New Zealand fly fishing guide Dean Bell says that the key to enjoying NZ fly fishing is to manage your expectations.
Fish are bigger, but harder to find.
A good day of fly fishing could mean only two fish are caught, but they might well be over ten pounds each, over five pounds is common. While it is possible to fish the water , the classic fly fishing adventure in NZ is to helicopter or hike into a remote area, then crash through the brush to clear green streams as your guide looks for fish. When one is spotted, you may only have one shot at it before it spooks. Match the Hatch is not an issue as the fish are generally not that selective, and insect hatches are sporadic, with the result that classic attractor patterns like Royal Wulff, Stimulator, Humpy, etc in sizes 12-14 work well. Ear will usually fool it.