NEW ZEALAND FISHING: Since the introduction of trout into New Zealand at the
end of the nineteenth century and its recognition as a world-class
fishery in the 1930s, anglers from all over the world have
looked to New Zealand as the Mecca of angling - the world's
best wild trophy trout fishery. Both the North and South
Islands offer some excellent stream fishing for brown trout
and rainbows. The majority of the rivers are known for their
clarity, and their reputation draws anglers from far and
wide in search of a trophy fish. Each year trophies in excess
of 10 pounds are taken.
Many times New Zealand is compared
to Alaska, Argentina and the American West. When it comes
to quantity or diversity of freshwater species or ease of
catching, New Zealand is not Alaska. But to the fly fishing
purist, it is heaven-on-earth and the brown trout are considered
the Rolls-Royce of species - difficult to come by but very
much worth the effort. The streams tend to be less populated
than their British or North American counterparts; but the
average size of the trout is to 4.5 pounds, exceeding most
anglers' wildest fantasies. A good day on a New Zealand
stream might only be three fish, but they might range from
4-6 pounds and are generally caught under the most aesthetic
of conditions.
The unique feature which sets
New Zealand apart from other world fisheries is hunting
wild trophy brown trout and rainbows in water as clear as
the air. This type of angling provides challenging, absorbing,
and intense fishing of a style seldom found.
Fishing to New Zealand's trout often requires skills and techniques unfamiliar to most visitors. It is sight fishing at its best and requires adaptation. Carefully stalking, mostly from the banks but sometimes while wading, you and your guide will search for "keys" to a trout's presence. Spotting takes a practiced eye, and those local eyes are invaluable. The spotting advantage of clear water can also be a handicap. Just as you can see the trout, the fish can also keep his eye on you and your actions. Careful walking and wading is a key to your success keeping noise to a minimum.
Generally, the guide will walk with or ahead of you looking for the individual trout. Once the fish is spotted, the guide will advise the appropriate set up for that trout's position, will manoeuvre you into position to make the cast, and, as you will often be out of sight of the trout when casting, will call the position to place the fly. Casts are generally short (20-40 ft, 6-12 m) and the expectation is to make an accurate presentation with a minimal number of false casts. These big, wild trophy trout can often be selective, and if the first accurate cast does not create a take, an angler would usually expect to change flies.
Do not get discouraged; it takes a couple of days to get used to these techniques. For this reason, we recommend that you spend the first few days at your initial destination in New Zealand becoming accustomed to the local conditions and the fishing methods employed. We also suggest avoiding one- and two-day stays at several lodges, instead selecting one or two for a longer period of time. By doing this, you will enjoy greater fishing success. With weather variations, the need to get used to the fishing techniques, and the mood swings of the trout, we prefer guests to join us for a full week on the water.
There are a couple of other differences that set New Zealand apart from other locations - especially in the United States. First of all, the fishing seems to be best when the light is high on the water and the fish can easily be seen (these large browns feed all day). The early mornings and late evenings tend to be less productive. The guides generally like to get on the stream around 9 am and fish until late in the afternoon (5 to 6 pm). Secondly, anglers will not experience the prolific hatches that occur on several streams in other areas of the world. Flies will come off all day and the trout will feed consistently, but large hatches of a particular insect are seldom seen.
Our traditional summer season is from October 1-April 30. New Zealand is a unique fishery in terms of the diversity of water and angling techniques. The chances of success without the service of a fully qualified, experienced guide are slim. At Lake Rotoroa Lodge we are very proud of our team, which offers a combined experience of over 90 years on our local rivers. Not only are they experienced but wonderful companions that understand that a day on the water is much more than just fishing to our guests.
Lake Rotoroa Lodge tends to
be a "take turns" fishery. When sharing a guide,
you and your angling partner will take turns making fly
presentations. You are generally hunting and sight fishing
individual fish in relatively small water. In most cases,
guides prefer not to blind cast but this can be necessary
(and productive) in bad light or sighting conditions, and
this might be an instance where two anglers might work the
head and tail of a large pool. The thrill of watching your
fellow angler casting to a trout you can see in the water
is often as exciting as catching it yourself, and can often
lead to a greater understanding of how the trout react to
different flies and presentations.
Our fishery can satisfy all
anglers, from the novice to the expert. It is relatively
easy to acquire the skills needed to make that one perfect
cast, and often more accomplished anglers have greater difficulty
adapting to the new techniques required. Our top quality,
experienced guides are also expert casting instructors because
of their experience with visiting fishermen. The guides
are patient, knowledgeable, and personable - we are confident
that you will find them to be great companions on the stream.
Their advice should be sought early on during your visit.
Our guides have perfected some unusual techniques that are
fun to use and will often work well on your home water.
We recommend following their suggestions closely.
Our fishing is generally done
on foot, with anglers walking the banks looking for trout.
There are areas where floating fishing can be done successfully,
but generally the boats are used as a means of access from
point to point rather than a vehicle for fishing. We use
rafts very rarely. The degree of mobility and agility required
varies from river to river. Some stream beds and banks are
rocky and can be physically demanding, requiring longer
hikes and some manoeuvring over heavy boulders. There are
other areas that are very easy to walk and offer great fishing.
Be sure to let us and/or your guide know how much walking
you would like to do. His total focus is to provide you
with a positive angling experience.
New Zealand offers an enormous
variety of water. Our mainstay is the freestone streams,
varying in size from very small to medium by international
standards. Some locations offer magnificent spring creeks.
Some are tiny ribbons of water running through pastoral
farmland while others are the size of some of the larger
spring creeks in the western United States or salmon rivers
of Europe.
Remember that you are hunting
wild trout in crystal-clear water and that they are alert
to any intrusion. The reflection off bright-coloured fly
line or clothing is sufficient to spook them. New Zealand
fishing is all about making the most of your opportunities
for trophy trout - in terms of seeing them before they see
you, in terms of positioning to make the perfect cast, and
in terms of selection and presentation of the fly. Our equipment
recommendations are based on these principles.
Fishing Tackle
At Lake Rotoroa Lodge we recognize that many of our guests
are spending longer in New Zealand travelling round seeing
the whole country. We understand that to drag fishing gear
around is not appealing and we have made a great deal of
effort to offer premium equipment to our guests for loan.
We have 30 pairs of Simms waders in all sizes both ladies'
and men's. We have 40 rods made by Thomas & Thomas,
Sage and Hardy, plus fully-equipped reels. We also have
flies for sale as well as leader material, bug sprays, Aloe-Gator
sunscreen and lip-balm, and almost more important than anything
Action Optics polarised glasses. In short, apart from a
waterproof jacket we can fully equip you with gear that
you will enjoy using.
FLY RODS: We recommend modern 9 foot graphite rods. Medium to fast
action is best suited for turning over long leaders and
for accurate presentation. Without question, a 6-weight
rod is the ideal choice to cover all of the various fishing
available. It is light enough to make delicate presentations
with long leaders, yet strong enough to deal with wind,
weighted nymphs and our trophy trout. A 5-weight rod will
work well for the dry fly fishing on some of the smaller
streams; a 7-weight might be preferred on the larger rivers
when casting weighted nymphs and heavy streamers. Most travelling
anglers today prefer 3- or 4-piece rods. They are much easier
to pack, are less cumbersome in helicopters, and are equal
in performance to their 2-piece counterparts. We have a
large selection of premium brand rods to loan. There is
no loan fee at all, but we will charge NZ$350 if a rod is
broken for any reason in order to organize its repair.
REELS: We suggest a quality reel matched and balanced with your
rod, capable of holding the appropriate line plus 100-150
yards (90-140 m) of 20 lb backing. Choose a reel with a
smooth, efficient and reliable drag. There are several reasonably
priced good ones on the market. We have reels with lines
for loan also. Once again, there is no loan fee, but we
will charge NZ$200 if a reel is damaged for any reason and
needs repair or is not in a presentable condition to lend
to others. All our reels have lines.
FLY LINE: Reflection of the line in sunny conditions can readily spook
wild trout in New Zealand. It is therefore recommended that
you equip your reels with dull-coloured lines (dark green
or brown preferred by our guides). Many of the major line
manufacturers are now producing these. Scientific Anglers
Mastery Series is an example. Try to avoid bright yellows,
greens and blues. If you have bright lines that you do not
want to replace, your guide will be happy to dye the first
40-50 ft (12-15 m) of your lines prior to your fishing.
Because most of New Zealand
fishing is short range, many anglers feel that using a line
weight that is one heavier than the rod recommendation allows
them to load the rod easily for shorter casts. This, of
course, depends on the action of the rod and personal preference.
