Fly Fish New Zealand

2011-08-19T14:39:00.000-07:00

Ready to get released another two Brownies from our very special river in the middle of nowhere.

Backcountry Hut and a Happpy bunch of anglers.A million dollars views of the North Canterbury hills.

We always enjoy to see a large satisfied smile on a guest's face.Darius who travels the world to fish honoured us by his presence a couple of days and fished this fantastic river...

With Charming Creek Adventures and http://www.fishnewzealand.com/a good surprise is always around the corner

Early Birds bookings

2011-08-18T22:13:00.000-07:00

Call us on +64 212113462 or email serge@fishnewzealand.com

before the end of August 2011.

Book 6 days for an amazing Fly Fishing Adventures and pay for 5 .

http://www.fishnewzeland.com/ and Charming Creek Adventures

Fish with us from Hanmer Springs to the West Coast

of New Zealand's South Island

Our friends from all over the world

2011-08-18T22:01:00.000-07:00

Rainy Day But John is pretty Happy with a 7lbs Beauty

Sharron and a 10lbs

All fish taken by Serge's clients are photographed and realised in the best conditions possible. Call us on +64 212113462 to book your trip

What a winter,

2011-08-18T21:40:00.000-07:00

We all Love winter, quite, white, peaceful, but can't wait to be back to summer

It started so dry that we thought we would have no winter at all.

Frosty mornings at the lowest -8 degrees.

Blue sky and sun shinning all day to the point we started to see fruit trees putting on blossom.

Two week ago the first cold spell came through and lasted a couple of days.

A foot of snow in Christchurch that is about all.

This time we got right.

Four days of snow and though it is now melting the side of the roads and streets still show how much we had.

Well according to the media, hanmer Springs is the village that got the biggest snow of all towns in New Zealand

Let's get ready for the new fly fishing season 2009.2010 in New Zealand

2009-09-11T04:57:00.000-07:00

What a month !!!

A disaster...
Not really at least Dydimo will have been treated badly and this is great news for the coming season
August was not a month that we will keep in our memories.Or we will remember, cold weather, snow , and a lot of rain.Again should I say...
The rivers were dirty the all time and I only managed a visit to the top of the Magic Valley.
Spotting fish was out of question but casting a small hare and coper bead head nymph did reward me a couple of times.
The level water made the crossings impossible and also dangerous if attempted and consequently a lot of the smallers rivers located on the wrong side of the rivers I visited were unexplored.

My next trip will be this week end and I hope to see better waters and also how the fish went through the winter.

The two hens I caught recently were just recovering and will need more than the three weeks remaining before the opening of the season to get back to a nice shape.

The last few days with milder weather snow the last caped tops getting back to their grey color and it is a shame as we always need that bit of extra to keep the levels up.Over the next couple of weeks I will keep you posted on a more regular basis of what is the situation around Hanmer Springs , the Lewis Pass and also the West Coast .This is the region of opration for Charming Creek Adventures Fly Fishing Tours and we will keep an close eye as to where the big ones will be.Our reservations are coming in every day now so please do not delay your email to confirm your dates.You can contact us at serge@fishnewzealand.com or +64 3 21 211 3462

Nostalgia

2009-07-28T01:12:00.000-07:00

I had a dream,

Rivers were gin clear, noisy cicadas were promising an amazing dry fly fishing session.

The fish were taking all terrestrials and seeing them coming from deep pools was just unbelievable
The sun was high in the sky and approaching the water was pumping up the adrenaline that all of us can feel by seeing a 8lbs brown trout
Well it was a dream...

The late snow fall and the last devastating" NORWESTER" bringing more rain, turned all rivers in the region in mud torrents.
The winter does not want to finish.
Also I decided that August will be the month of special missions.

In fact I decided that my program will be based on the following:

The first mission will be on the West Coast. There are three rivers I need to walk up and assess in regards to the situation with Dydimo.I have not been there for three to four years and really want to see by myself the impact of the algae.Only if the situation has improve I will be get back fishing these waters during the next season.

The second mission the river at the end of nowhere. A huge program, a big adventure that I will run by myself...I know a couple of people keen to fish it next season ...

The last but not least big "requi" on a couple of rivers at the extreme south part of the West Coast...I might a mate of mine coming along.

