25 November-01 December 2025

Fishing with Josh

25-27 November 2025

A bit about Josh. Raised on a New Zealand farm. Fishing from a young age. He is 27 and has been guiding for about three years. Thoughtful, energetic, and eager to find fish.

First Day
We fished the Whakapapa River about one hour drive from the River Lodge in Ohakune. Rocky (not boldery) river bottom. We sighted two, hooked two, netted one about 3.5 pounds. Hooked one that ran with the fly and leaped about one meter off the water. Josh estimated it to be about five pounds. Of course, it never made it to the net. Walked about 3.4 miles.

Second Day
We fished two rivers today. The Whakappa River first followed by the Whanganui River. It was a good outing. Robert netted three rainbows on a dropper and two browns on a dry fly. The biggest was about two pounds.

Using a midge, Robert hooked a large brown trout. For Robert, it felt as if he had snagged a rock. No movement. As the guide assured Robert that it was a brown trout, the indicator began to move and the trout set itself free. Robert needs to be more affirmative in setting the hook after a slight “one Mississippi” pause, especially with brown trout because their mouths are harder than rainbows.

Third Day
We fished the same river in two locations. Josh took pity on Robert and selected this river because the banks are lined with pasture. No rocks. Just grass. Robert did not use his wading staff all day. The first stop on the river offered access through pasture land, ploughed with new grasses emerging. The second stop was through a golf course. At both stops the river was lightly tinged and while offering many fishy riffles and pools, it did not offer any fish. Not for lack of Josh’s diligence. Walked 3.1 miles.

Fishing with Murray

30 November-01 December 2025

Murray Donnie is a self-taught, internationally acclaimed fishing guide with 38 years of experience. He has many clients from Japan and speaks fluent fly fishing Japanese —A little to the right. One meter further out. Nice cast. He was born and bred in the Murupara district near Rotorua, knows the local rivers, and specializes in sight fishing with dry fly, although not shy of using indicators in the bigger waters.

An added benefit of fishing with Murray is Lochy, his seven-year-old (going on two) black lab. Lots of fun. She did well on the raft that we used both days. It’s handy when you have four legs.

Robert especially appreciated Murray’s gentle way of instruction and the joy he has when you hook and land a fish. He really enjoys the sport.

He lives with his wife about 50 minutes from Rotorura. Robert drove to meet him at 8:00 am the first day and 8:30 the second day.

First Day
We fished the upper reaches of the Rangitaiki River, about 50 minutes from Murray’s home. Recent winds had toppled large poplar trees into the river blocking downstream access. Murray had gone out the week before with his chainsaw to make openings large enough for the raft. Some required further work with a hand saw as we floated downstream. Robert told Murray that this was better than the Jungle Cruise at Disneyland. Murray’s raft is made for whitewater rafting. Very sturdy. We fished mainly indicators or dry-droppers.

Robert landed seven fish and lost about three plus four on short strikes. (A short strike is when you hesitate and do not set the hook firmly.) All rainbows except for one brown. The fish on this river weigh between two and three pounds on average.

Second Day
We floated a lower section of the same river and stopped off at two tributaries for a few minutes that turned into hours of sight fishing. You can tell that Murray loves to sight fish along streams. Turns out the streams had lots of trout that were pushed up the stream beds as a result of high water flows in the river. Ben, a friend of Murray, shuttled the truck and trailer for us. Ben has fished on the New Zealand Fly Fishing team that competes worldwide. Nice guy.

Robert landed three on the river and four in the tributaries.