Fly fishing remote rivers South of Queenstown New Zealand
Simon Wilkinson
May 24, 2010
Queenstown - Freshwater Fishing Report
My last guiding trip went well hiking into a remote valley south of Queenstown New Zealand for 3 days fly fishing and 2 nights camp out using cocoon bivvy's.
The weather was about as good as it gets although bloody cold at night with frost developing on the bivvy's by 19:30 which is just on dark at present. The fishing was pretty damn good too with plenty of both rainbow trout and brown trout to the bank, a few spooked and some that just spanked us – no slowing them down once hooked and firing under rocks in this majestic little mountain stream.
Carrying a heavy pack for a mission like this into a boulder strewn back country stream and catching fish with it on is no easy task and certainly by the end of the trip we were both a little footsore and tired but very happy.
I even had the chance to cast for a fish or two and enjoyed the success of a well presented special pattern x – the Wilkie Wonder.
These sort of trips hiking into the back country and doing the hard yards to fly fish for trout are not for everyone but those that are willing to carry a heavy pack and sleep out certainly get to enjoy the spoils of fly fishing for trout that often have seen no pressure (or at least not much) and puts you into places that helicopters can't legally land and are simply superb for the peace and solitude they provide in New Zealand's stunning wilderness landscapes.
I'm at home for a few days now, enjoying family life before my next guided trip starts next week, a mixture of the Southland Homestay fly fishing trip and Safari trip and we might throw a heli fish in for good measure depending on how the weather pans out.
Target Species:
Trout
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