Marabou streamers, hot-spot nymphs and large, leggy dry flies were all put to work on the Makarora River and surrounding waters on the final morning of the retreat.
West Coaster Haley Pugh said she was hooked after pulling off the only catch of the day — a wee rainbow trout — with guide Ronan Creane.
"Ever since I was about 5 years old I have wanted to try fly fishing and it’s never really happened," she said.
"Then we end up with a weekend like this and it’s a dream come true."
The anglers were not there for the fishing alone.
New friendships and lasting memories were made at the retreat, held at Wild Earth Lodge, for the women whose lives have been affected by breast cancer.
"You’re standing in the middle of the river and it’s quiet and all you can hear is the river and you can just focus on the moment and it takes you away from everything else," Ms Pugh said.
Ms Pugh was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2020 when she was nearly 34.
She learned about Casting for Recovery through her oncology nurses. She put her name in a ballot for the retreat and was one of seven applicants chosen at random from Otago, Canterbury and the West Coast.
Like others, she had been waiting about three years for the retreat after it was cancelled twice because of Covid-19.
The women came from all walks of life, and none had met each other before the weekend.
For many it was the first time away from the support of family, friends and hospitals. It was also an escape from everyday roles as someone’s mother, sister or partner.
The women were taught the basics of fly casting, got pampered with massages and yoga, sat down together to hear each other’s stories, and partied on the last night.
On the final day, they paired up with individual fly fishing guides to fish on the Makarora River and surrounding waters.
"Down the river this morning, even with a little bit of wind, it was awesome.
"To get a fish on and get it into the net was pretty cool. Certainly wasn’t a monster but it was still a fish and I was pretty rapt."
Katey Baxter, from Mosgiel, who also joined the retreat, found fly casting addictive.
Mrs Baxter said she surprised herself at her ability to learn the new skill.
"It was great getting out there, getting into the middle of the river," she said.
As she fished, she listened to her guide Jake Berry and learned about the conditions, the water, the environment, the fish and how to spot them.
"I find it quite therapeutic and quite a nice time just out there," Mrs Baxter said.
The anglers thanked organiser Mrs Brits — who launched the lower South Island chapter of Casting for Recovery in 2017 after she took part in a retreat in the Nelson district.
