About Latitude Guiding
Latitude Guiding consists of top guide Mike Kirkpatrick, NZPFGA member (NZ’s professional Guides Association) and member of the Composite Developments Pro Network. ‘I’m an extremely passionate fly fisherman and lucky enough to live in New Zealand’s foremost trout fishing region’.
I was born in Christchurch (1964), and moved from there to Nelson about 25 years ago to continue my love affair with the place on a permanent basis. As an 18 year old, I used to hop on my first motorbike and head in to the Lewis Pass region (2.5 hours drive) most Friday evenings in summer, to camp for the weekend to hunt/fish – sometimes with mates but often by myself. These trips ingrained in me a deep love of the South Islands ruggedly beautiful backcountry, which time has only served to enhance.
The move north to Nelson to set up a small Signwriting business, gave me the opportunity to pick my days off to fish the regions wonderful waters. I gained an intimate knowledge of the Nelson, Murchison and West Coast waterways and finally made the transition to Guiding in 1999.
I’ve been fortunate enough to appear in various overseas and local magazine articles, guided and helped with some filming for Denmark’s Niels Vestergaard and Morten Oeland while they were filming for the DVD series ‘THE FISH AND THE FLY’ (amazing Dvd’s Showcasing some of the best flyfishing and fly tying you’re likely to see) I’m also the producer of the well received ‘NEW ZEALAND FLY FISHING ADVENTURES’ DVD series, featuring fly fishing waters around the the top of the South region. (available by contacting me)
Nelson, (at the top of NZs South Island) has everything an outdoorsman could want within a short distance in almost any direction, from Hunting to Salt Water Fishing and more importantly Freshwater Fly Fishing – and tons of it! Amazing Gin Clear water in Rivers, Lakes & Streams and Brown Trout to die for! (5-6lb average in some places).
Why is the Nelson region best? You only have to look at my Locations page to see one reason, the sheer abundance of waterways gives you literally hundreds of miles of fly fishing water within a few hours drive and the scenery is often nothing short of breathtaking. The diversity of these waterways is also amazing with no two rivers the same – from the slightly tannin stained West Coast to the gin clear headwaters of Kahaurangi National Park, you will never tire of the locations available.
Then there are the trout themselves. While some of our waterways are renowned for the numbers of fish available in them (don’t think that makes them easy to catch though!) others are famous for the sheer size of the trout that hide within.
And let’s not forget weather, Nelson is known within New Zealand as ‘Sunny Nelson’ and for good reason as we regularly boast the highest annual sunshine hours, and calm cloudless sunny days are what this area is famous for.
It’s some combination and we feel very lucky to live here, and do our best to make the most of it! I’d love the chance to share my experience and the countryside with you, I know it’s a time you’ll never forget.
As I have been hunting and trout fishing this region for over 25 years, there are not many areas I don’t know about. I love nothing more than taking a client into a wilderness area to hunt large predominantly Brown trout. If you really want to get into Nelson, Marlborough or West Coast back country fishing – whether by 4wd, Helicopter or Hike, I will prepare a trip to suit.
Of course if your time is more limited I can also show you some of my favourite local spots where the variety of water will suit both your ability and preferred technique.
Getting a client to cast, and hook up on one of these sighted trout is what guiding to me is all about. Whether your preferred technique is dry fly, nymph or threadlining I can take you to the location that suits.
‘I pride myself on a friendly and professional service that caters for all budgets, skill levels and techniques. Whether you’re an experienced fly fisherman or a first time angler looking to land his first trout, I can tailor an excursion to suit.’
Contact Mike for Bookings and Further information:
Email: mike@latitudeguiding.com
Cell: 021 043 7307 or +64 21 043 7307 (if calling from overseas)
Tel: 03 545 9115 or +64 3 545 9115