Recommended Fishing Equipment List

Clothing

• Wear dull colours, including rain jackets and hats.

• Camo and khaki are ideal.

• Clothing should be warm.

• A wide brimmed hat provides protection from the sun as well as reducing glare when spotting trout.

• Ensure you have a top quality, waterproof and windproof rain jacket.

Wading Gear

• River-gripper rubber soled wading boots. ( It is now not permitted to wear Felt Soled Boots for fresh water angling in New Zealand. )

• Gravel guards.

• Breathable Gore-tex waders are best.

• Polypropylene long-johns with shorts or nylon wading pants over top is a great set-up for wet wading.

Fly Fishing Tackle

Rods

• Most popular weights #5 & #6. Heavier #8 weights are good for throwing large nymphs and streamers or for tackling big fish in the wind. Lighter #3 - #4 line weights are fun on many streams during mid-summer low flow periods.

• Rod lengths 8’6” – 9’ are most popular for casting presentation and 3 or 4 piece rods are best for heli-fishing trips.

• Always bring spare rods as they can have a high attrition rate in NZ.

Reels

• Reels should have good smooth drag systems and hold at least 75 metres of quality backing.

Lines

• Anglers will mostly use floating lines for nymph and dry fly fishing. Dull colours are best for daytime fishing ... olive, earth-tone or grey coloured lines are recommended. Leave the fluoro orange and yellow lines at home!

• Choice of weight forward or double taper is personal preference.

• Shooting-head sink-tips in the 130-300 grain range useful when streamer fishing, in both rivers and lakes. Slow sink intermediate lines have excellent applications in stillwaters.

Leaders

• Should be 9-15ft long. Factory tapered leaders 0-2X work well with a suitable tippet section added. Tippet material 1-5X is most useful.

• Polarised Glasses - Good quality polarized glasses are more essential than your rods! Amber, copper or yellow lenses are more efficient than grey lenses.

Quality Commercially tied flies for New Zealand Conditions available from Strike Adventure

• Visit our on-line Shop.

Sun-Block

• New Zealand has high levels of UV radiation

• Ensure you bring a good quality high SPF factor (30+) sun-block and use plenty each day.

Insect Protection

• Use a good repellant - gels, liquids or roll-ons are better than sprays.

• Hydrocortisone cream 0.5 – 1% is excellent for taking away the inevitable itch for anglers who do get bitten.

• Any person who is allergic to bee or wasp stings or insect bites should ensure that they carry their medication with them at all times.