Exhilarating is how many anglers explain their first encounter with a feisty Back Country Rainbow Trout. Clients come back again and again to experience the ‘Rainbow Rush’ as a tail-slapping rainbow peels yards of line off your fly reel.

Rainbow Trout were introduced to New Zealand from Somona Creek, San Francisco in 1877. There are no sea-run species.

Traditional home to the rainbow is the cold, glacial-fed lakes, rivers and spring streams of the South Island High Country. The trout’s name derives from its colouration. Generally light in colour with a reddish tinge to the gill covers and along their lateral line, they can be extremely difficult to detect, even in relatively clear waters. For the fly fisher, we can guide you to huge rainbows in extremely small creeks, making for very exciting fishing.

Throughout the South Island waters, there are areas where only rainbows are found, in other areas there are both rainbows and browns in the same waters. The obvious initial difference between the two is the more veracious feeding habits of the rainbow compared to the more subtle approach of the browns.

The Rainbow Trout is a very exciting fish to hook up with, especially on a light rod in a small stream.

Rainbow trout features include:

• Square or slightly forked tail.
• Pinkish-rose tinge on the gill covers and along the lateral line, but no spots on the gill covers.
• Mouth not black inside.
• Short-based anal fin with 8-12 rays.
• Dense black spots on tail, head, back, sides, dorsal and adipose fins.