NZ

May be going to New Zeleand for about 9 months for foreign exchange program, any flies i should start tying?

Hi JZ,

Popular nymphs here are pretty standard for the most part, pheasant tails, hare and copper (a gold ribbed hare's ear would be fine), prince nymphs, etc. A lot of rivers (but not all) are deep and fast, so you will need very heavy nymphs to get things down to the fish, but then a small unweighted nymph tied on to the bend of the first to do most of the fish catching!

Big royal wulfs are used a lot as "indicator flies", with small nymphs hung off the bend.

A lot of standard dry flies will be fine, Blue Duns, Black Gnats, Coch-y-bonddu's, Elk Hair Caddis, and so forth. There are some NZ patterns, like the Twilight Beauty (ginger tail, ginger hackle, black floss body) if you want some local ideas.

If you are here during our summer, then having some beetle immitations is a good idea. There is a green bettle (the Manuka Beetle) that the trout go crazy over. Here's my own pattern of this:
http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g1...nukaBeetle.jpg

Body: hare's fur
hackle: light brown/ginger
Shell case: bright green synthetic

Cock-y-bonddu is a standard pattern for beetle as well.

I fish a lot of winged wet flies and soft hackles, and do well with them as well. However, fishing small wets on a floating line is not common here, but it works as well as it does everywhere else. I've done well with both natural coloured flies (i.e. march browns) and attractors (i.e. Parmachene Belle's). I tend to use size 12s and 14s.

It's mostly in the streamers ands "lures" where NZ flies become unique. I would suggest tying up some Red Setters:
http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g1...etter_sz10.jpg
This one is a size 10, though it is often tied much larger (sizes 4 or 2) for lakes. The tail is grey squirrel, orange wool body, with two brown hackles, one tied mid body. The larger versions use cheneil for the body material.

This general construction pattern is used a lot for various patterns here. Common is a black tail and black hackles, which is then called a Fuzzy Wuzzy, with the body colour finalising the description. I.e. here's a Purple Fuzzy Wuzzy:
http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g1...Wuzzy_sz10.jpg

For streamers, the matuka wing style was developed here (where the wing is bound to the hook shank by the ribbing). A lot of the trout feed on small silvery bait fish, and a very popular pattern is a "Gray Ghost", but not the North American version. I don't have a photo of one, but here's a Jack Sprat:
http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g1.../JackSprat.jpg
The difference would be just use gray feathers instead of the badger for both the wing and the hackle collar. The Wing is comprised of two, somtimes four, feathers which are tied in at the head and then bound to the hook by the ribbing material. You strip off the fibres along the hook shank.

A Mrs. Simpson and a Hammil's Killer are also good local patterns (some think they represent damsel fly nymphs; so bring your own favorite version of that).
Mrs. Simpson:
http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g1...MrsSimpson.jpg
Hammil's Killer:
http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g1...milsKiller.jpg

Finally, there are a few night flies (Scotch Poacher, Craig's Nighttime) that are also very popular. However, the wing of these flies comes from a local swamp hen (A pukeko). There is only one fly shop in New Zealand that has a licence to sell the feathers from these birds, which is O'Keefe's in Rotorua. If you are going to be in the North Island, then that's the place to update your tying supplies for pukeko feathers!

Scotch Poacher:
http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g1...oacherSz10.jpg
Craig's Nighttime:
http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g1...htTimeSz10.jpg

Here's a top-down view of the wing on the Craig's Nighttime:
http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g1...me_TopView.jpg

The feathers are either black, or a blue, and they are soft feathers, like one would use for a soft hackle fly. I would think you could use black hen saddle hackles as a workable substitute.

Basically, however, standard nymphs, dries, wets, and streamers will all work well here. The North Island has more rainbows than browns, and the South Island has more browns than rainbows. So, if you will be mostly in the north, flashier flies are ok, and in the south, probably a more natural looking set will serve you better.

- Jeff

Lucky @*@!!(& lol!

Hi JZ; Jeff has put it all pretty well, except he failed to mention my Jax Roughy[Probably because he has never heard of it.] It is a very simple tie and is my goto fly.

Tail and wings Calf Tail Brown [ one piece]Wings Semi or Full Spent
Body Black tying thread.
Hackle Whitings Brown Cock or Natural Red Cock

I will PM the recipe to you if I can. I am in the North Island in the Bay of Plenty near Rotorua. hope you have a nice time down here and if you need more info. Feel free. have Fun. Jax

JZ,

I'm told that such courses of study are quite rigorous. My daughter participated in a similar program in China. She mentioned that it would have been vastly more rewarding if she'd had a note taker/study coach with her.

I'm sure that you would also benefit from such services during your upcoming session in New Zealand.

I'm a proficient typist, I have two degrees, and a unique grasp of the educational system, having spent a good deal of time on both sides of the lecturn.

I'm also a proficient fly tyer, a fair caster, and I'm quiet and unobtrusive.

My rates are reasonable (airfare, food, lodging would be adequate, in this case, as I'd enjoy the experience).

Let me know if you are interested.

Buddy

Buddy you deserve a medal.

JZ If you PM me your E mail addy I will send the Roughy Recipe with photos. Your Pm box is full. Jax

Jax,

Had to try.

Buddy

They have a lot of fragile native species and are pretty strict about bringing certain things into the country, so check the current list before you go. I went to visit my sister right around the time the bird flu was first getting a lot of press, and they temporarily banned all chicken products including flies and fly tying materials. It should be all right now, but I'd check. Anybody have any more current info?

I just got back, and had a lot of luck with dark pheasant tails, small unweghted nymphs with some flash for the thorax, rusty red comparaduns, blue and red quills, green stoneflies, and small emergers. I would definately be sure to tie some of the comparaduns! Hope this helps, and have a great time.


-RC