Fly fishing in New Zealand requires an element of hunting. The fish aren't just big, they are smart as well. On average, you get 1.5 chances. Most fish will give you one cast, but sometimes you're lucky and get two. Because of this, it is better to spot the fish and plan your approach, rather than blindly cast into likely water. Thankfully in crystal clear water, on the right day, these fish can be easy to spot. But spotting and landing are two different things.
Up until the afternoon, the day had a menu of missed opportunities. But in some likely water, I spotted a very large trout, feeding freely off the surface. Excitedly I cast my madamX fly towards the trout, which instantly followed with a rejection. A quick fly change to a blowfly pattern saw the big jaws break the surface and consume the offering. After the day's poor conversion rate, I nervously played out what I could tell was a very large trout. I breathed a sigh of relief when it hit the net – my biggest catch of the trip.