Well may winter ends up quickly and in the meantime if you are willing to keep warm here is an idea

http://www.fishingvideo.co.nz/

click on the link above and order yourself a set of DVD's from my friend Bruce Masson.

Email him he does the rest : delivered to your door in a couple of days.

Finally a couple of beautiful photos just to help you to wait for the coming season 2009.2010

Right:
Dave from http://www.flyfishalberta.com/

And if the winter is too long get to Alberta

2009-07-16T03:57:00.000-07:00

Today as New Zealand is still shaking after the massive earthquake of last night, as snow covers a major part of the South island, as colder nights follow cold nights,
not an angler hasn't got the dream to get away and try his luck where the weather conditions are ideal.
Well for a long time I have been wanting to give you some great destinations for the rest of winter.
A place where you are well looked after and where you catch fish. A few years ago now I met a couple of people who came to me as clients.

We do not get a lot of these guys who are experts in their own country. Most of them believe that they know enough or do not need the local fishing guide.

But there are exceptions and generally because we share the same passion, have the same reactions when a big one is hooked, but also because we understand that it is not necessarily the guide's fault if a 10lbs is lost, yes because of all these reasons and many more 9 times out 10 we become friends, good friends, mates as we say down under, buddies as they say over there.

We have the respect of each other knowledge, we have admiration for what they know and we don't and vice versa. We cannot resist to stop the car and check a piece of water where we know there will be a fish, we cannot avoid to catch the mayfly taking off and compare with what we got in our flyboxesssss ...

We are hungry for new adventures, ready to try new techniques, the last pattern, the weirdest one even if we do not sure that it will catch a fish... I have had the privilege to meet a few of these people, I will not name them all and also because they are so humble they do not want me to talk about them.

But in this case, because I know them a bit more, owe them a lot more, and certainly do not have any problem to say they are my friends, I would like to recommend to your very best attention a place where life is good , where people are amazing, where fish are in numbers, grow big, and everyday offers an amazing adventure of fly fishing. http://www.flyfishalberta.com/

Dave and Amelia Jensen will welcome you and their experience of many years will take you away from the crowded places and will allow you to discover the beauty of Alberta but most importantly will give you the opportunity to access to some amazing rivers and lakes where fly fishing is at its very best. The two following videos will show you what to expect.

http://www.vimeo.com/5327776 .vimeo.com/5327776

http://www.vimeo.com/2217460

Get in touch with them, you do not need to recommend yourself from anybody.

Get there and enjoy.

The new season is coming fast and make sure you will not miss October 1st, 2009 and some new fly fishing adventures with Charming Creek Adventures .Call us a prebook your days at +64 21 211 3462 or email serge@fishnewzealand.com

New Zealand ground is rolling Earthquake 15/07/2009

2009-07-16T03:35:00.000-07:00

It was the big one scientists have been talking about for years but the massive earthquake which hit the South Island was more shake than shatter.
There was no loss of life, there've been no injuries and no major damage .
At 7.8 on the Richter scale it's New Zealand's biggest tremor in 78 years .
In Queenstown, it was clean up time on Thursday.
"The drinks, the fizzies, they were all coming down like missiles. As soon as they hit the ground just exploded and took off everywhere," says a supermarket proprietor.
There was no serious damage, just confusion as staff and customers tried to work out what was going on.
"Everything just started going ballistic, just really mad. (I) wasn't sure whether to be scared or excited. (I) haven't been in one before, nothing like it, just wicked," says the supermarket proprietor.

One Central Otago family caught it all on camera, the children amazed as they watched the light swing from the ceiling.

At 7.8 this was New Zealand's biggest earthquake for nearly 80 years rolling.
In Tuatapere, there are cracks in the masonry and groceries all over the floor of a supermarket after a night to remember.

"It was moving sideways. The whole house it just moves and you just wait for the whole house to start breaking and the house to split. It was awful, it really was," says Michelle Watson, a Tuatapere resident.

The earthquake epicentre was Fiordland. And 100 kilometres south east is Tuatapere, which was way too close for many of the locals when the quake struck.

