodeling. Lynda offered to fish with Deb and Sally if they would come to New Zealand.

Early in 2003, Sally and Deb zoomed down to Pomona for the ISE (International Sportsmen Exposition). Sally stopped by the Distant Waters booth and made some inquiries about fishing New Zealand. Kevin was very enthusiastic and the trips seemed a good fit for a group of women. After her mastectomy, Sally was even more deterrmined to make the trip and began firming up the details and gathering the group together.

During the fall of 2003 Heather McDonald and Jen Schieff, owners of the Rainbow Trout Lodge located right on the Tongariro River in North Island of New Zealand, attended the IWFF (Internation Women Fly Fishers) Festival in South Padre Island Texas. Sally, Deb, and Odette were there, too, and the women all became instant friends. Another element was added to the New Zealand mix.

When Sally e-mailed Lynda about fishing in New Zealand, Lynda offered to put a fishing tour of South Island together. What woman could turn down such an offer?

The plan was laid. Sally and Marcie would leave two weeks before the Distant Waters group and stay at Rainbow Trout Lodge. Marcie would return home and seven women would arrive in Taupo to fish with Distant Waters for a week. Afterwhich Sally would join Lynda for the Topp Trout Tour of South Island. Odette would tag along for the first leg and then fly home from South Island.

So that trip was set. Check the website next week for the next episode of The New Zealand Adventure.

In the meantime, consider gathering a few of your galpals for your own personalized fly fishing class. We would love to travel to you and give a one day workshop.