Fly Fishing New Zealand Week 2

Our second week of hosted fishing was based in the McKenzie District. Arguably the most scenic part of the country it boast some great brown and rainbow trout fishing. While in the McKenzie we spent time with local Twizel guide Steve Carey and the 'wandering' guide Ian Cole. Both are top class guides and a good laugh around the BBQ as well.


• Paul with a great fish from a big high country river (Image courtesy Paul Procter)

The week was spent fishing the various high country rivers and spring creeks that drain the McKenzie basin. We had another fine week of weather with temperatures exceeding 30 deg C most days with clear blue skies and light winds. This got the tussock cicada in a good mood and provided some of the best cicada fishing I have seen in the McKenzie. A day on the Ahurriri River was most memorable with the fish really homing in on any cicada that was drift down a bubble line. For all the guys this day will be long remembered.


• Dormer with another big McKenzie District brown trout taken from a small tarn.

The biggest fish of the week went to UK angler Ben Garnett who landed managed to land an 8lb fish out of one the numerous small tarns that are scattered through the region The fish was taken on a tiny size 18 corixa pattern. This made up for a large fish lost by Ben earlier in the week which ate his cicada and came off after a long fight.


• Ben with a fine looking 8lb stillwater brown.

Just goes to show the diversity of the fishing sight fishing available. You can stalk big rivers, small spring creeks, bustling freestone streams and small stillwaters all sight fishing to fish exceeding 3lb in weight.


• John proves that you can find big fish in the tiniest of streams in New Zealand. This fish went 4lb on the scales.

Are you interested in joining one of our New Zealand hosted fly fishing adventures in 2011? Trips will be run from 22nd January, 2011. Space is extremely limited. For further details please contact us.

New Zealand Fly Fishing Report

Well we have just completed three weeks of hosted fly fishing throughout the South Island of New Zealand. Over the coming days we will be updating the newsletters page with detailed reports of the fishing that was had. The guys on this trip were lucky enough to experience great weather with bright sunshine and warm conditions on most days which resulted in great sight fishing opportunities and lots of insect activity which had the trout looking skywards.


• A relaxed lunch on the banks of the Mataura (Image courtesy of Dormer Treffry).

WEEK 1 Fly fishing Southland

Week one which was based out of Simon Chu's TROUT COTTAGE in Lumsden. Trout cottage is a little fly fishing hut in Lumsden and provides an ideal base for traveling anglers. Full of NZ associated fly fishing memorabilia it sets the scene for a week fishing SOuthland. Lumsden is in the heart of some of Southland's best fly fishing country with rivers such as the Mataura and Oreti and their associated tributaries a short drive away. The first week resulted in some fantastic dry fly fishing. The willow grubs and cicada's seemed to come on as the weather warmed and the water levels dropped from the previous weeks rain.


• A Southland willow grubber. These fish are usually frustratingly difficult but Paul's willow grub pattern fooled each and every willow grubber we came across. Luck or great design? Its the most successful willow grub pattern I have used be we will find out again next year. (Image courtesy of Paul Procter)

One of the great aspects of fishing Southland is the diversity of fishing situations. One location will find fish sitting high in the water column sipping down willow grubs. One afternoon on a high bank on the Matarua we found fish stacked up waiting for cicadas or blowfly's to hit the water and then there is always the ever present backwater fish. Several of the larger backwaters would find 4-5 big browns cruising for nymphs or looking up for drowned blowflies.


• Dormer with a feisty Mataura brown. An hour was spent on this fish with over a dozen fly changes. At times it lay within 3 feet of our position. Keep still and they won't know you are there!!! (Image courtesy of Dormer Treffry)

Dormer, Pete and Paul all enjoyed some memorable catches in all of these situations with fish ranging from 3-5lb. Of course as always in New Zealand there was the missed opportunities. Large fish that make it back to the willows, several straightened hooks and the ever present 'quick strike' that succeeds in pulling the fly out of the fish's mouth before he has a chance to taste it!!



Paul with a big cicada munching Oreti brown trout (Image courtesy of Paul Procter).

Are you interested in joining one of our New Zealand hosted fly fishing adventures in 2011? Trips will be run from 22nd January, 2011. Space is extremely limited. For further details please contact us.