"(It) just sort of started going off, going one way, and in the end it stopped and went the other way altogether, which is a bizarre sort of feeling, sitting there in a house when its doing that," says Daman Groshinski, a Tapanui resident.
At the pub they had hardly had time to draw breath before the Japanese television stations were on the line.
"They didn't believe there were no injuries, no people . They thought the windows would've been blown out of the hotel and they couldn't believe that we were just staying here," says Pat Coats, Waiau Hotel duty manager.
Even the Prime Minister, John Key, acknowledges a lucky escape.
"A massive earthquake and I think New Zealand can thank its lucky stars when there doesn't seem to be massive damage," says Key.
Damage inspection teams agree, as even the south coast's historic Percy Burn Viaduct survived okay.
"There's no apparent damage. We won't know more until the engineers inspect the data we've collected," says Bryan Dynes, a Department of Conservation ranger.
There are plenty of stories to tell, including one Te Anau man's experience of being caught in the bath when the quake hit. Bill Verrall says the water spilled over the bath.
With aftershocks continuing all day, everyone has been on edge.
There have been hundreds of aftershocks and authorities will not be counting them until next week.

The Earthquake Commission has received 225 claims for damage, most of them for minor damage.
The commission's insurance manager, Lance Dixon, expects more will be lodged over the coming weeks.
Holders of current home and/or contents insurance automatically have Earthquake Commission cover for damage caused by earthquakes.The shaking in Southland has not let up, with four major aftershocks felt since the main quake last night.
The first, a 6.1-magnitude quake, struck at 9.41pm, Wednesday. It has been followed today by a magnitude 5.9 shake at 1.50am, a magnitude 5.3 at 12.24pm and a magnitude 5.5 at 12.44pm.
They follow the main 7.8-magnitude quake, which struck at 9.22pm, Wednesday, centred 100km northwest of Tuatapere with a focal depth of 12km.
The most recent aftershock this afternoon was felt in Central Otago and Southland, according to the Geonet website.

http://maps.google.co.nz/maps/ms?

GNS technician Matthew Stevens said all four aftershocks were shallow at only 5km deep. "They would have been felt quite strongly at the surface," he said.
Geonet spokesman Kevin Fenaughty said there had been hundreds of minor shakes, but only major aftershocks - the ones people would have felt - were being recorded on the agency's website.

There had been about 200 reports from people who had felt the main earthquake last night, and those reports would be used to paint a picture of its overall reach and effect, Mr Fenaughty said.
Meanwhile, Despite the near-record magnitude of last night's earthquake in Fiordland, the Insurance Council says few claims have been lodged.
Insurance Council of New Zealand chief executive Chris Ryan said he was not expecting a lot to come.
The nature of the earthquake that hit, which has been described as a rolling motion, instead of sharp jolts, meant minimal damage might be reported, he said.
"From our point of view we'd be strongly encouraging people to check their properties, especially their chimneys."

CHECK-UP OPERATION
Civil Defence officers and Conservation Department staff started checks early this morning for possible damage in Southland and Fiordland following the earthquake.
"We have over 1200 structures in Fiordland National Park alone and we urge the public to let us know immediately if damage has occurred to any of them," DOC acting Te Anau area manager Andrew Cudby said.
The Department of Conservation has flown staff to Resolution Island, which was at the epicentre of the tremor. Staff on the island were okay, said Mr Cudby.
A surveillance flight would check for possible slips and damage to viewing platforms, huts and bridges in Fiordland.

Two tramping parties were also in Fiordland at the time, he said. One on the Kepler Track and the other on the Routeburn. The fly-over would also attempt to sight the trampers to check that they are okay.
Mr Cudby described the earthquake as "a long rolling motion, a bit like being on the sea."
Earlier, Invercargill police Inspector Olaf Jensen said there were no immediate reports of damage in the southern city, but the quake was significant enough to send staff into doorways.
Southland Civil Defence Emergency Management Group Controller Neil Cruickshank said last night's earthquake gave the Southland region "a good shake" but was not particularly damaging.
"Invercargill reports that phone services were down in east Invercargill and power was out for some time in the suburb of Otatara because of the earthquake," he said.
Southland District Council said there were no reports of substantial damage in the Milford and Te Anau areas.
Mr Cruickshank said that, while there had been disruption to electricity supplies, power companies had reported no major problems, and the rail network was reported to be undamaged. "Telephone services are operational," he said.
TSUNAMI ALERT

The earthquake was about the same magnitude as the killer quake that devastated the Sichuan region of China in May 2008, leaving at least 68,000 people dead. It was also the same magnitude as the 1931 Napier earthquake, which caused the largest loss of life and most extensive damage of any quake in New Zealand's recorded history with 256 dead.
Soon after the quake hit, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre issued an advisory, which extended across the Tasman with Sydney and Australia's south-east coast put on alert.
The Sydney Morning Herald website reported last night that residents had been warned to keep away from the water's edge and a Sydney a performance at the Bondi Pavilion was cancelled and all theatregoers evacuated from the beachfront venue.

