The Nugget: Garth Oakden

Meet river-rafting guide and fish-whisperer Garth Oakden. Some say he’s got gills in his neck, such is his knowledge of fish behaviour.

It all started growing up in the Manawatu on the land. With an older brother he realised there probably wasn’t going to be a lot of room for him on the family farm.

So he did what anyone does when they need to do a bit of thinking. He went fishing. 30 years later he’s still on the river, as founder and owner of Tongariro River Rafting & Fishing.

His clients include everyone from youth groups to billionaire Americans - with one lucky punter hauling in (and returning) over 100 trout on one particularly fruitful day.

Luckily Garth can talk to anyone. And usually does. Mind you not as much as two of his more famous clients; cricketer Ian Botham and American singer Steve Earle, who Garth reckons didn’t catch much. Not that they weren’t great fisherman, but more that they just loved spinning yarns – very loudly - driving all the fish away.

Garth’s own secret tip to a good catch is using a “perfectly tied fly, expertly presented with delicate and artful beauty on the water”.

It’s this attention to detail which lures him to those same traits in our gear – like the Haast blazer ($400), the 100% cotton Ralph shirt ($120 or 3 for $300), the Caparo silk tie ($60 or bundle any 3 ties, cufflinks or belts for $150) and our signature denim jeans ($120 and part of our 3 for $300 bundle).

Living in a natural playground, Garth also loves skiing, hunting and hanging with his family. He still remembers his favourite-ever day’s fishing. It was with his son Sam - then 8 - who in one memorable session lost, then caught his first-ever fish. There were tears. From both father and son.

Garth’s love of the environment has also seen him, together with some like-minded mates, establish the Blue Duck Project Charitable Trust to help trap predators of the Blue duck around the river. Their work has seen the population increase plenty-fold and ensure their generational survival.

Next time you’re in Turangi make sure you hook up with Garth. You’ll be guaranteed to hook onto a few fish, and some good tales. But before you do, here’s a few more tall ones.