North Island NZ Fly Fishing Guides – meet our team

We are genuinely committed to doing everything possible to help you achieve your fly fishing goals and have a memorable adventure. Once you’ve viewed our guides below, see what clients have to say about them in our reviews section.

If you’re spending a day or more of your limited time fly fishing in the Taupo and central North Island region of NZ, it goes without saying you need a guide who is experienced and professional. You need someone who has the skills to change methods if needed, who can teach you new techniques and tips, and is friendly and patient with a good sense of humour. All our guides meet these requirements. We can teach novices and family groups who have never cast a fly, and we can help take experienced anglers to the next level. When you are ready, enquire about fly fishing with us.

Peter Wilton

Lucky enough to be born close to mountains and rivers, Peter started his love of fishing aged 9. Over the decades since then he has developed huge knowledge and experience fly fishing for New Zealand trout.

In 1995 Pete shifted to Taupo and got to know intimately not only our world-famous rivers but also an array of backcountry places that few people are lucky enough to fish. He has guided hundreds of happy clients from around the world over a 25+ year professional guiding career, including famous guests from Huka Lodge.

Pete is a calm guide with a good sense of humour. When you fish with him you’ll have a memorable day with lots of good stories, and learn a lot too.

Gareth Bayliss

Gareth grew up in the central South Island and cut his teeth fly fishing rivers like the Hurunui and Rakaia, learning to stalk and target large trout.

Over the past 14 years he has been living and guiding in Taupo: sharing with clients the region’s famous rivers in winter, and in summer trekking through and filming remote wilderness locations in the backcountry of the central North Island. Gareth has an analytical approach to fly fishing and clients frequently comment that he’s a hard-working guide and a patient instructor who delivers well above expectations.

Alex Waller

Alex started fishing with his Grandfather at the age of 6 and has been hooked ever since. In his early years he fly-fished Hampshire, Brecon Beacons and the South of France, until a trip to New Zealand changed his life.

Since 2003 Alex has lived in NZ and fished extensively throughout the North and South Islands, but was always drawn to the diversity of stunning rivers, streams and lakes in the Central North Island of NZ. In 2014 he became a professional Fly Fishing Guide in Taupo, sharing his love and passion of the region with clients from around the world.

When you fish with Alex you’ll appreciate his dedication and enthusiasm which is contagious.

Pete Fordham

Pete has been fly fishing and guiding in some of the most remote rivers and streams in the central North Island of NZ for decades, and he particularly loves the waters of the Central Plateau for the hard fighting quality of their trout.

With his 4×4 all terrain vehicle, Pete can take up to two anglers to very remote backcountry fly fishing spots that hold large Rainbow and Brown trout, and are rarely fished due to their difficult access. Clients who have fished other locations in NZ often report that a 4×4 backcountry adventure with Pete produced far better results than helicopter fishing and for less cost.

Pete has a great ability to help you entice trout out of pools, and he’s great company on the river with his calm practical approach and good sense of humour.

Steve Yerex

Steve has been guiding fly fishing adventures in the central North Island of New Zealand for over 28 years and has been in adventure tourism even longer. He’s a qualified rafting guide and has taken horse treks into remote parts of the North Island for a unique fly fishing experience landing monster brown and rainbow trout.

For overnight trips not far from your accommodation, Steve can take you to a fishing lodge on the Tauranga-Taupo River located between Taupo and Turangi. Kereru Lodge is right up the river in forestry and less than 100 metres from the river which means that you can have breakfast and be fishing to fresh run Rainbow trout hours before anyone fit enough has trekked up that far. Few anglers or guides in the region know the Tauranga-Taupo River as well as Steve.

Steve’s enthusiasm is infectious and he’ll do everything possible to give you a fun rewarding experience.

Chris Power

Chris started fishing Lake Taupo with his Dad from a kayak in the early 1980s before graduating to fly fishing the Tokaanu Tailrace in its glory days and then the Tongariro spawning runs. As a teenager he would wet-wade in winter standing waste deep for hours in the Major Jones pool, and so was relieved years later to still be able to have kids.

Chris moved to Christchurch and spent years learning rivers such as the Hurunui, stalking beautiful brown trout in stunning locations. Now based in the Eastern Bay Of Plenty, he spends alot of time in the local fishery on rivers like the Whirinaki and Waioeka. Chris is a very calm fly fishing guide who loves getting people into fish.

Roy Bowers

Roy has been fishing the Taupo Turangi region since he was 11, firstly from a boat with his Dad and later with his old mate Chris (bio above) and other friends fly fishing the Tongariro river spawning runs.

Over the 38 years fishing the Taupo region Roy has seen the ups and downs of the fishery, new techniques arrive from overseas, and the growth in popularity of fly fishing nearby backcountry streams and rivers. Roy will usually be your first point of contact and can answer any questions you might have.

See also

We can customise any Taupo or lower South Island trout fishing trip or wilderness backcountry adventure according to your personal preferences and experience. The New Zealand Fly Fishing Company provide all the gear, food and drink, and collect and return you to your accommodation.