Feb 26, 2020

Angling Ethics- Protecting New Zealand's Fisheries

Recently New Zealand's Fish & Game posted tips to help ensure anglers have a good experience and encounter great fishing. This post summarizes that content, to help increase the likelihood of you having a great time in New Zealand and to help conserve the fishery for the long run.

Many of the reasons below are why we suggest looking into a "Five Flies" approved lodge. Our staff will be happy to help you not only book the lodge, but with ground and air reservations as well. Our aim is to make your time in New Zealand as smooth as possible.

• Avoid fishing areas where other anglers are present. If you are in any doubt about of their intentions have a chat and work out who goes where.
  
  • This is not only a good rule for being courteous, but for increasing your chances to catch fish! If fishing with a guide out of a lodge, they will often chart what beats have been fished and when - allowing guests to access waters where others from the lodge will not fish.
• Consider leaving a note on your vehicle with your intentions for the day, it will ensure you have uninterrupted angling and may provide alternative options for other anglers.
  
  • Again, if electing to fish with a guide, they will coordinate with not only each other but often leave a note on the vehicle as well. The better guides will have a plan for what pieces of water you will access and have with them flies to match the hatches as well.
• If an angler is already present when you arrive, allow a day worth of fishing for them and access the river from another location. There are plenty of other good fisheries nearby so consider fishing another river
  
  • This is common sense and just an unwritten law of fly fishing. Don't step on someone else's beat. It's not fun for anyone.
• Always spread your angling pressure by avoiding fishing the same reach on subsequent days. Fish another reach or, preferably move to another river.
  
  • Fishing in New Zealand is different from that in the USA. Sight-casting to specific fish and the numbers of fish per mile of river mean that beats should be rested.
• It is common practice to fish upstream so please avoid fishing downstream towards other access points, especially if there are anglers present.
• Avoid camping at access points, it confuses other anglers and increases conflict.
  
  • Both points above should not be an issue for the experienced angler. In the end, we would love for you to enjoy New Zealand but remind to also be an ethical angler

Author: Frank Krieger