Mike Yates

Hunter and Fisherman

Mike Yates has lived on the West Coast of the South Island for many years.  As usual with the people we find interesting he has had a colourful past - former professional hunter, professional fisherman, jetboater, whitebaiter, glacier guide - he has had a life made up of the experiences he now shares with our clients.

Mike and his wife Sue own and run Silver Pine Lodge, one of our favourite lodges in the country.  The lodge is mainly Sue's domain while we have been sweet-talking Mike for a number of years into becoming one of our guides.

Together we have put together jetboating experiences with freshly caught crayfish cooked on the beach (as per the photo), fishing, hunting, and lately, wine touring.  Mike enjoys dry, understated humour and has very deep knowledge of a number of surprising areas, always managing to take me off balance!  His contacts in this part of the world are phenomenal.  If you spend some time with him, you will find he quietly enjoys a fair bit of respect from most people you will meet together.  As with most of our guides, this tends to indicate a concientious and fair person.