Dave Witherow

A charming collection of fishing stories drawn from over 30 years of persistent pursuit of the elusive trout. Dave Witherow is an angler: an adventurous, risk-taking, articulate, passionate angler. He's spent the best part of his life fishing the rivers of New Zealand. He's also a story teller of rare talent. His storiesare beautifully and hilariously imbued with the camaraderie of men, of fellow anglers, seeking a world away from domesticity and daily cares; 'getting away from it all' and finding their inner hunter-gatherers.Two-Pies, Kevin, Bubbles and others appear again and again, their characters and quirks masterfully portrayed - these are friends who for many years have fished some of the most remote areas of New Zealand. The author wore-out one small plane and built another in order to visit the more secluded river spots where one doesn't come across the 80 per cent of fishers, or the guides and the well-outfitted tourists disembarking a helicopter. His encounters and adventures are always highly entertaining, appealing and down-right hair-raising. Lyrical, erudite, ferociously astute, Witherow captures a New Zealand that few experience. Throughout, the penetrating, concise mind of the hunter, the grace of the fly-caster and the cool-headed approach to a river crossing are brilliantly balanced with the antics and utter joy of the author and his fishing mates. Open Season is the perfect book for the keen angler, the armchair traveller and the many tourists who venture to New Zealand just for the season.