Treetops Activities - Trout Fishing

New Zealand is one of the world’s premiere trout-fishing locations so it comes as a surprise (even to some New Zealanders) to learn that the trout is an introduced species to this country. New Zealand did have a native freshwater sports fish – the Grayling, regarded as good angling and excellent eating – but it became extinct soon after the introduction of the Brown Trout.

Brown and Rainbow Trout were introduced from Europe and North America respectively in the late 1800s. Having left most of their diseases and all their predators behind them, they have thrived in this country wherever conditions are suitable, while trout hatcheries ensure that even more marginal habitats remain stocked to capacity.

Brown Trout are the major trout of the rivers and streams of this country, while Rainbow Trout predominate all the lakes of the region save Rotorua and Rotoiti, both of which contain mixed populations. The Treetops Estate itself boasts a number of tranquil trout pools and gurgling trout streams. Alternatively our experienced guides can take you further afield, by 4-wheel-drive or helicopter, for one day or for several days, to the lakes or to trout streams set deep in the wilderness that only they know about. See our dedicated trout-fishing brochure for further details.

And if you’ve ever wondered…

Have you ever wondered how a top quality fishing rod is made? Quite probably not, but now that we mention it… Well wonder no more. Rotorua is home to one of the world’s top fishing rod brands, and a visit to their factory can be arranged to see how a modern fishing rod is made, assembled and tested.

Fly Fishing the New Zealand Way

In the Nineteenth Century settlers from Britain brought a tradition of fly-fishing with them to New Zealand. However, they soon ran into problems. In the ‘home country’, fly fishing was the pursuit of the wealthy, a fact reflected in the complexity of the flies which required not only a master craftsman to make them, but also the resources of the British Empire to furnish the raw materials.

In egalitarian New Zealand, fly-fishing was open to anyone, but neither the expertise nor the materials to make the flies were readily available while the cost of British-made flies was prohibitive. The result was the development of a home-grown tradition of making uniquely New Zealand flies; a tradition that has continued to the present day.

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