Graeme Christie | Tuesday, 21 April 2026
There is a moment in the year when the weather suddenly cools in New Zealand. I usually accidentally lock my cat in the garage around now — he's in there hunting the lizards and insects that have come indoors to escape the cold. This is the time of year when the trout start to migrate up the rivers from the lakes. There are some all-year fisheries around NZ after the seasons close — often in the cooler spots, places like the Taupō tributaries. Winter brings rain and occasionally snow. The trout don't really mind — they have their winter business to do.
Living up north, I watch the weather. If a gap opens up between work, family, and a decent forecast, I go for it. Sometimes it's a quick day or two away. I pack the car, line all the rods up, charge my torches and weigh up various fishing methods. Start driving. Fish the evening, fish the next day, drive home satisfied.
Conventional Nymphing is always good. Euronymphing — the dark side — is very productive and surprisingly good for casting practice. Then there's streamer work, conventional or spey. Depending on whether you're in open country or tight forest, it helps to have a few different approaches ready. The lakes are still fun. Some days it's one after the other, other days it's every now and then. As usual with trout, it pays to approach carefully and work methodically through different approaches, streamers — large to small, or even a glow bug…
The South has its rivers and lakes open too, and the fish are there as well. Chasing them around, spending time on their spawning patterns or working out how they're hunting small fish and local crustaceans, is a worthwhile plan. Boats can be good for this. As an aside, the fishing guides in the more southerly spots do get quiet this time of year, and they can still put you onto fish. Maybe not the numbers of the main season — although sometimes they can.
A bit of a general article this one. But I'm getting excited for the winter fishing and haven't quite made it out yet. On the casting — single and double spey are endlessly useful, and so many places work for them. There are some techniques a bit like Paul's snakehead cast that serve you very well: a combo of pokes, slipping, straightening and hauling to send heavy nymph or streamer lines shooting. Quite often I go out and practice versions of these just to get my eye in, or to work on something new that helps the fishing. Plain old good casting matters too — keep a careful eye on the back cast, and remember that the more your line is in the water fishing, the better your odds.
The other challenge up here in the North Island is that the fishing is popular — the punters turn up in droves. There are apparently rules of the river, though nobody seems entirely sure what they are. There's plenty of fish around — perseverance pays off.
A few fish photos from the last three years below. The HT rods are great in winter too — 6 and 7 weights are my go-to. Buy some spare rod tips while you're at it, so if there's an accident you can keep fishing.