Information of the Region
Queenstown ~ Southern Lakes

Southern Lakes is found in the southern and largest part of New Zealand. The area is has many mountains and it naturally follows there are many streams, rivers and lakes that are habitat for New Zealand's wild rainbow and brown trout. To find your way there just hop on the "big bird" to Christchurch International Airport New Zealand and then fly to Queenstown, it is as easy as that. There is a new option, you can fly direct to Queenstown on selected flights Air New Zealand & Qantas, check with your travel agent. If traveling on to Wanaka or Te Anau these can be easily taken by road and are only a short drive from Queenstown.

Accommodation ranges from lodges, all classes of hotels, home stays and backpackers style. Prices range from NZ$20-00 to NZ$1600-00 per night. Restaurants are plentiful such as Chinese, Japanese Sushi, Indian, Thai, Italian Pasta, Pizza, Take-aways and Quality Wholesome New Zealand Fare.

September fishing is mainly lake fishing (trolling spinning) although river fly fishing is available at stream mouths and in the Hawea, Clutha and Kawarau rivers. October 1st sees Southland rivers open only one hour from Queenstown, when weather is settled this area provides some very good early season wet fly fishing. November heralds the opening of our main fly fishing only streams, as the world knows we have very good wet and dry fly fishing.

Spring Season
Spring is upon us, a great time of the year, everything bursts into life. Birds are singing, blossom everywhere, daffodils, new lambs racing over the pastures, it is great to be alive. All rivers and streams are open from 1st November.

SUMMER TO AUTUMN
December sees the settling of the spring rains and equinox. Spring has brought major growth and every thing is green and lush in the region.
The 1st November finally opened all of our local fly fishing streams. Nice trout have been taken and released between the spring freshes. The green and brown beetle can be seen on the water and trout are taken easily on a green humpy or green beetle imitation.
December, with streams holding much more water than normal are much easier to nymph fish but care must be taken to be watchful for rising fish and be ready to switch to the dry quickly. Our mountain streams clear quite quickly after the rains that keep the river systems healthy. These rains also retain the migratory fish in the stream systems longer providing excellent fishing.

January sees an increase in insect activity and trout are paying more attention to surface feeding, the green beetle has gone and the midges dance on the surface of the water. Afternoon hatches of mayfly have the river chaffinch displaying spectacular aerobatics over the streams. Late January has the first cicadas emerging, juveniles clumsily flying and crash landing on the surface of the water. This will continue right through until mid March providing some great dry fly fishing.

Fall
March April is one of my favourite fly fishing times and I suppose is one of the best kept secrets. The days are beautiful, weather is settled, temperatures are mild with magnificent autumn colours. Trout are readily taking the dry and some magnificent fish are caught in the fall. Join us in New Zealand some time and check it out for yourself.

Equipment You Will Need
Nine foot rods weighted from 5 to 7 are adequate for our conditions. Matching 35ft weight forward or double taper floating, 12/15ft leaders and whatever suits your style. The successful angler does not use bright colored lines. 
DO NOT WEAR BRIGHT CLOTHING!!! Hip waders and good wading boots are the minimum equipment required in springtime, in mid summer wading wet is usual although lightweight "SIMMS-GORE-TEX" 5 ply Guide Waders, may be preferred by some anglers. Bring your flies dry from 10 to 18 and wet/nymph 10 to 14. Good guides carry good supplies of the necessary flies for their area but are always willing to see new patterns. There is never a day goes by when you don't learn something. Sun block and insect repellent are necessary items to bring. Quality Polaroid glasses are an absolute necessity.

Access to Fishing
Access is achieved by three main methods;
(1) Road, 4WD vehicle.
(2) Launch, as some rivers flowing into lakes are not accessed by road.
(3) Air, helicopter access from $US403-00 accesses some of the most beautiful fishing spots in wilderness areas quickly and of course you don't lave the long walk back.
Don't hesitate making early bookings with your travel agent to secure your air travel. New Zealand is a very popular destination for anglers, don't be disappointed.
This season is shaping up to be a good one, we look forward to seeing you in "Gods Clean Green Country".

Keep your lines wet!
Harvey Maguire

Two Legends
IN FEBRUARY 1989 a visiting surgeon from California hooked a strong fish in a pool in a River in the mountains around Queenstown. The fish rose to a dry fly then took off at great pace, manoeuvring past a large boulder at the head of the pool and then, with ever increasing speed, swimming 90 meters of rapids above the pool, in the process stripping the fly right off the line.
"That's not a fish, that's a freight train," said the amazed surgeon. The name stuck. During the next four years Freight Train's fame spread, and the fish was hooked by no less than 15 anglers and only once landed. According to guide Roy Moss, its modus operandi never varied. The fish would rise eagerly to a dry fly then make its magnificent dash past the boulder and up the rapids.
The legend of the Lochy was finally hooked and landed on February 16, 1992, by a visiting attorney from Chicago. For once Freight Train had deviated from its hitherto successful escape route and took off downstream where, in much slower water bereft of boulders, it was successfully landed. After being weighed at eight and a half pounds (3.9kg) the fish was returned to the river.
To Roy's knowledge the fish was hooked twice more that same season. On both occasions "Freight Train" made its escape via the upstream boulder and rapids. "Freight Train" was missing from the pool in the 1994-1995 season. Said Roy: "l guess old age caught up with it."

In October 1997 Roy Moss sadly passed away.

His ashes were spread in the valley where "Freight Train" was last spotted. I guess they have met again by now.

Roy fishing the "Freight Train" pool.

Overview