Now it’s just for fun

FINISHING WELL: Gisborne angler Cory Scott won his final session at the fly fishing world championships in Tasmania this month. He finished 22nd over all. Pictures supplied

Angling amid snow, gales and tiger snakes was one wild way for Cory Scott to bow out from top-echelon competitive fly fishing.

Scott, from Gisborne, is a three-time national champion and he competed at the world championships in Tasmania this month, in trying conditions.

He was keen to have one more crack at getting a world title and the New Zealand team were well prepared for the event, which was near enough to a home tournament in which professional anglers from powerhouse European nations would not have an advantage. But things didn't go to script.

“The biggest storm of the year threw everything into disarray,” Scott said.

“The weather was nothing short of absolutely atrocious.”

Stormy weather muddied the lakes and the anglers were greeted by snow, hail, chilly winds and a risk of hypothermia.

Home advantage for the Australians (and the New Zealanders, who had done their homework) was wiped out.

“It was back to a level playing field.”

Scott, 45, competing in his last world champs, had his moments, though.

He started well. Despite hooking just seven fish from a boat at Woods Lake, the longest being 447 millimetres, he placed second in the first session.

And he finished well.

Scott's fifth and final session was at Meander River.

“I wanted to go out on a high note,” he said.

“I really liked the look of the water.

“I didn't like the geography. I was informed there were tiger snakes there.”

Scott decided to target deeper water. He netted 12 fish and won the session.

“Every fish I hooked, I landed.

“It was great to go out on top.”

It was tough going in between. His second session, at the Mersey River in the lowlands, cost him any chance of victory, overall.

He received a hint of what was in store for him on Day 2 through banter from other anglers.

“As soon as I walked out of the hotel door I was welcomed to the ‘Bus of Death'.”

The river level was “alarmingly low” and he was allocated a stretch where it was difficult to be competitive.

“I fished as well as I could. I got nine fish but eight were under-size.”

Scott was back on a boat the next day, at Little Pine Lagoon, and caught just the one fish but at 480mm it was good enough to place him 11th in the session.

In his fourth session, the three fish he caught on the boat at Penstock Lagoon placed him seventh.

Overall, from 118 anglers, he finished 22nd and was satisfied with his performance.

“It was the best result for a Kiwi since 2008.”

France, the Czech Republic and Spain were the top three teams and New Zealand finished 13th.

Scott said “other loves in life” such as surfing were put on the backburner while he competed in fly fishing.

“The past six years have been pretty intense.”

He owns and edits New Zealand Surfing Magazine and he and wife Sarah have three sons, aged seven to 18.

He loves the back country and will not retire from fishing, as he intends to continue pursuing it for the enjoyment.