My first meeting with Dave was when he was co-owner of Hamills in Hastings around 1998. My partner and I were on a wine trip to the Hawkes Bay and I had taken my fly fishing gear along with me to have a fish. Unfortunately I had broken the tip of my rod closing the door on my vehicle. I called into see if Dave could fix it for me. This takes time and without hesitation he produced a rod off the rack so I could go and enjoy the day and to return the rod to him at his home the next day in Central Hawkes Bay. How is that for service giving a rod to someone he had only just met instore.
I continued to call and see Dave at Hamills which was a Hunting and Fishing Franchise. His knowledge of this industry is second to none!
Along with that Dave has also represented New Zealand in Clay Target Shooting, winning major titles where he notably shot a “magic 100” to win a High Gun Competition. His achievements are primarily Down the Line and Doubles disciplines.
He is recognised as a national champion and veteran in the sport.
Dave gladly gives his time to provide one on one tuition and mentorship in this field and is held in very high regard.
In this time I had purchased Wairarapa Hunting and Fishing and with Dave also being a franchise holder still in Hastings we got to know ourselves a lot better.
In the early 2000’s Dave left the Hunting and Fishing Franchise and set up his own Fishing and Hunting store in Waipukurau, Central Hawkes Bay along with his Fishing and Hunting guiding operation.
This is where our friendship was cemented and over the years. I called in on many occasions to have a chat and get the vibes on the local rivers and purchase flies and other goods for the occasion. A year or so down the track after settling in at Wairarapa Hunting & Fishing I called on Dave with a friend to guide me at “Ngamatea” for Sika Deer. Ngamatea Station is located in the Central North Island situated between the Kaimanawa and Kaweka Ranges, bounding the Rangitikei and Ngaruroro rivers between Hawkes Bay and Taihape mainly running sheep and beef but Sika and red Deer are prolific. In recent years they have introduced Pheasant Hunting where birds are released in April/May to acclimatise for avid hunters to come along and shoot with the birds being flushed by beaters from their environment into the air for the hunters to enjoy a wonderful days shooting. Dave also participates in this highly sort after adventure.
Ngamatea is one of New Zealand’s largest and most remote high-country stations in New Zealand.
As years passed I also had an occasion to meet Dave through a very dear fly tying friend, John Scott, who has sadly passed but he encouraged me to get back into fly tying, fine-tuning my skills as he also was a commercial fly tier. Unbeknown to me Dave knew John well. He purchased large quantities of flies from John each year for his guiding services.
Sadly when John passed, I approached Dave to see if I could help in anyway with tying flies for him and he agreed to give me a try.
Being a guide you would like to think that they would have every fly in creation. Alas, this brings you down to earth into seeing what the experts use. Dave keeps it simple with the nymphs he uses. Usually lean and mean but there are a few he has designed and I tie to his request.
As the season draws on each year, weather patterns change and water levels drop, the fish get picky to say the least, is where Dave’s skills excel.
An amazing person to fish with or be guided.
If you are needing a “Guide with Flair”, a “Good sense of Humour” and the Patience of a “Saint” when comes to teaching first timers. Dave is very “Generous” with his time with whoever he is tutoring.
To contact Dave for the “Experience of a Lifetime” either with Hunting or Fishing is by email below
davehern@xtra.co.nz Phone 027 2428290

You will not regret a “Booking’’ with Dave today!