New Zealand Fly Fishing Itineraries and Travel
New Zealand Fly Fishing Itineraries and Travel
Dreaming of casting your line in the stunning landscapes of New Zealand? If you’re a beginner fly angler, don’t let the reputation of this iconic fishing destination intimidate you. With a little preparation and a positive attitude, you can have an unforgettable experience. This blog post will provide you with essential information to get started on your New Zealand fly fishing adventure. We’ll cover the basics of fly fishing, specific tips for New Zealand, and the importance of a guide.
Feel free to click around in our site for other tips. We will continue to post on topics about New Zealand fly fishing- not only for the more experienced angler but for anyone who wants to visit this special place!
OK, this may seem simple to some but it’s good to start with the basics.
Fly fishing is a unique angling technique that involves using a fly rod, reel, and artificial fly. A “fly” can be an insect or really anything that represents what the fish feeds upon. The goal is to mimic the natural movement of that fly, either under or on top of the water’s surface depending on where the insect is in its lifecycle, and entice the fish to strike.
Technique: Expect to sight cast to trout in New Zealand
A majority of anglers travel to New Zealand in order to sight cast to large trout. Although a general term, sight casting involves sighting a fish and then casting to that specific fish. This is contrary to a lot of fly fishing done in North America- in which the angler may drift in a boat and methodically explore potential holding areas and pools for fish.
Where fly fishing from a drift boat aims to cover a larger area of water and discover where fish may be hiding, this is typically not the way fly fishing is accomplished in New Zealand. The fish counts are fewer in New Zealand, the fish can be large, and so what you look for are fish close enough to the surface which can targeted for a cast.
Novice anglers who we have seen have the most success in New Zealand have set themselves up for success. Two traits that we have seen time and time again are that they are prepared ahead of time and approach fishing with an open mind.
Our advice for anyone fishing New Zealand for the fist time is to practice. This is simply done by brushing up on the fundamentals of fly fishing techniques. Hiring a local certified instructor is a great idea, but also practicing on local water or a nearby field is worth your time. Begin my targeting a cone or hat on the ground about 10 feet away and then gradually move the distance to 30 feet. Success on New Zealand’s streams is about accuracy.
The other trait we have seen is to listen to your guide when on the river. So many “expert” anglers arrive in New Zealand and don’t have an open mind. Working with the guide and leverage their local experience can make or break a day of fly fishing.
Fly fishing, and specifically sight casting a dry fly, requires keen observation and anticipation because each fish in New Zealand may be a fleeting target.
Some of the value of an experienced fly fishing guide is to help you identify a fish and then present the correct fly for a given situation. However, because fly fishing in New Zealand is often done on smaller rivers and spring-fed creeks, access to pieces of water with less pressure from other anglers may require a concessions from a land owner. Guides may obtain concessions locally and will know which fishing beats have seen a lot of fishing pressure prior to your arrival.
Ultimately, when asked about the value of a fly fishing guide our answer is pretty simple: Why fly so many thousands of miles and take time to fish in this paradise and not set yourself up for success? The water you will access without a guide will be the same as anyone fishing New Zealand would be able to access.
A fly fishing guide can be your eyes, coach, partner, friend, guru, and safety net all in a single day. By using one you have the highest chance of success and get an opportunity to meet a good Kiwi- an experience you can’t normally have anywhere else in the world!
By following these tips and hiring a knowledgeable guide, you’ll be well-prepared to enjoy a successful fly fishing adventure in New Zealand.