Rich's First New Zealand Trip

In February 2016, Rich fished the South Island of New Zealand with Will and Todd--all three of us first-time NZ anglers.The trip was graciously hosted by Ralph, a veteran of many New Zealand trips. Check out Ralph in the opening scene of this video as he subdues a rampaging 10-lb. brown (multiple jumps) on a size 16 mayfly nymph and 4X tippet. As first timers, Will, Todd and I blew our share of opportunities, caught our share of beautiful fish and learned tons about New Zealand angling -- from spotting these fish, to presenting the fly, to timing the hookset, to fighting big browns on light tippets. And, of course, we were dazzled by the beauty of New Zealand's rivers. We fished 3 days by helicopter. We fished with 3 outstanding guides. And I fished 3 days on my with enough success that I'm plotting to go back and fish on the cheap for a couple of months, some of it out of a backpack -- much as I've long fished the Rockies. My son Dale, 22, is beating me to it. He's taking the Spring 2017 semester off from college to bum and fish New Zealand solo, out of a backpack for 10 weeks, from early February into mid April. That's late summer and early fall in NZ. And, yes, I'm jealous.

[@gibbyutah]

Great video! Wow, what a trip.

[@MrKveite1]

Good stuff, no crappy music just nature, comments and great fish:)

[@americanfisherman9781]

Awesome video!! North or South Island? Wow, those are some awesome looking trout!

[@lancesivewright3580]

Great vid glad to see you enjoyed our country! That first fish was a stonker

[@shawno2230]

was the guy at the end wearing wet suit pants?