Fly fishing and New Zealand rivers have an international appeal.Our crystal clear waters, their remote often wilderness quality and of course fish, those large wild rainbow and browns that inhabit them draw anglers from around the world. Kia Ora, Welcome I'm Peter Wilton a fly fishing guide of twenty eight years, passionate angler of twenty more but most of all an advocate for New Zealand's beautiful wild places, namely ' Wild Fish in Wild Rivers ' This alone stands at the very heart of the New Zealand fly fishing experience. While travelling throughout our beautiful country it quickly becomes obvious that rivers dominate our landscape. Some carve their way through majestic gorges on their journey to the sea while others flow more sedately winding through hill country boarded by sheep farms and forest. All are unique in the fishing experience they offer the visiting angler but one aspect unites them making each visit truely memorable, they are all captivating, they draw you back time and time again to make that perfect cast in some perfect fern fringed pool. ' Welcome to my World '
Another winter spawning season draws closer in the Taupo region and our rivers take on another mood as autumn tones reflect on the water. Deep in the lake prime maiden rainbows sence this change in seasons also and follow some implusive draw to congregate at the various stream and river mouths, a primeval event that has occurred annualy over the last hundred and forty years since their first introduction to the lake. This is Taupo over autumn and winter an exciting time to be a fly fisher in our community. The Waitahanui River has already had its browns and early running rainbows migrate their way up river to the spawning gravels in its upper reaches. The Hinemaiaia River a favourite of many locals and visiters annually to our fishery has also had its first run of bright chrome flanked rainbows . The rivers beautiful bush lined upper reaches offer superb fishing in some of the most scenic fly fishing water in our region, its fish are a special breed also a tribute to the river.
The two other major fly fishing rivers in our region, the Tauranga-taupo and the Tongariro will follow over the next few months with fish entering after winter rains have arrived. The Tongariro our most famous has tended to see spawning runs of fish arrive latter over the last twenty or so years with runs often peaking in August, September. Of note is that this 2026 season is a special one for the Taupo fishery particulary the Tongariro river. One hundred years ago an angler by the name of Zane Grey fished its turbulent waters for the first time, camping at a spot known locally as ' Kowhai flats '. Grey was to return on two other occasions to a river he later referred to as ' the green and white thundering Athabasca river of New Zealand ', his son Romer also a skilled fly fisherman landing a 15 lb rainbow from its famous waters.
Our regions trout hatchery the Tongariro National Trout Centre situated on the rivers banks in Turangi also celerbrates one hundred years since its beginnings in May 1926. The hatcheries humble beginnings and its early fishery managers could not have portrayed what a world wide success the Taupo fishery would become.
I hope to see some of you out there on one of our Taupo rivers over the next few months maybe I'll just be browsing or wearing my Dept of Conservation uniform but I'll be sure to take a little time to have a chat and maybe give you some local tips on our Taupo fishing, ' Tight lines ' and have a great winter to all my readers, As a final thought before venturing off on your angling adventure, PLEASE ' CHECK, CLEAN and DRY ' all your fishing gear before entering Taupo waters.There are always new threats to our fresh water environments and fisheries out there, one presently being the discovery of Gold Clam in our regions Waikato River catchment, so lets all be vigilant and leave a legacy for others to enjoy,
Cheers Peter. Click here to contact Taupo Fly Fishing Guide Peter Wilton for a day or half days fly fishing with a local Kiwi guide.
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