Mr Cruickshank said a 17cm wave had been detected at Jackson Bay on the West Coast and the tsunami warning had subsequently been cancelled.

In Doubtful Sound, the manager of the Deep Cove Hostel and his wife said the quake was so severe they hid under a table.
He had reported loud bangs in the area, which might indicate slips, and had heard water "swooshing loudly" in the sound.
Neither the Manapouri Power Station nor the Tiwai Point aluminium smelter reported any damage, but further assessments would be made today.

The Southland Civil Defence Emergency Management Group activated the region's emergency operations centre to assess damage reports.
Te Anau helicopter pilot Mark Deaker said he saw power lines arcing and sparks flying in the air.
An Invercargill man said the initial quake lasted at least a minute.
''Things just started to rattle a bit, then the house started to sway.''
He and his wife got their three young children out of bed and huddled under the dining table to wait it out.
Cracks had appeared around several door frames, he said.
Central Southland man Warren MacPherson said a hanging light in his house would have been swaying ''a good six inches each way''.
He was on the phone when the quake struck and rushed outside. ''By geez, there was a fair bit of movement,'' he said.
GNS Science geologist Bill Fry said scientists worked into the night to gather enough details on the site of the quakes to be able to assess any continuing risks to people or property.
"The shallower an earthquake is, the more shaking there's going to be – and this was quite shallow," he said.
Prime Minister John Key told a crowd of about 200 people in Invercargill today that he was in Christchurch last night when the earthquake hit and the earth did not move for him - nor his wife - despite the children being overseas.
Mr Key said he was happy to visit quake-affected areas if required.
"If there is significant damage or something that I can usefully be deployed to I will certainly go and have a look and lend a hand," Mr Key told Radio New Zealand.
Any government response would depend on damage which had yet to be assessed.
"All the feedback we've had so far is while it's been a large quake, certainly at this point no reported loss of life which is fantastic, and no great reports of damage."

NEW ZEALAND'S BIGGEST EARTHQUAKES
Notable New Zealand earthquakes of modern times include the 6.8 magnitude Gisborne quake of December 20, 2007, which was offshore but caused buildings to collapse in the Gisborne CBD, and 20 years before, Edgecumbe's 6.5 quake on March 2, 1987, which was very destructive because of its shallowness.
The top 10 quakes recorded in this country are:
* 8.2, Wairarapa, January 23, 1855 – The most severe earthquake to have happened in New Zealand since systematic European colonisation began in 1840.
* 7.8, Fiordland, July 15, 2009 – only 12km deep and on the coastline near Milford.
* 7.8, Napier, February 3, 1931 – The 1931 Hawke's Bay earthquake caused the largest loss of life and most extensive damage of any recorded NZ quake.
* 7.8, Murchison, June 17, 1929 – The massive rumbling of the 1929 Buller earthquake was heard as far away as New Plymouth.
* 7.8, Marlborough, October 16, 1848 – This was the largest in a cluster of earthquakes that hit central NZ that year.
* 7.6, Pahiatua, March 5 1934 – Also known as the Horoeka earthquake, it shook the lower North Island and was felt as far away as Auckland and Dunedin.
* 7.2, Wairarapa I, June 24, 1942 – This earthquake severely rocked the lower North Island during World War 2, causing extensive damage to local buildings.
* 7.1, Inangahua, May 24, 1968 – The Inangahua earthquake killed three people and was felt over much of the country.
* 7.1, North Canterbury, September 1, 1888 – the Amuri District was shaken by a large earthquake with severe intensities of ground-shaking
* 7.0, Wairarapa II, August 2, 1942 – The shock that struck on August 2 was nearly as severe as the disastrous June 24 earthquake five weeks earlier.

What a winter

2009-07-10T03:42:00.000-07:00

Almost 11lbs.Certainly the biggest one this year.We presented you that big jack in a precedent Blogg.

No doubt we will take you to the very same spot next season .

