JOIN US – FLY FISHING NEW ZEALAND
August 12, 2024 UPDATE: We have 2 spots remaining on this trip.
We have traveled to New Zealand since 2005, spending 2 – 6 months annually fly fishing the South Island. We love immersing ourselves into the incredible diversity the island offers: beech forests along the spine of the southern alps; high country tussock-lined streams; spring creeks flowing out of high country or pastoral & coastal mountain valley edges; and freestone streams and rivers. Our daily goal is simple, to lose ourselves in the natural environment, spending long hours hunting special fish in unique locations. We have never hosted a fly fishing trip to New Zealand… until now.
We invite you to join us January 17 – 24, 2025 to fly fish the waters flowing through the environments that inspire our love of fly fishing.
This trip is specifically designed for fly fishers who want to immerse themselves the way we do, to take it on, to walk the long distances to find the moments, to give the best try and experience the magic that trout stream fly fishing New Zealand offers. The focus is the entirety of the experience, the bird life, the weather, the gin-clear water, the freedom to roam and wander, understanding the totality of the seasons of the environment, all that is embodied in why that big brown is holding in that perfect lie and how we go about sight-fishing. Our goal is for you to be engaged, to take it on, the focus being the time on the water and experiencing nature at its fullest. This is specifically the trip we’ve long wanted to host, our best total value package.
This is officially a Maruia Motels booking and once we reply to your questions, etc we will make the connection when you are prepared to submit 50% deposit. As hosts, we are facilitating all details to booking.
WHAT TO EXPECT WITH THE FISHING
If you have watched our videos, if you have been to New Zealand, if you have awareness of its repute, it is everything you’ve heard. It is trout hunting, sighting and using our knowledge to find trout. It’s not about high numbers of fish caught. It’s few trout spread out by long walks because that’s what their environment dictates. What it isn’t… it isn’t as impossible as media suggests. It’s employing consistency in simple tactics at the right times and angles and allowing the trout to respond. And they will respond. Many will wave goodbye. Many will eat your fly. A few will go right where we knew they would and disappear forever. Then a few will come to net and you’ll realize that the process is simple but steadfast. And insanely exciting and all-consuming. That’s our New Zealand.
You will learn how to sight trout in various water types and conditions, why that smudge is a fish and the others aren’t, why that over-sized tungsten nymph is likely to spook trout in that lie but catch the next fish in another. You’ll watch trout spook and leave the 50m run you’re working because you dare flinched at the wrong time, watch another big brown come 15 feet to a terrible dump cast and eat your dry fly. There are reasons for every eventuality and New Zealand trout tell you why it happens as you watch in vivid real-life on these stunningly clear waters. If you feel you have intermediate skills as a fly fisher, you’ll find success. This isn’t a trip for raw beginners – it’s also not necessary to be an advanced angler either. Physical abilities to walk and take it on, to give your best try is a huge asset.
DATE LOGISTICS: Guests arrive aft/eve Jan 17, 2025; Depart am Jan 24. Accommodations inclusive (7 nights accom). Guiding/Fishing 6 days (Jan 18 – 23).
DESCRIPTION OF AREA
We are hosting through Maruia Motels, located north-central S Island close to the Lewis Pass, Murchison, and the West Coast. As you see in the map below, this is a relatively remote and central accommodation location to the feature waters.
ACCOMMODATIONS
We have a LIMITED availability of 6 guests. Maruia Motels holds a special place for us. During our first trip to New Zealand we somehow stopped here and connected with the owner at the time, who was also principal at the 15 student Maruia Valley school next door. This place connects to the romantic, simpler era of rural life. The Motels today are owned & operated by Ashley & Amber. A smaller motel of 3 self-contained/efficient rooms of double occupancy, it’s set back and quiet, shroud in native bush kitty corner to a creek we’ve featured in the first video below. Maruia literally means “sheltered, or shady place” in Maori.
