New zealand
 

Heading to the South Island for the second time. Going to try a few new areas on the west coast. Does anybody have any ideas or advice on which rivers to check out ? Tia

I am down in NZ at present, ive got 20 plus trout, mostly out of the Taupo catchment, best is touch under 6lbs, average weight is good, 3.5-4lbs,

Its meant to be a mast year, in places (beach tree mass seeding) this causes a boom in mouse numbers, witch the brown trout feed heavily on, so ask about for any mast areas, trout Average weights, will be up, and they will aggressively take, a mouse dry fly, aursum sight fishing.

Buller, upper grey, lake Brunner, and the Arnold for top of the west coast. I really like the Mavora lakes area in Otago.

If its big trout your after the Canals, Tekapo/ Twizel are the place for really big trout, 20-30lbs or more, be prepared to put in the time.

I much rather sight fish, for trout on a clear mountain stream,

Don't know if your in NZ right now, but we are getting hit with a massive sub artic storm, right now they are sand bagging the southern lakes as they are flooding up into town, esp lake Wanaka, I have sum amazing fishing when the lakes flood, and trout move up into the shallows feeding on drowned worms, grubs,
20 years ago lake Rotoroa flooded the lawn, of the exclusive fishing lodge, I caught a couple nice trout off there lawn, early one morning before getting told to bugger off, they were told to go to hell, as I am standing in the lake, and proceed, to catch a real nice brownie, nearly 8lbs, I moved off once an old codger came out. flooded lake edges. oh yea!

Thanks southerman. We leave dec. 22, tekapo for a few days then wanaka. After that to the west for a wk or so, got a few streams in mind around tekapo, just haven’t spent any time in the west. I’m there for the sight fishing as nothing is better but would love to find a few fat mousers to experience

Couple nice lakes near Tekapo, lake McGregor and Alexandrina, I've caught fish in both, Twizel river is a nice place for sight fishing for browns, 50km from Tekapo, can also sight fish in the Oahu canal, normally cleaner than the Tekapo. I have been intending to bring a heavy fly rod down and swing a big saltwater fly on a deep sinking line. might be the ticket, for those big trout.
Glenorchy, head of lake Wakatipu, nice spot for a day, fish the lake inlet, Dart, Rees or greenstone river inlets, Couple years back I got a rainbow, brown and a salmon, in hours fishing, mouth of the dart.
Cant help with any spots, on the southern west coast, as I haven't fished there. pick up a fish and game west coast booklet, should point you in the right direction.

Also, don't have set plans on certain rivers...drought and floods happen regularly and you will need to be able to adapt to them...

Love, and miss that place dearly.......

Arrived home this week, had a little bit of everything with my days on the River. One day landed 14 on dries between 20 and 25 inches, couple days with none, one day with 4 between 7.5 lbs and 10 pounds and another where I caught 2 that totalled 23 plus pounds. Weather wasn’t great but there is nowhere I’d rather be , it’s gorgeous and the people are awesome. Choppered in one day and stayed a night in the hut, what a trip! All fish were sighted first, try to post a few pics

Sounds pretty epic

NZ
 

Sounds like you had a great trip and got into Cicadas...... How were those other flies on the Westcoast AKA sandflies. Looking forward to some pics... I hope to return there in Feb/Mar to do some hut to hut hikes with my son who lives in Christchurch and of course fish as last year I was only able to do some one day trips which only scratched the itch and the hikes will allow me to get back further in to less pressured water.

Sorry pics aren’t workin. Security token missing ??

Backcountry

Beauty

A fav

Another

Dd

Beautiful fish. Just a few spots make them look even more special

Beautiful photos. thanks for sharing.