. . . for the first time on video — fascinating underwater footage

Behaviourally, chinook habits differ from other salmon. Loosely schooling, these fish tend to inhabit particular areas for reasons other than having followed the crowd. Strongly individualistic yet structure-related, the chinook salmon concentrates on underwater land features. So should the fisherman.

New Zealand's annual salmon runs can start as early as October and continue through to the end of April. One of the most exciting aspects of the fishery here is that, because of large annual fluctuations in the size and the number of returning fish, no one is able to predict how big or how many salmon there will be until the season is well under way.

For a start, there are amazing underwater shots you haven't seen before, fishing tips from an expert, some personal reflections from Hamish, and an original music score.

And you can have a look at some of the video from this page.

underwater shots shown in this video
for the first time ever — anywhere in the world

You've got to see this superb sequence of professionally filmed underwater shots. A film crew flew by helicopter to the headwaters of a major salmon river and got shots of the salmon that very few fishermen see.

• There are jacks and hens moving curiously right up to the lens of the camera. They're almost touching it!
• A tiny fingerling is clearly visible in one shot, hugging the side of a mature fish as the two "stand" in the current.
• Uncanny, almost erie, shots of dead and dying salmon with tails literally flayed to the bone.
• And a whole lot more that you'll be interested to see.

The purchase contract doesn't permit us to put a sample of this underwater footage on this web site. But you can be sure, the footage is unforgettable. And there's more than six minutes of it.

exclusive interview with a top salmon expert who tells how he catches fish

Then there's also footage of some of the top New Zealand salmon experts in action — both on the beach and upstream.

And an extensive, exclusive interview with one of them, fishing tackle shop owner, Malcolm Bell.

Malcolm has been at the center of upgrading the equipment and techniques for the entire New Zealand salmon fishing fraternity.

He talks about equipment and gives tips. And at the end of the video speaks briefly about his own "run for home" from a Christain perspective.

a personal reflection on the salmon life cycle

Then there's Hamish's reflections on the salmon's life cycle. He's noticed how the fish's unstoppable drive to spawn illustrates perfectly a biblical principle and example, and he uses a few minutes before the final credits to point this out.

The point Hamish is interested in is this quote: Unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone. But if it dies, it produces much fruit. He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world shall keep it to life eternal.

You'll be interested in Hamish's brief observations on this. And if you'd like to think about it a little further, then he talks some more after the credits.

original music written for the video

Some of the music track is original, composed and arranged specifically for this video, by Robert Tait and Andrew Horton.

sample the contents

Read the cover material on the video box. (It's a big picture, so it'll take take a few seconds to download.) Click to see cover detail.