Weight-forward floating lines are best suited for the majority
of conditions you will encounter on our local rivers. Because
delicacy of the presentation is important and the majority
of the casts are at short distances, some anglers prefer
a double-tapered line.
LEADERS: New Zealand's large, selective trout are leader and line
shy and should be approached accordingly with the right
length leaders and tippet size. New Zealand anglers tend
to use long tapered leaders from 12 to 18 ft (4-6 m). A
heavy, stiff butt section is mandatory to get the proper
turnover. The typical tippet size is 4X to 6X (6 to 4 lbs).
Guides will also have their own tippet, which they will
be glad to share with you. We recommend taking an extra
spool of each size.
FLIES: We recommend that all anglers bring a selection of their
favourite dry flies and nymphs. Your flies should be transported
in clean, rust-free fly boxes. Do not take fly-tying material
with you - customs officials in New Zealand carefully watch
for anything potentially harmful to their agriculture. Equipment
that does not look new and clean is suspect. If you do not
have the right fly patterns or sizes, we carry a stock,
particularly of good nymphs, and the guides all carry a
wide variety of their favourites.
Most of the dry flies used
are traditional attractor patterns. The universally acclaimed
best dry fly in New Zealand is the Adams in size 10, 12,
14, and 16. Other attractors like Humpies, Royal Wulff,
Parachute Adams, and other general mayfly imitations work
extremely well. They also use some caddis flies. Many of
the nymphs used are unique to New Zealand. A few traditional
nymph patterns, however, will produce well. The general
sizes are 10, 12, 14 and 16.
Note: Splitshot is prohibited in several areas of New Zealand
and therefore heavily weighted nymphs are preferred. The
majority of internationally tied nymphs are too light. It
might be necessary to have your local fly shop tie a special
selection in weights varying from light to very heavy. Important:
Be sure to take a selection of "bead-head nymphs",
especially tungsten bead-heads. Following is a list of recommended
patterns in both nymphs and dry flies:
Dries: Adams, Parachute Adams, Irresistible, Humpy (yellow, red, black and green), Elkhair Caddis, Black Gnat, March Brown, Royal Wulff, PMD, Trude, Stimulator
Sizes: 10, 12, 14 and 16
Nymphs: Beaded and non-beaded versions of Half Back, Flash Back (only used as attractor pattern), Wooly Caddis, Pheasant Tail, Hares Ear, Hare and Copper
Sizes: 10, 12, 14 and 16
WADERS: Our wader recommendations depend on the time of year you will be visiting New Zealand. Our general suggestion is Gore-Tex stocking-foot waders. They take up little room in your packing and will cover the majority of conditions you will experience. At the height of the summer season, the majority of the guides and many visiting anglers actually prefer to wet wade with a pair of long cotton pants. High quality wading boots with very good ankle support are an absolute must. Rubber soles are mandatory. Do not take waders with "built-in" boots.
The lodge carries a full stock of high, quality waders in excellent condition for those not wishing to travel with their wading gear.
CLOTHING: New Zealand's climate varies from cool alpine conditions to sub-tropical rainforests. It is important to take many layers to counter this range of climatic conditions. You should pack light cotton sweaters, short- and long-sleeved shirts, and cotton trousers. We recommend including a chamois shirt, long underwear, and a heavy wool sweater in case the temperatures drop, but down parkas and vests are generally not necessary. Showers are a frequent occurrence on both islands, so it is imperative to have a quality rain jacket. We re-emphasize that it is very important to stay away from bright-coloured clothing. It has proven on many occasions to spook the trout. Concentrate on muted browns and greens. PLEASE NOTE THAT THE LODGE DOES NOT CARRY WATERPROOF JACKETS FOR LOAN.
SUNGLASSES: The one absolutely essential item of equipment for New Zealand fishing conditions is the highest quality Polaroid glasses. These are of crucial importance for spotting trout. Most anglers prefer amber or copper coloured lenses. It is a good idea to take a backup pair.
ANGLING ACCESSORIES: The following will help you enjoy your trip.
Sunglasses: polaroid lenses protect your eyes and are essential for
spotting the fish underwater.
Anglers' clippers: necessary for trimming knots.
Dry Fly Floatant: paste is best but liquid or spray is fine.
