RUNNING WITH THE RIVER
Ian Ainslie digests a collection of New Zealand fishing tales

Running with the River by Murray Rodgers is the latest trouting book out of New Zealand.

Subtitled Tales from Paradise at Dusk, it presents a mix of humorous tales from the author’s childhood, teenage and adult fly fishing experiences, and offers his thoughts on the pressures now facing New Zealand waterways.

Chapter headings such as Terry, Brett, AWOL Johno, Tussock Rex, Boots and Shorts, Mixed Company, Bastards of the Mohaka, accurately reflect that this is a book as much about the characters on the adventures as the trips themselves.

In the author’s words: “The book plays with some of the friends I’ve had the privilege to journey with on river, stream and lake. It highlights a range of riches that go beyond the catching of trout, but with angling providing the reason for spending time in wonderful places with great people.”

Illustrated with colour photographs of snap-shot quality, Running with the River is a thought-provoking read, touching on angling ethics, commercialisation by fishing guides and destruction of rivers and streams.

Also described is the Water Rights Trust, established in 2002 to help manage New Zealand’s rivers, streams, lakes and wetlands—Rodgers, a management consultant based in Christchurch, is Chairman of the Trust.

Running with the River: Tales from Paradise at Dusk (2003); 160pp hard cover; published by Hazard Press, Christchurch, New Zealand. RRP NZ $34.95.
Email: info@ hazard.co.nz
Purchase online from www.trout-books.com