Just returned from 3 weeks in New Zealand.Managed to snatch some fishing here and there as we travelled around.Fished in Rotorua,the Waietai stream and the Ngongotaha stream.Managed one rainbow of around 3lb from the former.Missed a fair few as well.Blank on the Ngongotaha,had a few looks and that was that.
Fished a couple of lakes in the South Island for a short time and fished the Whitestone river near Te Anau ,a small fast flowing stream.Had one bow of around 3.5lb and was broken by a very good brownieafter trying to clamp down hard ona long run.Covered a few more browns without so much as a look.Really pleased to have caught two wild rainbows,something i may never do again.
Great weather,really nice people and a few decent beers

Glad to hear you enjoyed your self. Something puzzles me, why did you choose the whitestone? With all the other temptation around there its interesting to find out what swung your choice?
thanks WP

WP,the guy we were staying with took me there.There was some very heavy rain overnight and the previous nights.He went off and took a look at another river,but took me there as he thought it offered a better chance.I was really chuffed to get a fish.It was a bonus really.Have never ever fly fished a river before so it was really alien to me.Only had around 5 hours to spend,as we had trips booked from Te Anau.
Nope,i'm one happy bunny,no great size i know,but i caught

Well done you! what people dont realise about NZ and rivers like the whitestone is that they are great rivers and the fish are there but the skill level to get them out is really quite high.
My friend who guides around there says our rivers like the Test are 24 handicappers (in golf terms) whereas rivers like the whitestone are 7 handicappers. And the Oretti up the road from there is a 4 handicapper.

Never found out what he thought a Scratch river was but it must be tough!

Growing up in the Waikato and it's spring fed rivers the South Island was always off the raydar till later in life. Had my best ever river brown off the Upukerora outside of Te Anau - 8 pounds on a PTN at dusk... great part of the country!

Sounds like my trip 2 years ago - honeymoon/holiday with a bit of fishing. I saw some huge rainbows in the Ngongotaha stream (didn't get any). had a little success in the Tongariro at Turangi. Those wild rainbows are something else! Hope to get back in next 2 or 3 years.

Masses of fish in there and the Waieti(spl) stream,some very decent fish as well.
The guy who took me to the Whitestone had some patience,my casting skills left a lot to be desired-to close in,not far enough out,to far behind the fish,to far in front,it was really so alien to spot a fish in a fast flowing stream and try to get the nymph spot on without scaring them away.
Had a break after a few hours and had wild venison sandwiches,tea and homemade shortbread before resuming.
Never saw another soul in the whole five hours we were out.

Joey,Tea Anau was a nice spot.
If anyone goes over and stays there,there is a shop in town called Miles Better Pies-wow the pies are huge and rammed with meat,the Venison ones were cracking.They were a meal on their own

Spent 5 months in Te Anau and love the place. You are dead rite about the pies. I ate there regularly.. Magic..

I love the whitestone, one of my favourite rivers, especially earlier in the season however most of the bigger fish seem to drop out when the water drops..

Not so sure that the rivers out there are as hard as people suggest, once you figure them out.. Ive had hundreds of fish from south island rivers and lakes, and i can safely say i do better on the rivers down there than i do on the rivers here in Ireland.
Even on the Oreti, i've had days with several fish to 8 LB. They can be bloody spooky though. We used to fish the entire walk through section in a day, all the way up to the top bridge (Excluding the first beat). 16 or 18KM or thereabouts.

Cheers
JJ

JJ,i think it was you who actually told me about the pie shop!!!!It opened at 7 in the morning.We called in there before our Doubtfull sound trip and people were already sitting outside scoffing pies
Nice little town with some decent restaurants.
Yes the fish were spooky alright,seemingly more so the brownies.