You never forget catching your first fish, then the first on a fly, then the first on a fly that you tied. The list goes on – different water, fishing methods, company. Walking alongside Aotearoa’s beautiful rivers is often reward in itself, but it is the thrill of the hunt that gets us there.
But wait, there’s more! The adventure continues beyond the river banks. Rowing onto a lake to fish deep, drifting through an estuary – head-down looking for flounder. Watching a surfacing eel, whitebait, salmon, birdlife… New Zealand’s fresh water is wonderful for those prepared to walk, watch, and cast.
This section is for Riversmiths who search for the bounty hidden in New Zealand’s fresh water.
What is a ‘Guide Fly’ Anyway?
Hearing the term “Guide Fly”, I wondered – what does that mean?
Tongariro River – Casting Back to Cast Forward
Fishing notes from flyfishing the Tongariro River in Winter 2024
Riverside lies and deceit
Read this to ensure you don’t get caught in the same net of lies and deceit.
May on the Mighty Manawatū River
The Manawatū River is a superbly fun and varied trout fishery that deserves your attention
Changing conditions, changing tactics
A trip to a Canterbury High Country Lake yielded an unexpected lesson about being prepared to change tactics to suit the conditions
An Epic Build in a Box
Building your own fly rod with an Epic Fly Rod Kit is just as Epic as it sounds!
Why bother?
Why bother fly fishing for trout if you’re just going to put them back?
Old Dog, New Tricks – Euro Nymphing the Tongariro River
Getting hooked on Euro nymph fishing on the mighty Tongariro river.
You Snooze, You Lose
Lessons from several seasons of winter fishing the Tongariro – the early bird gets the fish.
Adding a new welded loop for $2.50
Adding a new welded loop to a fly line is effective and cheap. And easy, did I mention easy?
A bike, and breaking some basic rules of fishing
Combining a bike ride up the Remutaka Incline trail and fishing the Pakuratahi River included some poor fishing choices…
An Upcycled, DIY Fly Tying Station
Can a 1950’s kitchen drawer become a fly tying station? Yes it can!
Summer is Cicada Season
Flyfishing during cicada season can be a lot of fun, and a reason to learn a little more about these fascinating creatures that are the sound of summer in New Zealand.
A Good Boat – Fishing Down the Clutha
Boating, fishing and cooking with good friends are part and parcel of an annual pilgrimage to Central Otago, while marveling at the history in plain sight on the banks of the Clutha River.
Fishing for Trout – the Strike!
Good strike technique helps make the most of sometimes limited opportunities. We share a few top tips that work (most of the time) for us.
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