Recommended Fly Fishing Equipment

Top Waders: We use and recommend Riverworks wading gear, the world's best and most durable, designed right here in New Zealand by Evolve Outdoors of Wellington.	Top Fly Tier: Zane Mirfin ties thousands of flies a year so his anglers have the best patterns, sizes, and weighted options for success. We also sell commercially tied patterns via our shop, or bring your own hot favourites from home.

Clothing

• Wear dull natural colours, including rain jackets and hats.

• Camo and khaki are ideal. Long sleeved shirts and pants essential.

• Clothing should be warm. Fleece jacket and waterproof rain jacket essential.

• A wide brimmed hat provides protection from the sun as well as reducing glare when spotting trout.

• Ensure you have a top quality, waterproof and windproof rain jacket.

Wading Gear

• River-gripper rubber soled wading boots. Felt soles are illegal in NZ. Tungsten studs can be a liability.

• Gravel guards.

• Breathable gore-tex waders are best.

• Polypropylene long-johns with shorts or nylon wading pants over top is a great set-up for wet wading.

Fly Fishing Tackle

Rods

• Most popular weights #5 & #6. Heavier #7-8 weights are good for throwing large nymphs and streamers or for tackling big fish in the wind. Lighter #3 - 4 line weights are fun on many streams during mid-summer low flow periods. Recommend #8-10 weights for saltwater fly fishing and flats fishing for Yellowtail Kingfish.

• Rod lengths 8’6” – 9’ are most popular for casting presentation and 3 or 4 piece rods are best for heli-fishing trips.

• Always bring spare rods as they can have a high attrition rate in NZ.

Reels

• Trout reels should have good smooth drag systems and hold at least 75 metres of quality backing. Saltwater reels need to be more industrial, with solid drags and 200m of backing

Lines

• Anglers will mostly use floating lines for nymph and dry fly fishing. Dull colours are best for daytime fishing ... olive, earth-tone or grey coloured lines are recommended. Leave the fluoro-orange and yellow lines at home!

• Choice of weight forward or double taper is a personal preference.

• Shooting-head sink-tips in the 130-300 grain range useful when streamer fishing, in both rivers and lakes. Slow sink intermediate lines have excellent applications in stillwaters.
• Fast sink intermediate lines are excellent for saltwater flats fishing to get under the water surface and avoid wind interference..

Leaders

• Should be 9-15ft long. Factory tapered leaders 0-2X work well with a suitable tippet section added. Fluorocarbon tippet material 2-5X is the most useful.

• Polarised Glasses - Good quality polarized glasses are more essential than your rods! Amber, copper or yellow lenses are more efficient than grey lenses. Bring a spare pair and/or different lens colour options.
• We can tie up saltwater leaders for our anglers or bring a range of options.

Flies

• Bring your favourite flies from home.You can never have too many flies out on the stream or salt flat!
• When you book a guided trip with us we'll supply flies at no extra charge.We're happy to test your flies out too.
• Recommended American Fly Patterns
  This is a basic list that will ‘get the job done’ in most circumstances:
  Dry Flies: Adams #10-18, Adams Parachute #10-18, Cahills, Hendrickson, Quill Gordon #12-16, Elkhair Caddis #6-16, Comparaduns and no-hackles #12-16, Humpy (green, red, black) #10-14, Bivisible (brown and black) #6-10, Stimulator (olive) #6-10, Daves Hopper #6-8, Umpqua Cicada #6-10.
  Nymphs: American Pheasant tail #10-22, Teeny nymph #12-16, Zug Bug #10-14, Lambroughton Flashback #10-14, Rubberlegs (various) #4-10, Beadheads #8-16, Brassie #12-18.
  Streamers: Krystal and Woolly Buggers 9black, olive, brown, white, blood) #2-12, Muddler Minnow #6-8, Olive Matuka #6-10, Zonkers #6-8, Clouser Deep Minnows #6-10.
  Saltwater: Clouser minnows #2-10, Deceivers #4 - 5/0, Surf Candies #2 - 3/0.

Sun-Block

• New Zealand has high levels of UV radiation

• Ensure you bring a good quality high SPF factor (30+) sun-block, including lip balm, and use plenty each day.
• Sungloves, Scarf, or Buff, are also advisable, especially for saltwater fly fishing.

Insect Protection

• Use a good repellent - gels, liquids or roll-ons are better than sprays.

• Hydrocortisone cream 0.5 – 1% is excellent for taking away the inevitable itch for anglers who do get bitten.

• Any person who is allergic to bee or wasp stings or insect bites should ensure that they carry their medication with them at all times.