Fly fishing in New Zealand is unlike anywhere else on the planet. To have the opportunity to fish such waters with freedom of access, coupled with the abundance of big fish in clear water, is any angler’s dream. From the tussock high-country rivers of the lower South Island to the bush-lined gorges of the North Island, the variety of waters is mind-boggling.

New Zealand’s waterways are renowned as some of the finest in the world and not for the reasons you would assume. As a former fly-fishing guide in the South Island, I spent up to 200 days on the water every season. It wasn’t necessarily the fish that kept my clients and I coming back; it was the allure of the unknown, anticipation of the challenge, and of course, the feeling of being surrounded by magnificent scenery.

Fly fishing doesn’t have to be scary, overwhelming or unapproachable. It’s a sport based on a few simple ideals, not that different to other outdoor fishing or hunting pursuits. So, if you’re new to this, or have been trying to get into it, now’s the time to forget all your preconceptions, sit back and learn the ins and outs of how to make the most of your time on the water.

The Fundamentals

The purpose of fly fishing is to imitate a fish species’ natural food source and lure the fish to eat. The ‘fly’ part of the name derives from the fact that most of the time, what we’re trying to imitate with our bait or ‘fly’ is an insect in its various forms. These insects are often waterborne mayfly, caddis or midges as well as terrestrial species like cicadas and beetles.

Depending on where you live in the country, the term ‘four seasons in a day’ can often be true, regardless of the time of year. When fly fishing for trout, the daily changes can make a difference to your day, but it’s more the annual seasonal changes that you should be observing and adjusting your tactics and flies to suit. This’ll help you pick the right tools for the job and give you a better chance of success in any water.

Trout know what they want and when they want it. This means you often have to overcome their will if you want to catch one at any given time. I believe observation is the key; therefore, before you jump in, take a look around, watch and see what bug life is around or under rocks before you decide on what you think will be the mode of the day. Be aware of any changes and adapt to suit. The more you’re aware of these details, the better angler you’ll become.

How To Approach a Fish

There’s a preconception that fishing in NZ means you can just walk along a riverbank and fish will be there – out in the open for all to see. Sometimes this is the case, but more often than not, the fish will be obscured by moving water, bedrock or poor light/shadow. This often causes problems for anglers of all skill levels, in particular the ones not yet used to reading water. And if the fish are visible in open clear water, it’s also more than likely you’ll be visible to them as you pace the riverbank.

Becoming a master fish spotter means you must first approach the river with caution – and also, if possible, cover. With our fish living the majority of their long lives in the same river or pool, they’ll usually be intimately aware of their surroundings and quite adept at noticing when something unusual appears. The most common form of this is an object silhouetted against the sky, such as when you’re walking atop the riverbank. There’s nothing more obvious and threatening to a trout than a shadow lurking over it from above, and it’s likely it won’t stick around for long.

Conditions on the river are always changing, and the one thing you can do to improve your chance of spotting fish in most circumstances is invest in some good, polarised glasses. Not your $20 pair from the gas station, but a pair made for fishing with a high contrasting lens (I prefer brown) and suitable for most types of lighting. Learning to use the light conditions to your advantage will come with practice and time on the water; always remember though, just because you can’t see them, doesn’t mean they can’t see you.

Where you stand can also make the difference between you seeing the fish, or it seeing you. You want to try to either take cover against a backdrop that provides no contrast, or approach the fish in its blind spot, usually recognised as a 45-degree triangle behind where the fish is sitting. Even if you can’t yet see a fish, keeping this in mind will ensure you’re not spooking them before even getting the chance to spot them.

The Spotting System

A few years ago, I came up with a fish spotting system I called ‘SSSM’. This allowed me to focus on what mattered most, particularly when the conditions were tough. This system is just a rough guide and there are exceptions to the rule; however, I’ve found it extremely useful.

S – Structure

The structure of the river will dictate where the fish lies. The more time you spend on the water, the more attuned you’ll become to the water you’re fishing, as structure often changes from river to river.

Structure firstly refers to the make-up of the water flow, but then also breaks down to what is in the river. Is there a rock, log or eddy that’s breaking up the flow? This is particularly relevant when looking for brown trout. Is there a deep, fast run with a slower current to the edge running over large boulders or rocks? This is often a sweet spot for rainbows.

Approach every piece of water with ‘Structure’ as your first thing in mind and you’ll always have a reliable starting point to begin looking for where the fish may be. There’ll also be sections of a river that’ll hold no fish, and once you know these, you can be more efficient in focusing on water with a higher chance of success.

S – Shade

Next up comes a time when you’re trying to locate fish within a stretch of water you believe they may be in. This is where ‘Shade’ comes in. Trout are incredibly adaptable and camouflage themselves in their environment, but they’re never 100% invisible, even though sometimes it feels that way.

A trout will usually throw a different shade tone or shimmer against the bottom or in a run, depending on what angle you’re spotting from. When I’m spotting, I’m looking into the water for something that doesn’t look quite right and will scan vigorously between shade tones that look like they’re slightly out of place. Sometimes, if you’re lucky, a fish couldn’t be more obvious as it casts a dark mark against a light bottom. However, counting on these ones alone means you’ll be missing many more fish – usually ones you’re more likely to catch.

S – Shape

Once you’ve identified the shade that doesn’t quite look right, the next step is to identify the ‘Shape’, depending on your assumption of the fish size in the river. The Shape test will often quickly rule out if the shade is a stick (too long and skinny) or a rock (too short and fat).

Take your time and stare. If it’s a fish, it’ll often give itself away; if still unsure, maybe give it a cast anyway!

M – Movement

Trout are amazingly efficient creatures and will usually locate a feeding position and stay there until disturbed or full. This means they sit still in one place, often in the point of least resistance, and will swing out as food comes and then return to their holding spot. This swing is usually left or right but may also be up and down. Because of this, depending on the quantity of food coming down the river, the fish will spend more time dormant than it will moving. This is why I use ‘Movement’ as my last indicator.

Conclusion

It’s important to remember that every river has its own characteristics such as structure, water colour and gradient. Consequently, when spotting, do keep these in mind if you want to be successful. It often takes spooking a few fish for you to key in on how they’ll look in the particular river you’re fishing, so don’t be afraid to get in there and test your assumptions.

After years on the water with a wide variety of anglers, it’s not about how many fish they see, but instead, how quickly they can identify a potential object and then decide if it’s a fish or not. I always say, “Everything is a fish, until you can prove it’s not!” Becoming a master angler just means being right more times than not.

So, get out there and get a feel for the water; learn about your local insect life and when they’re prevalent. But most of all, take your time and watch … it makes all the difference in the end.