Surgical Forceps: for unhooking and releasing trout unharmed
Rainjacket: bring a good one because when you need it, you will really
need it!
Sunscreen: the sun can be very potent, especially on the North Island.
People with sensitive skin should take ample sunscreen
and lip balm. We recommend SPF 15 or higher.
Wide-brimmed fishing hat: water repellent in neutral colour
Insect repellent: A MUST. Sand flies can be a problem in some areas. We
recommend Muskol or Avon's Skin So Soft. Good news - there
are no poisonous snakes in New Zealand!
Saltwater Gloves: to protect the hands from the sand flies.
Flashlight: will help you navigate unfamiliar territory at night
Camera: we recommend a small one that will fit in your fishing
vest (to document your trophies). Take plenty of film
as it is expensive in New Zealand, and the spectacular
scenery will provide many photographic opportunities.
Plastic bags: our long experience in travelling to exotic fishing realms
has proven to us that the single most useful item is a
large plastic rubbish bag - perfect for wet waders, dirty
clothes and raingear. These are available at the lodge.
Note: our small shop usually carries many of the above items including
quality glasses, sun cream, lip balm, film etc, but we
do not have rain jackets.
NOTE TO NOVICES: All of our guides are happy to accommodate the beginner
fly fisherman. They are extremely patient and willing to
share and teach. It is best, however, to arrive with some
knowledge of the sport and a bit of practise. We recommend
enrolling in your local fly-fishing class, which many fly
shops offer on weekends throughout the year. Practise in
your garden or driveway by placing plastic plates at 15,
30 and 45 feet (5, 10, 15 m); work on accuracy and presentation.
This will enhance enjoyment of your trip.
LICENCES: Fishing licences are sold and distributed by the fish and
game councils in the various fishing districts. You can
obtain the required non-resident licence from the lodge.
The fees are relatively reasonable; a one-week non-resident
licence is approximately NZ$33.
CATCH-AND-RELEASE: Due to the fragile nature of New Zealand's trout fisheries
and the continued support for worldwide conservation of
our cold water fisheries, we strongly encourage the catch-and-release
of all trout. If you would like to have a trophy for your
wall, we suggest the "mold-mount" method, which
allows you to release your trout to fight another day. If
you catch a trophy: 1) Measure its length and girth (carry
a tape measure, scale and small camera in your fly vest).
2) Weigh your fish. 3) Quickly take several photographs
with and without a flash. 4) Release the trout. Today's
experts in mold-mounting technology can create trophies
far superior to skin mounts at the same price. On request,
we will recommend one to you. Your conservation effort will
enhance the fishing quality of those who follow and is appreciated
by us all.
EXTRA COSTS/HELICOPTER FLY-OUTS: Weather permitting, daily fly-outs in helicopters are possible. Because of weather uncertainty, we recommend that arrangements be booked and paid on-site. Costs vary depending on the exact flight plan.
Please make sure you are very clear on the exact cost before committing to the flight.
Helicopter fly-outs are an expensive option and do not necessarily provide any better angling results. Many of the most prolific waters are easily accessible by vehicle. The helicopters generally offer a terrific wilderness experience and allow you to fish waters that seldom see a fisherman. Payment for helicopter fly-outs, as well as any other miscellaneous charges incurred while at the lodge (licences, alcoholic beverages, phone calls, etc.), can be settled at the end of your stay. The lodge accepts New Zealand dollars and most international credit cards.
NON-FISHING ACTIVITIES: New Zealand is, without a doubt, one of the best countries in which the angler can pursue his or her sport, while the non- or "semi-fisherman" has a wide choice of other activities. In addition to the fishing arrangements, we will expertly customize and coordinate your non-fishing days to suit your interests and expectations. Our surroundings have an incredible variety to offer our guests. We recommend that anglers allocate a little extra time to take in some of New Zealand's magnificent beauty and unique sights that surround Lake Rotoroa Lodge.
FINAL NOTE: You will be visiting a beautiful part of the world boasting some of the finest trophy trout fishing available anywhere. Fly fishing, however, is not an easy sport, and you will be casting to wild fish. Be assured that all the guides and staff will do their best to make your stay a relaxing and productive experience. Have a safe journey and thanks again for considering Lake Rotoroa Lodge.
QUESTIONS? Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions about tackle, equipment, and/or your non-fishing arrangements.