ABOUT THE ACCOMMODATION & MEALS:
Maruia Motels aims to provide comfortable amenities, home away from home, that enable the guest to be out there doing it in the heart of fly fishing paradise. Like a seriously upscale backcountry hut with wifi and a shower and coffee. Another passion of theirs is growing, cooking and eating! All catering will be a healthy, hearty, home cooked meal with a bottle of wine or beer to end the day. All is prepared and timing of meals specifically aimed at keeping guests out & on the water longer. If you want to have an extra coffee/tea or drink or bring something specific for yourself for lunch each double occupancy motel unit has a small kitchenette.
TRANSPORTATION:
Hire (Rental) cars if looking to make a longer trip to experience more of the south island,we recommend renting a vehicle. Rates can also be reasonable if booked in advance
Chauffer Transportation https://www.chauffeurnz.com/ – Only recommended if booking a group of 6 anglers coming together and the total cost is shared between 6 people
East West Coaches – They do p/up and dropoff destinations, including Christchurch airport and springs junction for around $60 NZD$
PRICE:
$7995 US/ pp for 7 nights (6 days fishing)
All inclusive of accommodation, meals, hosting & guided fly fishing for the week with the focus on the experience and quality of hosting. The majority of this price is ensuring the guides are well taken care of and so Maruia Motels can offer their best foot forward.
The booking process is all questions and process through ameliajensen74@gmail.com to confirmation of booking.
HOSTING
Our role as hosts… we are not there to GUIDE, rather to host your trip and fish with you. The low trip capacity of 6 guests ensures you will fish with each of us one full day each during the week and each of us will fish with every guest once. We’ll join two guests and guide daily as to provide the value benefit of our knowledge to piggy back the guide, to point out the subtleties, tips, tactics, different viewpoints, fish behaviour, work on your approach/tactic/presentation for your next fish. The guides will do their work of sighting, gear selection, travel, water choice. We’ll help as an extra set of eyes from across the river or high vantage as needed. By “fish with” we mean… you will stay on the rod until you have a serious go, catch a fine trout or want to see how we do a tactic, etc. Only if we have a magical day do we enter the fishing as a rotation. We’re there to host, benefit you in any way we can and be there to help if the guide wants eyes. At the Motels we’re there to help with your fishing setup/questions, give hands on tactical advice/ practice and offer suggestions as needed/wanted – and enjoy a meal/getting to know you!
We will NOT be filming. However, if you want a photo or quick vid of you fishing on your phone we can do that on your camera gear as desired.
THE GUIDES / Tipping Guides Guideline
The guides connected to this trip are in physical shape to put in the distance and the time (most importantly); are great spotters; love time on the water themselves and are keen to see you succeed but require attentive ears! They are NZPFGA members. Tipping is always up to the individual guest but given the price of fuel, supplies, gear to arrive in NZ, all additions are welcome for the extra effort on this trip.
FISHING LICENCE (NOT INCLUDED IN PRICE- BUT REQUIRED!)
A Full season Non- Resident License is needed to access the Designated Waters fisheries, which will be fished during your time. $264NZ ($162US)
Some waters fished during your time will be Designated Water that also require $40 NZ (about $25 US) per day
GEAR REQUIRED
Guests are required to have their own gear and it’s best if you’re very comfortable using it. Most peak nz summer is done using wet wading pants and a boot/wading shoe you can move around in comfortably. Note to be comfortable hiking with minimal time in the water daily. Waters are generally warmer, so too the weather. But you need to be comfortable and weigh out traveling with waders in packing space. Recommended rods, lines, flies, leaders & accessories: we’ll advise you at time of booking. Your guide will have their flies on hand and whatever is best in whatever moment is what’s tied on. Leaving scorched earth in a guide’s fly box needs to be recognized as addition to any tip.
BOOKINGS, INQUIRIES & PAYMENT
Please send an email with your interest and any questions to ameliajensen74@gmail.com.
Payments will be made directly to Maruia Motels .
A 50% deposit is required to secure your booking and the final 50% must be paid 2 weeks prior to the trip.
This is officially a Maruia Motels booking and once we reply to your questions, etc we will make the connection when you are prepared to submit 50% deposit. As hosts, we are facilitating all details to booking.
A VIDEO sample of the nearby fishing opportunities: