Anglers Anonymous provides all the quality equipment and tackle you will need including waders, rods, reels, lines, polaroid's, hats, etc ...

Should you wish to bring your own then we recommend reading the following.  If you must bring your own then please realize that we must clean the equipment particularly wading boots and waders unless you get this done for you by airport staff on the way into New Zealand.

Summer

During summer we use a lot lighter gear than in winter - not due to the size of the fish being any smaller but due to the back-country and wilderness water was generally being smaller.  Stop! All you Americans put those 3 weights back in the cupboard, New Zealand fly fishing requires is no such equipment, our New Zealand trout are just too big and wild and you will likely kill them by tiring them out too much during the inevitable ensuing battle! Instead we advise 5 and 6 weight rods with suitably balanced weight forward tapered floating lines in neutral colors like camo green or light grey.  For leaders nothing beats fluorocarbon in the 4 - 7lb bracket.  We generally prefer fluorocarbon for summer.  Polaroid's, hats, wading boots, breathable waders and a day pack are also useful.  For dry flies pretty much all dry flies particularly Royal Wulf's in 10 - 16, Parachute Adams, and attractors.  For nymphs, pretty much everything in sizes 14 - 18 but also some slightly weighted 10's and 12's.

For smelt fishing, a 10 foot 7 weight is ideal with 3 lines, weight forward floating, medium sink, and fast sinking shooting head.

Winter

During winter we go heavier and warmer.  Bring 7 or 8 weight rods and suitably matched reels with weight forward floating lines in any colors.  It can also be useful and fun to mix things up with a bit of streaming so if you can then also bring a fast sinking shooting head.  Waders are a must, and during winter it is advisable to wear warm clothes like polypropylene underwear and polar fleece also.  Polaroid's and a hat are also a must.  For nymphing, glow-bugs in sizes 10 - 14 and heavy weighted flies in sizes 10 and 12's referred to over hear as bombs.  If streaming is on the menu then a good selection of wooly buggers, rabbits, zonkers, etc will go down well.