Heli Fishing Reefton Delivers Big Browns Once Again
I live to sight fish to big Brown Trout with dry flies and I know of no more productive a location for doing this than the left had side of the Lewis Pass, from the mountains, over to the west coast. The dense Beech Tree forests are prime breeding grounds for cicada’s, which hatch every January. What this means for fly anglers is that the big Browns are programmed to be looking up for their food and are so eager and willing to eat dry flies between January and March.
Heli Fishing the Fiords of Southern New Zealand
The visuals of a fishing trip to New Zealand's Fiordland, found in the southwest corner of the South Island, are almost hard to believe. In all my travels around the world to fish, I don't think I've ever seen anything that, day after day, delivers on the most incredible fishing scenery I have ever seen. Every day it's a new and likley more beautiful location than the day before. And then there's the trout.
Field Report – Day 3 – Haast Trip – Mystic River
As we flew 300 feet above the tree line, a thick canopy of Beech Trees sprawled out beneath us for as far as the eye could see. The “wap wap wap” of the helicopter blades slicing through the air temporality silencing the chorus of the millions of Cicadas who inhabit this forest, where the males of the species vibrate their tymbals, a noise-producing organ on the side of their abdomen, in the hope of attracting females to mate.
Field Report – Chopper fishing out of Haast
After the bizarre first day where the Haast Heli Service wouldn’t take us out due to “bad weather”, even though conditions were perfect, we managed to fly the next two days without any trouble or drama.
Field Report – Haast and the Cicada Symphony
When you drive from Wanaka and take Highway 6 over to Haast, it’s one of the great drives found within the country. The scenery is awe inspiring and so completely varied. One minute you’re driving past some of the best vineyards in Central Otageo, the next you are driving through a spectacular canyon gorge with views that are as gorgeous as they are frightening (heights).
Field Report – Queenstown Pain
Over a year ago when I was planning this trip, I wanted a few days in the mountain/lake town of Queenstown. The town is so beautiful and had such a great feel to it, that when I booked three nights there, I seriously considered adding a couple of extra night to my stay. I’m so glad that I did not!
New Zealand – Trout Fishing in Christchurch
After five days of rain on the north island I decided to fly south to visit my friend Chris Bell who guides out of the Christchurch area. Felt very fortunate that Chris had an open day and was able to guide us. Christchurch is a really nice town with a great vibe to it and with Chris available for a day, the prospect of a couple of rain free nights in Christchurch, or so I thought, was all I needed to jump on a plane south.
Back in New Zealand
Thanks to a wretched Covid imposed hiatus of 2 + years, I am finally back in my beloved New Zealand. After a 14-hour flight from Vancouver, arriving in Auckland was one of the great joys I’ve experienced in a long time...
Field Report : NEW ZEALAND TROUT
The weather on the North Island has been dreadful the last few weeks with lots of rain and cooler temps. January is traditionally the peak of summer on the north island but summer just has not shown up yet.