Choosing The Right Line Strength
Best Line for Tekapo & Ōhau Canal Fishing
If you’re planning a fishing trip to the Mackenzie Basin, one of the most important decisions you’ll make is choosing the best line for canal fishing. The Tekapo and Ōhau Canals are famous for producing some exceptionally large rainbow trout, brown trout and salmon, but that doesn’t necessarily mean you need heavy fishing line.
As a Twizel fishing guide with many years of experience fishing and teaching anglers on the Mackenzie Basin Hydro Canal system, one of the most common mistakes I see is anglers arriving with tackle that is simply too heavy.
What Line Strength Should You Use for Tekapo Canal Fishing?
For most Tekapo Canal fishing, I recommend approximately 6lb to 8lb line matched with a quality rod and reel with a smooth, correctly adjusted drag.
It can be tempting to think that because the Tekapo Canal holds very large trout, you need extremely heavy line. But when your tackle is balanced correctly and you know how to play a fish, surprisingly large trout can be successfully landed on relatively light gear.
The clear water of the canals also means presentation matters. Lighter tackle can help create a much more natural presentation, particularly when soft baiting and egg rolling.
Best Line for Ōhau Canal Fishing
The same principles generally apply to Ōhau Canal fishing.
Conditions throughout the canal system can vary considerably depending on water flow, wind, clarity and where you’re fishing. However, rather than automatically reaching for heavy line, I prefer a balanced setup that allows anglers to present their bait or lure naturally while still having enough strength to handle a powerful canal trout.
A good-quality drag is extremely important.
When a big trout takes off, you don’t want to lock everything up and try to overpower it. Let the fish run when necessary, maintain steady pressure and allow your rod, reel and drag to do the work.
Why Lighter Line Can Catch Big Canal Trout
Choosing the best line for canal fishing isn’t simply about using the strongest line available.
Your line is part of your entire fishing system. Rod action, reel quality, drag setting, knots, leader material and angling technique all contribute to whether you successfully land a fish.
This becomes particularly important when targeting the large trout found in the Tekapo and Ōhau Canals near Twizel.
Learning how to play a powerful fish properly can be far more valuable than simply increasing your line strength.
Learn Canal Fishing with a Twizel Fishing Guide
At Boothy’s Fishing School, I teach anglers how to fish the Tekapo and Ōhau Canal system using techniques that I’ve developed through many years of fishing these waters.
Whether you’re completely new to canal fishing or an experienced angler wanting to improve your results, I can help you with soft baiting, egg rolling, lure selection, tackle setup, reading the water, drag settings and correctly handling fish for release.
The Mackenzie Basin Hydro Canals offer year-round fishing opportunities, and there’s always something new to learn.
If you’re planning a fishing trip to Twizel and want to learn how to target these incredible fish, come and spend a day with Boothy’s Fishing School.
Fish lighter. Fish smarter. Let the drag do the work.
Boothy’s Fishing School
Twizel Fishing Guide | Tekapo Canal Fishing | Ōhau Canal Fishing
TRAVELING TO NEW ZEALAND
Planning a New Zealand Fishing Trip? Don’t Forget Your Travel Insurance
If you’re an international angler dreaming about a New Zealand fishing trip, the spectacular Mackenzie Basin should be high on your list.
Located in the central South Island of New Zealand, the world-famous Tekapo and Ōhau Hydro Canals offer a fishing experience unlike almost anywhere else. These incredible waterways are internationally renowned for producing some truly impressive rainbow trout, brown trout and salmon.
At Boothy’s Fishing School, I specialise in helping visiting anglers get the most out of their time in this unique part of New Zealand.
Whether you’re searching for a Twizel fishing guide, Tekapo fishing guide, New Zealand trout fishing experience or simply want to learn the techniques required for successful Hydro Canal fishing, I can help you understand how to approach these incredible waterways.
Travelling From Overseas to Fish in New Zealand?
Anglers travel a long way to experience New Zealand trout fishing, particularly from Australia, the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Europe and other parts of the world.
If you’re investing in international flights, accommodation, vehicle hire and a guided fishing experience, there’s one other thing I strongly recommend organising before leaving home:
Comprehensive travel insurance.
International travel doesn’t always go exactly according to plan. Flights can be delayed or cancelled, luggage can go missing, people can become sick or injured, and valuable belongings can occasionally be lost, stolen or damaged.
Travel insurance can provide important protection against many of these unexpected situations, depending on the policy you choose.
Make Sure Your Fishing Gear Is Covered
This is particularly important for international anglers bringing their own fishing equipment to New Zealand.
