Rainbow and Brown trout were introduced to New Zealand in the late 1800’s and just like every other introduced species have thrived since their arrival.

New Zealand in my eyes is the ultimate paradise and when those first fish got released into our waterways at that time, i’m pretty sure they thought it was heaven!!

We have the most pristine rivers and lakes in the world, but we also have a number of rivers around the country that are not what they used to be.

This makes the places we go even more special..

Healthy Rainbow Trout, about 8lb

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This has to be one of life’s treats, going fishing with your son. Doesn’t really matter wheather you are on a boat, a jetty or a lake really, it’s all about being there when a fish is on!!

Paul and Barney Fairbanks were in New Zealand for thier first time and a trip into the back country was the first of many to come.

We flew with Brendan from Alpine Choppers and had an amazing time with both rainbows and browns coming up to dry flies. The boys got a taste of what things can be like when everything comes together just right.

Barney and Paul, hanging out in the hanger before lift off.

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When you think fly fishing for trout, i would have to say NZ is near the top of the list as an ultimate destination for Rainbow and Brown Trout.

The best excuse to go back country i reckon is a fishing rod, camera and even a rifle for some venison! Just being in the places we go is special, and to catch a sighted trout on a fly and then release it however big or small is an experience to be remembered.

I love showing people what is sitting on our doorstep and sharing a few stories that go with the place. NZ is a small island at the bottom of the world and at the bottom of that island is the place that i like to hang out in..

Our fly fishing season is nearing an end as the trout prepare to start spawning up into the head waters of what i reckon are the most beautiful rivers in the world!!

Here are a few images of the summer of 2009/10..

Billy Gates with a baby brown trout.

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Take a look at some of the places we have been going..

Some of the people we have been showing around..

And some of the fish we have been meeting..

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Richard Armarti joined 2 of his buddy’s for 3 days of fishing around Queenstown. The weather allowed us to get 2 great days before the rain set in and put most of the local rivers up high and coloured. Richard was an expert with his casting skills and on 1 of our days hooked well over 30 fish, well that’s a guess because we lost count after 20.

Trust me that is not a usual day by any means, but everything lined up on the day and when you understand about casting, presentation and getting the right drift things can work out just right!

After about an hour and making about 7 good casts this beautiful brown finally took a small pheasant tail (#18)  and we reckon he also had a go at the dry. What an amazing fish!

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Gordy Watson (Trout Stalkers), Bruce and myself went Back Country for some R & D

The pictures will tell the story..

Couldn’t help ourselves, these are healthy fish that run and jump, so much fun!!

Wind on the Nose.

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Terrie, Theresa, & Liz Golden escaped the approaching winter of Chicago (usa) to New Zealand for some Adventure and especially to celebrate Terri’s birthday. (What a GREAT idea!!)

Turns out they left their husbands behind to fend for themselves, while the the Golden girls Hit the West Coast with some heli-hiking, Milford Sound, Canyoning in Glenorchy, TeAnau, and Queenstown.

Also turns out that the boys back home love Fly Fishing. Research and Development was the order of the day, and it wasn’t long before we were somewhere up the Head of Lake Wakatipu.

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Tim Pope-Ellis from Cape Town South Africa, was in Queenstown for 3 days and had 1 day to go fishing. We went out towards Glenorchy and spent a day hiking and fishing a beautiful valley that holds nice Browns and Rainbows.

If you are travelling to N.Z and want to catch fish, give us a call. If we are unavailable then we can put you on to somebody who can help. Point is if you love to fly fish for trout you need a professional fishing guide, all things being equal we will put you into the business end of your fly rod and have you casting at fish and making your dreams come true.

Lake Wakatipu, on the way to Glenorchy. Just driving to  and from our rivers is amazing.

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Pictures paint a thousand words they say, and for Gordy Watson and myself  well we reckon the place where we went was worth more than a thousand words, much more!!

Myself,Gordy Watson, Craig, Wendy & Shane Cole, Just being there is special. If there was ever a place to go fly fishing in your wildest dreams?? This could be it!!

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Peter Gomm was in Queenstown for about the third visit with his wife and as always makes the most of his time here. With plenty of snow on the mountains around Queenstown and only a coulpe of days in town. Snow shoeing in the morning and fishing in the afternoon was the call.

Peter Hitchman from Snowshoeing Queenstown and Guided Nature Walks Queenstown  showed off what we call our back yard and got up close and personal with country that unless you were a skier or snowboarder would never imagine in your wildest dreams going to!!

From snow shoes  and the mountain tops to a pair of waders and the river valley in a matter of hours is what is possible here in the Wakatipu.

Some people sit in offices and dream about this stuff all day long, we wake up in the morning and do it!! Living the dream!!!

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