The Hamilton Anglers Club

06/09/2026

We are hosting the Fly Fishing Film Tour on September 17th at the Event Cinema Chartwell.

See this link for tickets, it was a great show last year :

The 19th annual Fly Fishing Film Tour (F3T) is back, hitting the road with the very best fly fishing films. This year the tour visits more than 14 countries with 300+ shows. Book your tickets today or contact us to host a screening in your town.

04/09/2026

I know many of would have already seen the Fish & Game New Zealand Knowledge Hub so this is for those who haven’t yet, perhaps new to freshwater fishing or didn’t have a fishing license last year or are pondering taking up the sport yet are a bit overwhelmed. With a gentle introduction moving to what, where, when, how, the Knowledge Hub is a great resource to help start your fishing journey.

Anglers can fish everything from small spring creeks and backcountry streams through to large rivers, hydro canals, and lakes.

04/09/2026

What is the collective noun for a group of Fly fishers? An exaggeration? A loop? A cast? A hackle? Anyway, 11 HAC members took part in the Annual Winter Trophy trip to Tūrangi last weekend. John Davidson has been running this trip longer than he can remember, I know that because I asked him and he couldn’t remember, perhaps 15-20 years is my guess. The trip targets the mighty Tongariro only and anyone who has been fishing this river lately has found the fishing tough due to a lack of recent freshes. The rain didn’t come hence the lack of fishy photos although a few of the new swing bridge build. John did catch a cracker but that was Friday and didn’t count for the competition on Saturday. Still, a number of fish were caught by those in the know and it’s always great getting away, switching off and chewing the fat with like minded souls.

28/08/2026

The guest speaker at The Hamilton Anglers Club monthly meeting this coming Monday the 31st of August is Mike Davis is co-owner of Hunting & Fishing Rotorua and a New Zealand fly fishing legend. Well known for his back country exploits his roots are actually based on the technical small streams of the Waikato region. He's a passionate fly fisher with a lot of expert advice to offer. Mike is going to be talking all things fishing the Rotorua region. All welcome. From 7pm at the Waikato Sport Fishing Club (INC) club rooms Grantham St.

21/08/2026

The approaching inclement weather has forced us to postpone this weekend's Perch Hunt. If you still intended to go Auckland Waikato Fish & Game would like you to send them your data collection sheet.

18/08/2026

Red Fin Perch are well established in Lake Karapiro. Auckland Waikato Fish & Game would like to know how well spread and to what extent the Perch have taken hold. To help answer these questions The Hamilton Anglers Club are having a Perch Hunt this coming Sunday. Anyone who has a current Fish and Game sports fishing license is welcome to attend. If you don't have a license, a day license can be purchased from the F&G website and remember that kids under 12 licenses are free. Gold Clam are in the lake so familiarize yourself with the Check Clean Dry protocols. All the details of the day are in the attached photos.

12/08/2026

Got plans for Sunday the 23rd of August? The Hamilton Anglers Club and Auckland Waikato Fish & Game are planning a Perch hunt. More to follow.

09/08/2026

Open Rivers Trip

Craig Fredericks’ ever popular “open rivers” trip was again well attended with a dozen HAC members participating and staying at TALTAC for two nights.
The format is two person teams with a so-called “expert” and a “novice” working together to catch fish on the Turangi river sytem with a scoring formula such that more points are awarded per fish for the beginner and the results are then multiplied, meaning no one other that Craig actually knows the winner !
With the rivers exceptionally low, the fishing was always going to be testing and, with the exception of those who got to the Hinemaiaia before the weekend crowds, takes were hard to come by.
In the end Pieter van Der Bijl who was paired with “expert” Charlie Friedlander netted 5 fish which, along with his partner’s 2, reaped the rewards of the algorithm compared with Nigel Juby and Peter Gault who had the same numbers but reversed.
Charlie Abrahams made a strong play for an Orange Blaster by having a damp end to his session on the Tong, which had otherwise been successful, by both filling up his waders and losing a rod tip on the rush back to the drying room !
All in all there was lots of sharing of information, learning and good banter as well as a nice dinner out at the Tongariro Bridge Motel.

01/08/2026

Delighted to see that exceptional casting instructor, Justin Cahill, is running a clinic on that most sought after of skills - the double haul.

Contact Justin via the below deets, great value and will put more yards on your cast than a $1000 Sage…..