A quality collection of fishing rods, reels, tackle, soft baits, lures and other equipment can be worth thousands of dollars.
Don’t simply assume your fishing equipment is automatically covered.
Before travelling, check your insurance policy carefully to see whether it covers fishing and sporting equipment, what the maximum claim limits are, whether individual-item limits apply, and whether your equipment is covered while actually being used.
If you’re bringing particularly expensive rods or reels, ask your insurance provider whether they need to be individually listed or whether you need additional cover.
Make Your New Zealand Fishing Holiday One to Remember
Coming to New Zealand to fish the Twizel and Tekapo Hydro Canals can be the trip of a lifetime.
The Mackenzie Basin combines spectacular South Island scenery with some incredibly exciting fishing opportunities. But these canals are unique, and learning how to read the water, select the right tackle and use the correct techniques can make a huge difference.
That’s where having an experienced Twizel fishing guide and Tekapo fishing guide can help.
At Boothy’s Fishing School, I teach anglers how to fish the Hydro Canal system using techniques including soft baiting and egg rolling, while helping you understand where the fish are likely to be holding and why.
Whether you’re an experienced angler travelling halfway around the world or you’re completely new to trout fishing, there’s always something to learn.
Planning Your New Zealand Trout Fishing Adventure?
If you’re planning an international New Zealand fishing holiday, get the important things sorted before you leave home:
Book your flights, arrange your accommodation, organise your fishing experience, check your fishing licence requirements — and make sure you have appropriate travel insurance that covers you and your fishing equipment.
Then you can arrive in the Mackenzie Basin ready to concentrate on the important part:
Fishing the world-famous Hydro Canals and chasing that New Zealand trout of a lifetime.
Safe travels and tight lines!
Ben Booth
Boothy’s Fishing School
Twizel & Tekapo — Mackenzie Basin, South Island, New Zealand
New Zealand Fishing Trips | Twizel Fishing Guide | Tekapo Fishing Guide | New Zealand Trout Fishing | Hydro Canal Fishing | Mackenzie Basin Fishing
Things To Do In Twizel
10 Things to Do While Your Partner Is Fishing with Boothy’s Fishing School
Not everyone in the family needs to be an angler to enjoy a visit to Twizel!
While your husband, wife, partner or family member spends the day experiencing some of the fantastic fishing the Mackenzie Basin has to offer with Boothy’s Fishing School, there are plenty of other activities to enjoy around Twizel, Lake Pūkaki, Lake Tekapo and Aoraki/Mount Cook.
Here are ten great ways to spend your day.
1. Explore Aoraki/Mount Cook
Take the spectacular drive alongside Lake Pūkaki to Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park. Enjoy magnificent alpine scenery, short walks, cafés, photography and some of the most impressive mountain landscapes in New Zealand.
2. Visit Beautiful Lake Tekapo
Spend a few hours exploring Lake Tekapo and its famous turquoise water. Visit the iconic Church of the Good Shepherd, wander along the lakefront, browse the village and stop for lunch or coffee while taking in the incredible Mackenzie scenery.
3. Cycle the Alps 2 Ocean Trail
Hire a bike or e-bike and experience a section of the famous Alps 2 Ocean Cycle Trail. There are several fantastic day rides around Twizel and Lake Pūkaki, making this a great option for anyone wanting to explore the countryside at their own pace.
4. Experience Mackenzie Stargazing
The Mackenzie Basin is renowned for its incredibly clear night skies. Twizel lies within the Aoraki Mackenzie International Dark Sky Reserve, making an evening stargazing experience a wonderful way to finish the day.
5. Take a Scenic Flight
See the Mackenzie Country from an entirely different perspective with a scenic flight. Fly above turquoise lakes, braided rivers, glaciers and the Southern Alps, with spectacular views towards Aoraki/Mount Cook. It’s an unforgettable way to experience this remarkable part of New Zealand.
6. Enjoy Lake Ruataniwha
Only minutes from Twizel, Lake Ruataniwha is a lovely place to relax with the family. During the warmer months you can swim, kayak or enjoy a picnic beside the lake, or simply find a quiet spot and enjoy the scenery.
7. Discover Twizel’s Walking Trails
You don’t have to venture far to experience the Mackenzie landscape on foot. Enjoy an easy walk around Twizel, explore the Twizel River Trail or head towards Lake Pūkaki for beautiful views and fantastic photography opportunities.
8. Discover a Piece of Middle-earth
Movie fans can discover some of the spectacular Mackenzie landscapes used during the filming of The Lord of the Rings. Guided tours around Twizel offer visitors the opportunity to see filming locations and learn more about how the area became part of Middle-earth.
