Guys,

First day of real fishing here in NZ. Spent the morning on a creek less
than 10 yards wide. Caught one and spotted five. True to form the one I
caught was the smallest. The fish in this creek average 4lb (2kg) with
some up to 9lb (8kg) and are mostly browns. The creek is in what I
would describe, more or less, as a rainforest. The bottom of the stream
is fine gravel and sand. Fish are shy and easily spooked, but there are
plenty of them. Surprisingly NZ is, on my part, living up to
expectations gathered over ten or more years. We have been upstream
nymphing so far, but tonight will mean some dry fly fishing and after
that some streamer fishing. Yesterday we spent the evening on the rip
of one of the rivers floating into Lake Taupo (streamer fishing). The
fish there are rainbows and browns averaging around lb6 (2.7 kg). We
have as you understand just started fishing, but with the fish spotted
so far, this trip holds promises of new personal records. No fishing
is done, during daytime, without polaroids and a stealthy approach.
The locals are using 8 weight rods in this little stream, that if
nothing else should give you an idea of what can be caught in the NZ
small clear and very beautiful streams.

BR/ Roger