This month we are late for the news. Lets admit that we did escape to warmer places for a while.

The last month has been the coldest, the rainest, the snowest one in year. Our winter started too early and does really want to go away. We had it all.Even four seasons in a day. Day after day the very same weather pattern.

A lot of rain followed by the first snow fall. We since had snow on a regular basis and it sticks to the ground as the temperature does reach much more than 5 degres celsius every day. The Rivers all around us have been very floury, and the level very unconsistant. There is no much to say about insect life as not a day so far has allowed us to see any flying off the surface of the streams and rivers.

This month we would like to offer another fews shots.

Our first shot shows how a franticaly feeding can get fat.

Another beauty for our second shot.Bruno still talks about that one.

Another river another fish. A wee 4.50lb rocket.

6.5lb of pure muscles, just about ready for the mating season

Give us your choice...

Let me introduce to you the biggest Trout of New Zealand

2009-05-04T02:47:00.000-07:00

He will be through the winter one of my faithful "buddies", walking the back country with me ,when my winter missions will take us to the side of the rivers to check the fish conditions when food is becoming rare, how the spawning season is going, the changes of the shape of the rivers because of floods...

He and his mate are working hard for conservation and never miss an opportunity to jump in the 4WD for a ride.

But knowing him he might want a word so here he is...

Hi Guys

My Name is Trout.Yes you read well TROUT. T.R.O.U.T... I am an 18 months old Parson Jack Russell and dad is right I am 22lbs.so the biggest trout in New Zealand.
You will see me very often with my best Mate , Mr Bean.
He is much older but hey he is so good at teaching me all the tricks I need to know.

My Dad is expert in Fly fishing and take us with him ( when there is nobody else in the car) .

So keep an eye on us as we will keep you posted.

Election Time

2009-05-04T02:05:00.000-07:00

The last days of 2008.09 will have been without much opportunity to have a last cast.
The strong "Norwester" from the previous week brought in some bad weather and heavy rain that turned the clear and low rivers into milky and swollen bigger rivers.
We had an amazing season , with a lot of fish, not always big but reach in colors and fantastic condition.
The snow is already on the tops and will from now on keep a good level of water .Lets hope there will be plenty of food for another month or so allowing the fish to put a bit more on weight before the log and cold winter.

Winter is long and because of the weather can be boring so lets entertain ourselves while we are waiting for better days.
It is Election time.
No prime minister or president will be elected.
For the next four months we will run series of photos and are expecting your votes.
When you vote we would like you to tell why you vote for that picture.
By September 15, 2009 we will announce the winning photo.

Caught on the edge feeding on the top - Photo number 1 (Back to the water)

We can't spend enough time there- Photo number 2 (From the magic Valley)

Couldn't miss that one, too obvious - Photo number 3 ( Panther monster)

The winner will be the photo getting the more votes of course.

When you cast your vote do not forget to email us your email address, and your country of origin.

Pass on the message to your friends , spread the word as you will get in a draw to join us for an exceptional fishing adventure, for a full day to our expenses, during the season 2009.10.

All starts now ...so get ready and we catch up soon for more

The season Finale

2009-04-29T03:37:00.000-07:00

Well it is almost time to put all gear away .

However rods and reels will be ready for a couple of trips, weather conditions permitting, or for a session or two up north on the mighty "TT" or Tongariro

Down our way the rivers will be closed letting the fish having a well deserved rest but also giving them the opportunity to mate and prepare for the future.

What we will remember of the season needs to be thought about and it will take us a few weeks to realise how it was.
Notes taken day after day will show us more into details how it went.
We will have to get back to our rivers and check how they go through the winter and no doubt that again we will see river beds changing position, pools getting created or disappearing,

Our last trip went pretty well and it is always good to see a happy face on the last opportunity that offers the area.
We since had massive rain and the very same river has been transformed to a muddy torrent.

We had a very last look back towards our preferred stream and no doubt that fish will be there next October.

In the meantime we will keep you posted of what is happening in New Zealand, how the fisheries are doing and all the exciting stuff.

2009-04-17T16:59:00.000-07:00

A good day on the water!

Nearly 11 pounds!

Happy Easter weekend!

The NEW Fly Fish NEw Zealand blog

2009-03-11T10:12:00.000-07:00

Stay tuned!
Many new updates to come.