Guest Reviews

I hadn't fly fished before and was seeking something more than just basic tuition in an effort to gain a good grounding in as many aspects of the sport as I could. To this end I elected to undertake the four day course offered by Craig and Marlene which proved ideal. The tuition is well structured and includes a comprehensive guide to all aspects of fly fishing extending beyond the necessary casting, line setup, river and stream craft instruction to such aspects as to what to look for amongst the vast array of fly fishing tackle available to those intending to purchase their own equipment. Tuition is at a relaxed pace with plenty of time for questions, practise along the way and is tailored to suite one's individual pace. The latter part of the two day tuition course focussed on actually catching and landing trout during which time I was able to land a number of fine rainbows. I would recommend this tuition course to anyone wanting a sound understanding of fly fishing whilst enjoying the guiding couple's homely accommodation and fine kiwi hospitality.

In the North Island of New Zealand? Excellent idea. Also thinking of usingthe services of a guide. An equally good idea. I can vouch for these experiences, having just returned from N.Z. and done both. Well look no further. The guiding, hospitality and amiability of Marlene and Craig is as good as it gets. Marlene gives constant, very useful information, timely advice re rod work and steady encouragement.. and what's more, remains totally amiable. So if you want to enjoy the experience of getting into the beautiful Trout back country of New Zealand with some really authentic trout savvy and lovely Kiwis then Marlene and Craig have it all covered.  N.S.WAustralia 7th January 09 

Australia-April 2013. Hi Marlene I was amazed at the quantity, size and strength of the fish in the river we fished. Your trout spotting skills are exceptional and this made a big difference to the amount of fish I hooked. You are also pretty quick on your feet, the speed you raced down stream to net the big rainbow was impressive. I really appreciated your knowledge and the time you gave in teaching me about nymph fishing and I put this into good use when I fished around Taupo later in the week, catching a few trout there as well. I hope to get back to Hawke’s bay next year and look forward to fishing with you again

Australian David Pembrey's remote fishing experience-February 2015 Thank you so much for a really fantastic experience. Your choice of venues was perfect, and this was the reason I contacted One Cast for my first "guided" fishing trip, which I shared with a fellow angler. Was it worth it – absolutely. We were consistently into big rainbows and browns in superb condition over the full three days, and all the more fun in your wonderful wild river locations. No fishing time lost due to my guides constant attention. So many top trout rivers in the Hawkes Bay area I did not want to waste time looking in vain for the right spots. Leave it to the local experts; I was not disappointed. The opportunity of a shared helicopter flight, remote camp out, the multiple river crossings all contributed to a memorable adventure (for a young 73 year old). Much caught on video too, to relive. A real bonus to my holiday was the "off the river" experience. My hosts were such lovely and fun people to be with – so welcoming and caring – nothing was too much trouble to you in making our stay as enjoyable as possible. Thanks again. I'll be back. Best wishes David

My mum and I have just completed a fantastic and rewarding fishing tuition course with Marlene. She has provided us with lasting memories of scenic rivers and streams with an abundance of fish and taught us patiently the skills necessary to catch them. Marlene has created a professional service that is both relaxed and fun and knows how to cater to everybody’s needs, her hospitality makes you feel part of the family! We both had an awesome time and agree it was one of the best holidays we have had for a long time. Totally recommended! P.s try Craigs lamb roast and Marlenes chocolate pudding – yum!. Thanks again Marlene and Craig, the service you offered turned out to be better than expected. 

Japan March 2010.  Thank you Marlene and Craig, Camp fishing, camp-fire, funny chat, beautiful sky, fire-pit, Heli-fishing, party in the hut, super guides, big trout, beautiful town, etc, etc,,,,All of those are wonderful memory.

Feb 09 Thanks to you Yoko has very enjoyed her holiday in New Zealand. She is talking about you and her activities that she experienced with you every night. She looks very happy. Unfortunately, the weather was not good for fishing, but I could still catch some beautiful fish owing to Craig. We appreciate you that we can get a lot of great memories that never forget.

- United Kingdom Feb 09 The days we spent with you were the highlight of our New Zealand, North Island fly fishing trip. You and Craig were the perfect guides and hosts: I was able to fish all the time with Craig whilst knowing you were entertaining Carolyn by doing a bit of fishing but also showing her the local sites and giving a unique insight into Maori culture. The fly fishing was awesome! Craig knew the 'hot spots' and the patience to instruct me on the techniques of dry fly fishing in clear, fast flowing river water. The size and strength of those wild brown and rainbow trout which live up in the mountain rivers meant that we had a real fight on our hands when we had a strike. The fish we caught were in beautiful condition and it was great to release them back into the wild. I learnt a lot from Craig about casting and stalking.

Wyoming USA In December of 2008 I had a chance to go to the South Pacific. I had always wanted to go to New Zealand fishing and now was the time. Every day we went fishing I caught fish and landed fish that were around the 5 pound range. I hooked several that were much larger then these. I enjoyed the hook ups but was unable to land these large fish due to my own excitement and slow response. I had a tremendous time, the accommodation was outstanding and the fishing experience undescribable. To make it short I caught a lot of big fish and had a wonderful time. I plan to return in the next couple of years for a rerun.