I spent most of last week drifting down one of the North Islands great back country rivers. Rowed, fed, watered and looked after by Ian Ruthven from Absolutely Angling. All in aid of a new TV show for Australia's Fox Sports called Adventure Fishing.

Thanks also to the guys at Heli Sika for getting us into the right water, with all of our gear (three trips worth).

The film crew were awesome on this trip Auckland's Matt Meikle was on the camera and Cat from Sydney on sound (sorry again to Cat for drowning the $1,000 radio mic)

Micah Adams is the Host/Star of the show. A great alround angler that has fished extensively throughout the globe with a fly rod and every other method known to man.

Micah hooks up at the head of a run.

I'm not sure why I was on the show, but I wasn't complaining.

I'm still not sure why I was on the show, I didn't even manage to catch much. I certainly didn't catch anything here.

That said, there are worse things to do than throw some loops around one of our back country rivers with a bunch of mates.

Ok, I must have caught something. The rainbows this year were absolutely on steroids, packed full of energy and really difficult to handle in the fast water.

The weapons of choice: a Davis BC Stonefly trailed by either a Death Metal Pheasant tail or a Mirfz BLT Nymph.

With this much camera gear and fishing tackle we needed a guard dog for the trip. So thanks to Bella for all of the hard work and entertainment.

Ian Ruthven knows the rivers he guides intimately, here Ian points out the likely holding water to Micah.

A glass of wine, a camp fire and an evening rise. The perfect end to a day on the river.

Wilderness float trips like this are truly a trip of a lifetime and a must do trip for a bunch of mates or a father and son. Ian Ruthven is the perfect host, he appreciates good food and goes out of his way to make your experience pleasurable.

And what energy Ian doesn't expend setting up camp, cooking and guiding he expells providing a safe but exciting rafting experience on some of NZ's most stunning rivers.

For more information about Ian Ruthven and Absolutely Angling then check out his website HERE. If you get a chance make sure you book a trip with Ian, this is an experience not to be missed and impossible to properly do on your own.

And remember to keep an eye out for Adveture Fishing due to start screening on Fox Sports in late February in Australia.