Hi Guys, I took an Englishman who is visiting NZ down south to the Mangatutu Stream, It was quite high and dirty but we had driven 2 hours so we were going to fish anyway!
We fished upstream for about 7k without seeing any good fish, though I did manage 2 small fish fishing "blind". We were just talking about heading back to the car when we spotted a fish sitting on the far side right behind a big bush hanging over the water. Trev managed a superb cast, his dry fly landing within an inch of the branches, the brown turned toward us and chomped the fly like he had been waiting for it all his life.
Not a bad fish to kick off a trip to NZ.


All the best.
Mike

Hey Mike, nice fish. Was that upstream from Leathams Bridge? Fish it once and caught a small rainbow near the bridge.

Off to the Upper Waihou on Monday...

Hi Espresso, That spot is: Drive past the end of lethbridge road and keep going for about another 2 or 3 k's, there is another bridge over the river, cross and park on the verge, walk upstream for about 7 or 8k's!
The upper Waihou should be good, most of the rivers we crossed on the way to the Mangatutu were very swollen and coloured. The Waimakariri has some bigger fish than the Waihou but it is not as scenic.
Let us know how you go.
All the best.
Mike

Will do mate - got my youngest in tow, hence the Waihou as she can spin there...

Well Mike, a good day on the Waihou - two rainbows and some good takes and rises. There was a small mayfly type hatch and a caddis later in the day, but the fish were not interested! They only took a pheseants tail. Still my daughter caught her first trout (Yes on a spinner, but who cares right? She is really into it and the look on her face was a picture). We ate both fish, one cooked in foil on a bankside fire and the other she had barbequed tonight. Loads of bigger fish in the upper reaches, but hard to tempt...