When To Come

For Trout
For trout fishing we consider the best fishing time to be September to May for most of the country and from April to September in the North Island Taupo region. However this does not preclude some excellent sport to be had outside these peak times.

For Salmon
In December the action is at the river mouths, sharing the water with lots of other fisherman. As the season progresses (until April) Salmon are caught further and further up the rivers where you will have all the space you wish.

For Kahawai
In the South Island the best season is Spring through to Autumn but in the North Island, fish can be found all year round. The further south you go the shorter the season.

West Coast Region
Similar to most of New Zealand:

Spring - October and November:
From late October to mid December is one of the best times to visit. By early November the weather is settling, the water level is dropping and there are relatively few anglers around before the summer season. It is getting warmer and the days are getting longer. To make things even better, the trout are hungry and at their least wary, with the result of larger fish being caught in higher numbers. Very good sea-run Brown Trout can be caught during this period.

October: Sees the opening of the new season. Depending a bit on the weather, temperatures, river levels and water colour you can find outstanding opportunities with weighted nymphs. This is one of the best times for fishing, when all rivers are open after being closed for winter protection. Fish have had no angling pressure for 5 months and are often less shy after a long break from anglers. The water and weather are still cool and inclement weather can occur at any time.

November: Provides the possibility of excellent sport. Fish are mainly caught on nymphs but opportunities with dry fly do occur regularly, thanks to some good Mayfly and Caddis hatches. Exciting dry fly fishing can be had. The weather is generally good and temperatures are warming up.

Summer - December to February:
Dry fly fishing is at its best. A prime time for stalking sighted Brown Trout and tempting them with a dry or small nymph. Fine cloudless days, with perfect visibility and fish that cooperate all day long, create classic angling memories. From Christmas onwards the annual New Zealand summer vacation is in full swing. Readily accessible streams can be under increased angling pressure. But an experienced fishing guide can take anglers to less pressured water. This period is a typical time for backcountry wilderness trips, helicopter fishing, backpacking and camping.  

December: With the warmer weather dry flies are more often used and beetles are evident on the water. Nymphs are also used occasionally as some trout take a lot of convincing! Dry fly / nymph combinations are often the norm for this time of year when there is some doubt what the trout are looking for. Weather and temperatures are stable.

January: Surface feeding is in full swing and a dry fly on sunny stretches produces excellent results. Good warm spells provide plenty of Mayfly, Caddis and Stonefly and the fish are looking to the surface for their feeding. Cicadas are present, which is mouth watering stuff for the trout. Warm balmy evenings provide exciting 'evening rise' fishing opportunities. Warm temperatures.

February: Warm and low waters make fish wary, but when trout are surface feeding they won't say no to a well-presented dry fly. Cicadas are abundant and trout are feasting on them. Good 'evening rise' fishing opportunities. Hot weather and warm water.

Autumn - March and April:
The fishing pressure is down again and the water is rising a little, which is good news after low summer levels. The weather is still pretty warm and summer day light saving is in force until the end of March, giving you one more hour in the evening to exercise that favourite sport, fishing the evening rise! Several of the bigger local rivers produce well in this period with trout feeding heavily in preparation for winter spawning. It is interesting to note that early and late season provide some of the best fishing of the year.

March: Nymphs are readily taken and very good dry fly fishing can be experienced up to the end of the month. There are still plenty of occasions for good 'evening rise' fishing opportunities. The weather remains sunny and temperatures cool off.

April: Nymph, dry fly and streamer fishing gets results. Back to some dry fly / nymph combination fishing. Excellent results can be had fishing wet or streamer imitations near the river mouths as Brown Trout begin to arrive in anticipation of their spawning runs. Temperatures declining now, the weather is typically settled with cool evenings and clear sunny days.

Winter - May to September:
The headwater rivers are closed from the end of April for the spawning season. Winter fishing is concentrated in the lower stretches of open local rivers, mostly looking for sea-run Brown Trout. Truly exciting fishing can be had using wet flies, streamers and nymphs. In early winter the attention is mainly based on trout getting ready for their yearly up-river migration, while the second half of winter sees us concentrating on fish chasing the Whitebait. Very easy fishing can take place towards the end of winter with some locations producing from 20 to 40 fish a day. Colder temperatures and shorter days.