Stretch Your Fly Line for Improved Performance

Always take a couple of minutes to stretch your fly line at the start of your fishing day. This not only helps your line to lie straight, but minimises tangles when shooting line or when a fish decides to take your fly away in a hurry.

Long and Fine Leaders for Spooky NZ Trout

Trout in NZ are not on the whole, specific feeders. If it’s small and dark they will hit it - providing they can see it, and its drifting naturally. On top, this means long, fine leaders and soft tippets to allow your dry to move in and out of the many imperceptible micro currents without being pulled around unnaturally.

When fishing a nymph this usually means getting your fly down to the level where the trout wants it. Many times when one thinks that the trout don’t want their nymph, he’s simply not seeing it - the fly just isn’t getting deep enough.

The solution - longer leaders - take the longest leader you feel comfortable with, and add a metre. Casting these often 18 - 20' leaders requires the smoothest of power applications and the crispest of stops to ensure a smooth, efficient turnover. If the tippet piles up on the water, all the better, for this is our goal - whilst the mess of mono unfurls within the currents, your fly is enjoying an unrestricted, drag free drift!

Work on the basic casting mechanics, practice with these 'long, longer and longest' leaders, and your catch rate will rise!

For precise turnover and efficient energy transfer, you'd be hard pressed to find a better presentation line for Kiwi conditions than the Airflo Platinum Chalkstream.
Chris Dore. Fly Fishing Guide, Writer, FFF Certified Casting Instructor

I always like having the best stuff and when it comes to fly tying C&F Design is where it’s at. And once you’ve made those perfect flies C&F have the only fly boxes I would ever consider using. You might as well have the best!
Yoshi Nakagawa – Rod and Reel Auckland