Women on the Fly NZ encourages women to build confidence on the water through shared learning, mentoring, and time spent fishing together. Occasionally an opportunity comes along for someone to spend time with an experienced guide and accelerate that learning even further.
Jill Holdgate recently spent three days fishing and learning with Nelson guide Tony Entwistle of Fly Fishing with Tony. The conditions were far from ideal, but as Jill discovered, challenging days on the water often produce the biggest learning moments.
Jill’s Story
Spending three days with Tony Entwistle in January 2026 was the highlight of my summer. The fishing was challenging and trout were scarce, but there was something new to learn every minute.
Fairly new to getting out on the water, I arrived ready to learn. Tony soon put me at ease, and the learning began almost immediately as we drove around the Nelson region searching for fishable water.
Our first stop was St Arnaud, where we paused to visit the eels in the crystal-clear water. Tony told me how his guiding career began there while teaching at an outdoor school. It was a place that helped launch the path that eventually led to Fly Fishing with Tony.
One of my first lessons was about finding fishable water. As many regions have experienced, floods and heavy rain have changed river systems. Fish are not always where they once were, access can be different, and when I visited the rivers were running higher than normal.
Tony showed me how guides adapt to those conditions. The key lesson was to check river flow websites, understand what the rivers are doing, and always have a Plan B, C, D or even E. Sometimes the best thing you can do is drive, explore, and learn the water.
On the first day I landed my first South Island brown trout. It was a beautiful fish and came with many lessons in that one catch: reading the water, spotting fish, getting enough line out, placing the fly where it needed to go, and lifting the rod tip rather than pulling when bringing the fish in.
One thing that stuck with me was how quickly excitement can undo good technique. When the fish is actually there, landing it suddenly becomes more complicated. The brain gets excited and polished form can quickly turn back into poor form.
Before the trip I had been an uncertain rock walker, both in the water and along the river’s edge. By the third day I had learned to look ahead to where my next steps would be, trust my footing, and keep moving.
The same was true for wading. With expensive gear to carry while staying balanced in current, it can feel intimidating. Tony showed me how fishing buddies work together when crossing water, using safe techniques and supporting each other when needed.
Learning in challenging conditions
The conditions during the trip were far from ideal. As I later described it, “the conditions were rotten.”
Day two in particular meant driving, driving, driving while searching for fishable water. It wasn’t until early afternoon that we finally found somewhere that looked promising.
But I had arrived with the expectation that I was there to learn, and learn I did.
Along the way we crossed farmland where Tony has permission to access the river. That brought its own adventures. We climbed high onto a plateau, opening and closing gates, navigating cattle, and crossing electric fences. Some bulls looked less than friendly, so I was quite happy to stay behind the wheel at times.
Crossing the live fences was a challenge at first, but Tony had a clever technique using a wading staff wrapped with insulation tape. Once I mastered that, it felt like another small victory.
We also tackled steep riverbanks covered in blackberry, which taught me yet another use for a wading staff. Tony often moved ahead quickly through long grass or bush, but he always knew where I was, letting me move at my own pace while quietly keeping an eye on things.
The lessons kept coming: how to measure the right amount of line before casting, how to cross streams safely, how to walk confidently on river rocks, and how to handle trout quietly and gently.
Tony also shared a few memorable sayings along the way. When I asked how much line I needed for a cast, his response was, “How long is a piece of string?” That led to learning how to measure line rather than guess.
And of course, there was the end-of-day ritual. Tony believes a good fishing day should end with a quiet beer ceremony at the last fishing spot before heading back to base.
A lesson I won’t forget
Perhaps the biggest lesson came right at the end.
While walking through long grass I detached my wading staff because it was awkward to manoeuvre. When we stopped to get the rod ready for casting, I dropped the staff beside me just as I had the previous two days.
This time the mighty Buller River claimed it.
My Simms wading staff disappeared in an instant. Thankfully it had been bought second-hand, but it was a lesson I won’t forget.
Still smiling
Over three days we saw only four trout and landed one, but I learned an enormous amount.
More importantly, I enjoyed every moment of being out in the environment. At one point Tony said, “I can’t believe you are still smiling.”
But I was — and I still am.
I am grateful to have received the Women on the Fly voucher that made my time learning with Tony possible. His support of Women on the Fly is greatly appreciated.
By Jill Holdgate
Acknowledgement
Women on the Fly NZ is grateful for the support Tony Entwistle has given our community over many years. A retired professional guide, Tony continues to share his knowledge through occasional workshops and by supporting Women on the Fly with two one-day guiding vouchers each year.
These opportunities give women a chance to accelerate their learning and gain confidence on the water under the guidance of an experienced angler.
You can learn more about Tony’s work at
Fly Fishing with Tony
https://www.flyfishingwithtony.com/