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Fly
fishing drift boat trips
provide an excellent way for
people from all walks of life to go flyfishing, and enjoy some of the remote and inaccessible areas
of New Zealand. Ours are hand-built replica's of the famous river dories used on US western rivers
such as the McKenzie, Green, and Rogue rivers. For drag-free, long running
drifts with dry fly or nymph, you just have to come on one of our drift boat fly fishing trips!
"Go with the Flow"
Fly Fishing Guides
Drift
boats have a flat bottom, but a pronounced "rocker" fore and aft, a little
bit banana-like. The bow is flared, and high-sided to prevent
shipping water in rapids. They ride very high in the water,
and can negotiate both the shallows and white water with ease.
Drift
Boat Screen Saver (20 pics, 1.4mb)
In New Zealand they are rather
rare, and we are the only guiding
company building and using them. Come fly fishing with our guides in areas seldom seen or touched by other anglers.
These trips can be provided on a daily, overnight, or multi-day basis, on a variety of
rivers and lakes on both east and west coasts of the South Island of New
Zealand. We cater for all angling skills, and for physically challenged anglers.
Drift boats are comfortable and dry, customised for fly fishing.
Fish for brown & rainbow trout in pools where other anglers rarely visit. Float for hours in peace
and quiet, along tranquil waters where the only sound is the rumble of the
river, the slopping of the water against wood, and the calls of native songbirds.
Arnold
River - the outlet from Lake Brunner. The Arnold has a
well deserved reputation as an excellent fishing river. It has several
significant advantages in its favour. Firstly, being the outlet from the lake,
it does not discolour as readily in flood times. Secondly, it has a very stable
bed, meaning lots of creepy-crawly things, lots of aquatic plant life, and
therefore bulk trout! The regular drift dive surveys consistently confirm brown
trout populations at around 240 fish per kilometer.
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Below the dam, the
river changes personality, to a Grade II whitewater run. Lots of pools, boulders
and fish, and a little more exciting... |
The
river is slow and serene in the upper sections. Banks are overgrown with trees
and scrub, flax and reeds, and fishing from shore is difficult, with access at
very few points. Mid-way down the river is a small hydroelectric power station,
preceded by a small lake section with some excellent lagoons and shallows where
fish may be spotted cruising for minnows. Ahaura
River - West Coast. This is best done as a multi-day wilderness
camping trip. Entry into the river is at Kopara, beyond Lake Haupiri. This is an
6 hour raft or canoe trip - fishing as you go, it would be
a very big day out! Breaking it with an overnight camp in the gorge allows a
relaxed pace, good coverage of the interesting pools, and an opportunity to fish
the evening rise. This is a river with almost no vehicle or even foot access,
except for 2-3 points where 4WD vehicles may get close via old logging tracks.
The deep gorge, with vertical gravel cliffs, precludes access upstream or
downstream from those points.
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Apart from short sections where access is
gained through logging roads or farm tracks, the terrain prevents foot access
for much of the length of this river.
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Grey River - West Coast.
Offers around 80kms of water suited to drift boat travel. Both
the Arnold and Ahaura Rivers flow into the Grey, the
confluences being some 30kms apart.
Drift
Boat Fly
Fishing Trips in New
Zealand
Fly fishing
from drift boats provides
an unparalleled opportunity to fish waters largely
untouched by other anglers from season to season.
"Guide to NZ
Fishing" Menu
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