Hi Guys, I took an Englishman who is visiting NZ down south to the Mangatutu Stream, It was quite high and dirty but we had driven 2 hours so we were going to fish anyway!
We fished upstream for about 7k without seeing any good fish, though I did manage 2 small fish fishing “blind”. We were just talking about heading back to the car when we spotted a fish sitting on the far side right behind a big bush hanging over the water. Trev managed a superb cast, his dry fly landing within an inch of the branches, the brown turned toward us and chomped the fly like he had been waiting for it all his life.
Not a bad fish to kick off a trip to NZ.
All the best.
Mike
Mike,
Cool pic; how can you not like a place with a name like Mangatutu? Question - the leggings I see lots of NZ fishermen wear; is that to protect your gams from cold, brush, bugs, or critters in the water?
Regards,
Scott
Hi Scott, I mostly wear them to protect my legs from Sunburn. The UV is very high down here! They do also double as protection from sandflies. We do not have any dangerous wildlife down here, except for a few humans.
All the best.
Mike
Mike,
Really nice fish. The Land of the Long White Cloud is number one on my bucket list.
REE
Well Ron if you ever make it down this way give me plenty of warning, I will take some leave and show you around some of the North Island.
All the best.
Mike
Only just spotted this thread! Nice fish. A shame the water was coloured, but still, a nice day on the water.
And yes, REE, you must give us plenty of notice so we can prepare some of the big ones for you! 
- Jeff
Ree; If you get to N.Z. Make sure you take Mike and Jeff up on their offer to take you out fishing. You will have a ball.
I first fished the Mangatutu thirty years ago it was the second trout stream I fished in New Zealand.
It has been kind to me on many other occasions and is still on my list of GOOD UNS. Jax