The School of FlyFishing
 

TACKLE RECOMMENDATIONS

Fly Rods

New Zealand’s rivers, streams and spring creeks are best fished with 8 1/2 or 9 foot graphite fly rods designed to cast 5 or 6 weight forward fly line. Each angler should have two rods available for the trip. Travel rods that can be packed in your duffel bag are highly recommended. 4 weight rods are very popular for fishing the small spring creeks; 6 weight rods are often a help in windy conditions and when larger, weighted flies are required, as well as on larger rivers (where longer casts are necessary to cover the water effectively).

Fly Reels

New Zealand's fish are large, on average, and a top quality, single action fly reel with a reliable drag system and capacity for a full line and minimum 75 yards of backing will help ensure success.

Fly Lines

Most experienced New Zealand anglers feel that the only line necessary is a floating line for all river situations, though a sinking tip line may be useful. The contemporary floating fly line preferred by anglers in New Zealand is the Scientific Anglers Mastery fly line in Slate Gray. Darker fly lines are essential for casting to these large, wary fish and anglers often dye the first 30 feet of fly line a drab olive or gray to reduce visibility.

Waders

Flyfishers generally find it more comfortable to wade wet during December, January, February and March. Guides, and experienced clients, will usually wear lightweight waders, if any. The most functional wading attire is a pair of wading shoes with felt soles and a lightweight nylon shell pant, or shorts, over polypropylene or capilene underwear bottoms. It is a comfortable system that offers protection from prickly vegetation, provides warmth and dries off quickly.

Hat

Take a broad brimmed, dull colored hat.

Polarized Sun Glasses

New Zealand fly fishing is a very visual experience. Spotting the fish is part of the excitement and part of the challenge. It is also a critical element in the formula for success, in most situations, and good polarized lenses are essential.

Clothing

New Zealand trout are big and smart. There are no natural predators, other than a few fish ducks, so their only predators are human. Anglers that wear olive and camouflage spectrum colors will be far less likely to be seen than those with bright or light colored garments. This includes raingear.

Rainwear

Much of New Zealand is a veritable rain forest. It doesn't get particularly cold, but it can, and does, get wet. A top quality, lightweight, hooded rain jacket is mandatory.

Indicators

New Zealand guides are well versed in the use of strike indicators when nymphing. The two most common and popular indicators are white or bright colored. We suggest the highly visible "Striker" material or a red shade of Glo Bug Yarn; either should be trimmed quite small and occasionally dressed.

Floatant

A good floatant is a must. Effective dry flies and nymph indicators must float high and visible.

Leaders and Tippet

Long leaders are the standard in New Zealand fly fishing. Dry fly leaders are usually 12, 14 and even 16 feet long, tapering to 4x or 5x. Nymph leaders are equally long and often as light. The Umpqua Spring Creek Tapers in 13 foot lengths, tapered to 4x, 5x and 6x are preferred by many experienced New Zealand flyfishers with matching tippet spools in 3x, 4x, 5x and 6x.

Day Pack

A small back pack or tackle bag is handy to have along each day to carry such items as extra glasses, medication, aspirin, snacks, camera equipment and film, rain jacket and dry socks.

Dry Fly Selection

New Zealand trout are much more concerned with surface fly presentation than with exact imitation. A selection of a few dozen is adequate; the most popular and effective include:

Royal Wulff Sizes 12, 14, 16     Adams Sizes 12, 14, 16

Royal Humpy Sizes 12, 14, 16   Elk Hair Caddis Sizes 12, 14, 16

Humpy, Yellow or Green Sizes 12, 14, 16

Adams Parachute Sizes 14, 16

Light Cahill Sizes 14, 16     Black Gnat Sizes 14, 16

Cicada Size 8

Nymph Selection

Nymphs in New Zealand are usually very heavily weighted and often fished with an indicator.

Pheasant Tail Sizes 12, 14, 16      Bird's Nest Sizes 12, 14, 16

        Gold Ribbed Hare's Ear Sizes 10, 12, 14, 16

        Caddis Size 10

        Stonefly -(brown, green, black) Sizes 8, 10

        Beadhead Caddis Sizes 10, 12, 14, 16

NOTE: Fly fishing in New Zealand requires delicate and accurate casting with leaders up to 15, and sometimes 18, feet. The ability to cast a long line is rarely necessary, whereas the ability not to slap the water with false casts may make the difference in catching the large, easily spooked fish of New Zealand. The most important thing to do before leaving on your trip is to practice your casting.

HOME/RATES/LODGING/FISHING/TACKLE/PHOTOS/ITINERARY/INFORMATION/REGISTRATION