Fly Fishing - South Island, New Zealand

About Us

Riverview Lodge is located in the heartland of some of these large trophy Brown Trout. If you will allow, we boast to have guided clients to some of the largest Brown Trout in New Zealand. Nowadays fish average 5-6 pounds but every season still some 10+ pound fish are caught – every anglers dream of a lifetime.

New Zealand Fly fishing guides have the reputation of providing unparalleled fly fishing adventures. At Riverview Lodge we combine that with luxury and comfortable fishing lodge accommodation. Non anglers are welcome to accompany their partners, either on the river or in the Alpine Village of Hanmer Springs, which offers many other activities to ensure they also have a wonderful holiday/vacation. (Refer to our Activities page).

Guided fly fishing for large, wild Brown Trout is done on a daily basis in a variety of locations. Travelling by vehicle or helicopter, ensures an exciting day in beautiful remote scenery, and with every opportunity to outwit the smart New Zealand Brown Trout and to capture it on camera. Riverview Lodge adheres to the Catch and Release principal.

Our fly fishing guides are experienced and professional. All have a lifetime of knowledge, and are enthusiastic and passionate about the environment and conservation of our wonderful, wild brown trout. With the expertise of your guide's knowledge, the aid of Polaroid glasses, and then your presentation of a selected dry fly, or nymph, fishing is both exhilarating and testing.

Brown trout are predatory fish. In slow-moving pools, they cruise looking for food. In flowing water they tend to face upstream, feeding on drifting aquatic insects. Often our mountain waters are crystal clear and so one of the main challenges is for your guide to see the brown trout before it sees him or you. Brown trout immediately seek cover if they see movement on the riverbank. Your guide goes ahead of you, finds the fish, then points it out to you. With additional aid of his experience and knowledge in deciding how to cast to this particular fish, the fun and challenge is for you to outsmart it with your fly or nymph. Strike! - Hey bingo!

DEPOSIT & CANCELLATION POLICY

Deposit Requirements -

To secure a booking 50% deposit is required. 

Total payment to be paid within 60 days of arrival.

Cancellation Policy

Within 90 days of arrival - 25% cancellation fee 

Within 60 days of arrival - 50% cancellation fee

Within 30 days of arrival - 100% cancellation fee

No refunds on early departures

We highly recommend you obtaining travel insurance to cover any cancellation fees 

General 

Check in 2.00pm onwards

Check out approximately 10.00am  

Clothing 

We recommend

• natural coloured clothing
• good quality polarised sun or prescription glasses.
• wide brimmed hat or baseball cap
• good quality dull coloured hooded rain jacket
• polypropylene tights, lightweight shorts and gaters.......... if you prefer to wade wet
• otherwise light weight waders
• your own comfortable rubber soled boots

Riverview Lodge holds most sizes of waders and boots for your use if you prefer.

Fishing Equipment

• sage green or brown line - weight forward
• long leaders and fine tippet
• 6 or 7 weight rod (Rods can be loaded with one size bigger line)

The Guides carry some flies, and most american patterns work well here.

DRY - Size 12-16

• Cicades, Royal Wulff, Parachute Adams

NYMPHS  - Size 12-16

• Hare & Copper, Pheasant tail, 
• Nymphs should be tied with tungston bead heads or have lead in them.