Alright, let me tell you about Aspiring Fly Fishing – though honestly, after 15 years guiding these waters, I still pinch myself calling this "work." I'm Paul, your soon-to-be fishing buddy (and yep, that NZPFGA membership card's buried somewhere in my waders if you really wanna see it).

Picture this: You're knee-deep in a braided river near Twizel at dawn, that crisp alpine air fogging your coffee breath, when suddenly – wham! – a wild brown trout hits your fly like it owes it money. That’s the kinda morning we live for around here.

We do things a bit differently. Sure, you could fish the easy-access spots (and we will, when the mayfly hatch turns Lake Wanaka into a trout buffet). But last March? Took a group heli-fishing up this hidden gut of a stream near the Forbes Mountains. Rainbow trout up there fight like they’ve been lifting weights – one guest nearly lost his rod to a 7-pounder. Worth every second of that chopper ride.

Speaking of rides, we’ll match the trip to your legs (and your patience). Half-day taster? Perfect for dialing in that double-haul cast between wine tours. Multi-day expedition? Let’s pack the portable grill and chase those twilight rises on the Matukituki. Ever seen a mayfly dun skitter across misty water as the sun cracks over the Southern Alps? Yeah. That’s church.

Now about those trout – world-class doesn’t even cover it. These rainbows? They’re the clever ones, hiding under cutbanks in the Clutha. The browns? Old moody professors sipping gin-clear backcountry streams. And don’t get me started on salmon season…
Look, I could rattle off package details (heli trips, casting lessons, all that). But what you really want to know is: Can we get you into fish? Mate. That’s all we think about. From fixing that tailing loop in your cast to reading water like a local – we’re with you ’til your arms ache from reeling.

So – boots wet or dry? Let’s find out.