Fishing License
All people who intend to fish for trout must purchase a license from
Fish and Game New Zealand. Revenues from license sales go towards enhancing and maintaining sports
fish habitat. The cost depends on how long you plan to fish and license categories range from one
day through to the whole season. These can be obtained online at
http://www.fishandgame.org.nz/
Travel Insurance
I take great pride in my safety record, but these days it always
pays to have travel insurance even in safe New Zealand.
Fishing Equipment / Clothing
9 foot rods from 4 through to 6 weight suit New Zealand conditions.
The ideal would be a fast action 6 weight, but a similar 5 weight is fine. That'll give enough power
if the wind comes up, it also makes it easier to 'throw' big weighted nymphs. And remember New
Zealand trout are generally on the big size. Some anglers bring shorter 4 weight cane rods as well.
On windless days such rods are an ideal weapon for a Mataura hatch.
Bring your choice of weight forward or double taper fly line to
match your rod. Dull colours are best. Most fly lines sold in New Zealand are olive or grey. I like
to go into battle with 100 metres of backing, should the trout decide to play dirty.
Bring a variety of factory tapered or hand tied leaders in the
lengths 9 to12 foot tapering down to between 3x to 5x. Tippet material in monofilament and
fluorocarbon in 4x and 5x. But often on the
Mataura 6x and a gentle strike is required.
Polaroids are essential for New Zealand style 'sight fishing'.
Yellow or amber lenses are the best all round for New Zealand light conditions.
A sun hat will both protect you from the harsh New Zealand sun and
in conjunction with Polaroid 
sunglasses enhance your fish spotting. Personally I prefer a wide
brimmed hat for the greater sun protection. On a recent trip to America I noticed that baseball caps
are all the rage. It's your choice. Sun block and lip protection with a high SPF factor are recommended.
You will need a variety of warm clothes in dull / earth tones.
Bright colours may look good in photos but they can also announce your arrival to the trout. I
recommend plenty of polypropylene undergarments with light, quick dry nylon type fishing apparel and
a warm fleece jacket. A warm, waterproof, wind proof rain jacket is essential. The key is to come
prepared even in the height of summer.
I tend to wade wet throughout the season, using polypropylene long
johns (1 or 2 pairs) under fishing trousers. I find that this gives me greater mobility.
Occasionally I'll put on waders before the evening rise. Most visitors bring waders, by far the best
and most comfortable are the light weight Gore-Tex style. Quality wading boots are essential.
Personally I prefer felt soles with studs, but felt soles only will be fine. Gravel guards/ wading
booties enhance comfort and warmth.
Flies
New Zealand trout have a reputation for eating anything. This may be
true of most regions but not so on the Mataura. The best anglers have a range of flies to cover the
stage of the hatch. This will 
include unweighted nymphs, emergers and duns as well as spinners and
spent spinners. Sizes should be from #16 through to #20. My preference is for no hackle duns
and
comparaduns but others swear by a tiny blue dun or an adams. CDC emergers and sparesly dressed
parachute patterns are absolutely essential, as is a sparesly dressed mahogany body spent mayfly
pattern with a poly or z lon wing. I have designed a CDC emerger which is easy to tie and extremely
effective on selective trout. Mataura nymphs should be #16 through #20 in a range of weights and
styles. Last season an unweighted flashback under a tiny tungsten bead #16 worked in between
hatches. Midge pupae should be unweighted, dark and small, #16 and #18.
Beetle artificials should be #12 and #14. Hoppers and general
attractor flies work fine during cicada time and the height of summer.
It's always good to be able to fall back on a range of weighted/
bead head nymphs. Standard
international patterns work fine on New Zealand rivers. Stoneflies #8
through to #12 in green and brown, heavily weighted. General patterns such as pheasant tails and
hare's ears nymphs from #12 to #18 will all be eaten by Southland trout.
For those tying enthusiasts please email me for more information on
appropriate patterns. An if you're unsure what equipment to bring, drop
me a line.