9. Relax and Explore Twizel
Sometimes the best holiday activity is simply slowing down. Explore Twizel’s cafés and shops, enjoy a leisurely lunch, browse for gifts and souvenirs or grab a coffee and enjoy the relaxed atmosphere of our small alpine town.
10. Make It a Family Mackenzie Adventure
Use Twizel as your base and make a full day of exploring the wider Mackenzie Basin. Visit Lake Pūkaki, drive towards Aoraki/Mount Cook, explore Lake Tekapo, take photographs, enjoy the local food and discover some of the most spectacular scenery in the South Island.
FISHING IN TWIZEL
🎣 FISHING TWIZEL — WHERE YOU NEVER REALLY KNOW WHAT’S ON THE END! 🎣
There’s fishing… and then there’s fishing in Twizel!
The Mackenzie Basin is home to some seriously impressive trout and salmon, and the famous Tekapo & Ōhau Hydro Canals have a reputation for producing fish that can make even experienced anglers wonder what they’ve just hooked! 😳🐟
At Boothy’s Fishing School, it’s not just about catching a fish — it’s about having a great day, learning something new and enjoying a few laughs along the way.
Whether we’re soft baiting, egg rolling or chasing trout on the fly, I’ll show you the techniques, little tricks and local knowledge I’ve picked up from years of fishing these waters.
Never fished before? Perfect.
Been fishing your whole life? Come and see what Twizel can throw at you!
And remember… every cast has the potential to hook the fish you’ll be talking about for years. 🎣🔥
Come fishing with Boothy’s Fishing School and experience Twizel fishing properly.
📍 Twizel | Tekapo | Mackenzie Basin
🎣 Beginners to experienced anglers welcome
🐟 Trout & salmon adventures
📩 Get in touch to book your day
#TwizelFishing #TwizelFishingGuide #BoothysFishingSchool #TekapoFishing #MackenzieBasin #NZFishing #TroutFishingNZ #HydroCanals #NewZealandFishing #FishingNewZealand
WHAT QUESTIONS TO ASK YOUR “Twizel Fishing Guide”
These are the questions I’d encourage clients to ask you during a day:
“Why have you chosen this particular spot today?”
This lets you explain water conditions, fish movement, weather, time of day and what your experience is telling you.“What are you looking for when you read the water?”
A great teaching question. It gets clients thinking beyond simply casting.“Why are we using this technique today?”
Whether you’re soft baiting, egg rolling, lure fishing or fly fishing, you can explain why one technique suits the conditions.“How do you decide what lure, soft bait or fly to use?”
This gives them knowledge they can use when they’re fishing without you.“How can I tell when I’ve had a take?”
Especially valuable for beginners learning subtle canal takes.“What am I doing wrong with my cast or presentation?”
I’d actually encourage clients to ask you this. They’re paying for your experience, so constructive correction is valuable.“What should I change when the fish aren’t biting?”
Probably one of the most useful lessons you can teach. Successful anglers learn how to adapt rather than simply keep doing the same thing.“Where do the trout tend to sit in the canal?”
Depth, current, structure, edges and food movement all give you an opportunity to explain how these fisheries actually work.“How do weather and water conditions affect the fishing?”
Wind, temperature, light and flow can completely change your approach.“What gear would you recommend if I wanted to do this myself?”
Rod, reel, line, leader, terminal tackle and the things that are actually worth spending money on.“How should I play a really big trout?”
Particularly relevant to the canals. This allows you to teach drag management, rod angle, patience and how not to panic when a big fish runs.“What’s the correct way to land and handle a trout?”
A very important part of your guiding philosophy, particularly when fish are going to be released.“What mistakes do you see canal anglers making most often?”
This could produce some of your best advice because you’ve spent years watching people fish these waters.“What separates a consistently successful angler from someone who just gets lucky?”
That’s a fantastic question for an experienced client to ask you.“If you were fishing here by yourself today, what would you be doing?”
Possibly the best question of the lot. It gets straight to your instincts and experience.
Remember, there’s no such thing as a silly question.
These Are Some Of The Different Colours Of Egg Patterns That I Use
One thing that I find is that presentation of your egg pattern to the fish is far more important than the actual colour that you use.
Twizel, Home Of The Worlds largest Brown Trout
The monumental fish was captured a few years ago by the now world famous angler Seumas Petrie who I’m very fortunate to be able to call a dear friend. The fish tipped the scales at 44.5lb and the mount is currently hanging on the wall in the “Razza” Bar in Twizel if anyone would like to see this monstrosity of a fish. One thing I can say for certain is that there are bigger fish out there and I’m sure the record will be broken again.
