Who the hell would embark on Australia's biggest inland fishing film in the middle of the worst drought on record?
Two country boys hoping to show the world that inland Australia actually fishes great in a drought!
The masses of negative publicity about lack of rain and fish kills has turned some people off visiting inland Australia - but Rob Paxevanos knows better .
The film launches in Forbes on Friday, November 22 with screenings in Cowra (Saturday Nov 23) then St George and Stanthorpe Qld.
Our native fish are survivors and have evolved over the eons to be low flow drought specialists - there is plenty of water and fish if you go looking...and that we did!
My camera man Andrew "Barnsey" Barnes and I filmed in each state/territory across 12 months including places like New England, Southern Queensland, Central West NSW and Victoria to name a few.
Our native fish are survivors and have evolved over the eons to be low flow drought specialists - there is plenty of water and fish if you go looking...and that we did!
- Rob Paxevanos
Far beyond Total Native 1, filmed 2015, Total Native 2 is a true cinematic experience.
We filmed hundreds of Murray Cod, Golden Perch and Silver Perch in conjunction with a contingent of our very best local anglers in each area.
I've been a Native fish enthusiast and guide for three decades and what we saw, caught and learned rocked my world, these fish are making a massive comeback.
The places we experienced and fish we caught were all filmed expertly by Barnsey to create a cinematic experience the likes of which has never been seen in any Australian Fishing Production to date.
Amongst the many 'good ones' I was also tasked with catching the first ever truly 'giant cod' over the 1.4 meter / 100 pound mark on professional film!
Mission gleefully accepted, but sometimes wondered if I set my sights too high after many hours of using giant lures in remote parts of lakes and rivers in in the middle of the night.
HOWEVER when it happened...and it happened several times...NOTHING matches the action and adrenaline that followed.
I uncovered some amazing new spots and techniques that in some instances were almost scary - a 100 pound plus cod in your lap in the middle of the night can easily tip your kayak and if you get pinned to the hooks you could get rolled in and drowned.
I had to use every ounce of my experience and energy to safely pull off this mission.
But it is Barnsey's efforts of filming a stack of amazing slow motion surface strikes and cod tail slapping lures that will enlighten and inspire you.
This, along with the aerial and underwater vision of the fish and beautiful inland landscapes our country is blessed with, is quite simply captivating.
From the high-altitude Granite Gorges of New England, to the outback plains of St George we filmed high and low, near and far. Places we filmed included - Stanthorpe, Goondiwindi, Glen Lyons, Dumaresq River, Macintyre River, Balonne River, Various Weirs and channels, Inverell, Green Valley, the Gwydir River, Wyangala, Lachlan River, Belubula River, Murray River, Eildon and many more.
We caught the benchmark meter plus fish in most locations, but it is the stocking and habitat restoration by locals that are seeing numbers of small to mid-sized fish being caught that excites me most.
It's hard to capture the true essence of the movie in writing, but am hoping the cinematic experience encourages more people to experience the thrill and adventure of chasing our country's largest and most exciting freshwater fish.
Whether it's chasing stupidly big cod, the thrill of multiple surface strikes, the joy of exploring new areas, or just the wonderful relaxing and enlightening company that county folk offer, I feel this movie will rock your world, I hope you get to see it.
You can see the trailer for the movie at www.totalnative.com , and it is available to stream in surround sound HD or hard copy dvd from this same site.
See you on the water
Rob Paxevanos