New Zealand Trout Fishing

[Tim Buma]

Our season opens 1st October, however there is places that you can fish for trout all year round. Our high country lakes and rivers open 1st November, and some of the more " Fragile" areas open 1st December.
The fishing has been fantastic. My preference is Flyfishing small streams.
I have been fortunate enough to be able to fish 4-5 days a week.
Attached a picture of a typical Brown Trout of 3-4 pounds.
I have been catching up to 6 fish a day, the biggest so far touching 8 pounds.
(I' ll include a photo in the following post.)

[Tim Buma]

In 6 miles of water we only spotted 12 fish. But every one was huge.
Beautiful pristine mountain stream.
We cast over this fish for 20 minutes with 6 different patterns, left him for two hours, then came back and my buddy in the picture cast over him, for over an hour while I took a snooze on the stream bank.
He hooked up once and got spat out.
Changed pattern then hooked and landed him 20 minutes later.
How' s that for persistance!!
That is a lesson that I have learnt. If your fish isn' t spooked, just keep on trying, use lots of left field patterns, if you can' t figure out what they are feeding on.
This one finally surcombed to a purple nymph size 16.
Tippet breaking strain was 4 pound. Leader 12 foot on a floating line. casting distance was 20 feet. There was a bigger fish in the same vicinity.
Fish weighs about 8 pound.

[SCGOBBLER]

Sounds like a lot of fun Tim, nice looking fish.

[Matt / PA]

Ok Tim,
Now I hate you more.

Like I said in that other flyfishing thread, you are living a dream of mine.....ENJOY IT!!![8D]

[marmax]

Nice fish!! The size is comparable to the fishing in northern NY. I'd rather fish in New Zealand but just as long as I can fish .