Well, how’s it going? I’m Brendan Shields—just a bloke who’s spent way too much time wading rivers and getting skunked by clever trout to call it a “hobby” anymore. Based in Gore (yep, the trout fishing capital of New Zealand, no pressure), and yeah, I’m one of those certified NZPFGA guides, but honestly? The real education came from all those days when the fish laughed at my flies.

Let me tell you about this one time up the Mataura in early spring—ice still clinging to the banks, and I’m watching this old brown trout sipping mayflies like he’s at a buffet. Took me three hours of changing flies and creeping through freezing water before I finally fooled him. That’s the thing about our rivers down here—they’ll humble you fast, but man, when it clicks? Nothing like it.

I’ve got this theory that trout, especially our Southland browns, are basically underwater detectives. They’ve got PhDs in spotting dodgy drifts and lazy casting. So whether you’re new to this game or just need to sharpen up, we’ll work on reading the water, those sneaky approaches (kiwi trout spook if you blink too loud), and yeah, maybe untangle your leader when the wind turns it into modern art.

The cool part? Within an hour’s drive from Gore, we’ve got everything—gin-clear spring creeks where you’ll swear you can count the trout’s whiskers, proper backcountry streams that’ll make you feel like you’re the first person ever to cast there, and lakes where the rainbows go full torpedo when they take your fly. I’ll even show you my secret spot where the Mataura’s side channels hide browns fat as your forearm.

Look, I can’t promise you’ll catch your personal best every time (any guide who says that’s lying), but I can promise you’ll leave with a few new tricks, some good yarns, and probably a new appreciation for how sneaky trout can be. So chuck me a message, and let’s get you on some proper Kiwi water—I’ll even bring the thermos of terrible gas-station coffee.