Testimonials
"We just completed an incredible 13-day guided fly-fishing trip in New Zealand with Ollie Bassett, and it was hands down the best fly-fishing experience of my life. We focused on the waters around Rotorua, Lake Taupo, and Tongariro National Park, targeting wild brown and rainbow trophy trout in rivers, streams, and lakes that are world-renowned for their fishery. We even fished twice at night. It was an unforgettable experience.
Ollie is not just a guide—he’s a master of the sport. As the current New Zealand National Fly-Fishing Champion (2024 and 2025) and a member of the New Zealand Fly-Fishing Team, he also finished 6th individually at the 2025 World Fly-Fishing Championship. His skills in techniques like Euro nymphing, sight fishing, and reading complex water were a major reason for our success on the water.
What stood out most was Ollie’s unbelievable fish-spotting ability. He spotted trout better than anyone I’ve ever fished with—often picking out shadows or rises from impossible distances in clear water. You can tell that it wasn’t just luck; it’s the result of his thousands of hours on New Zealand’s best rivers and lakes. Time after time, he’d point out fish I simply couldn’t see, set us up for perfect presentations, and coach us through the drifts. We hooked into some beautiful trophy-sized rainbows and browns, many in the 5–10+ pound range, across varied terrain including Rotorua’s lakes and streams, the Tongariro River, the Whakapapa River, and Taupo-area waters.
Beyond the catches, the real value was how much I improved as a fly angler. Ollie is an outstanding teacher—patient, articulate, and passionate about sharing knowledge. He broke down advanced techniques (Euro nymphing setups, leader adjustments, drag-free drifts, reading currents, and fly selection for picky fish) in ways that clicked immediately. By the end of the 13 days, my casting accuracy, line control, and confidence had skyrocketed. I went from struggling to spot and hook fish consistently to confidently targeting and landing them on my own. His guidance turned this into a transformative trip, not just a chance vacation.
Ollie is professional and genuinely enthusiastic about putting you on fish while ensuring a safe, enjoyable experience. He provided great local knowledge and high-quality gear recommendations. The logistics for a multi-day trip were seamless, and the scenery in Rotorua, Lake Taupo, and Tongariro National Park was breathtaking.
If you’re searching for the best fly-fishing guide in New Zealand—whether you’re interested in North Island trout fishing, South Island trout fishing, Rotorua trout fishing, Tongariro National Park trout fishing, or trophy-trout adventures across New Zealand—Ollie Bassett is the one to book. His championship pedigree and teaching ability make him an exceptional choice for an unforgettable fishing experience in New Zealand."
Pete - California, USA
"It’s rare to find someone with the high level of skills that Ollie has, as well as the ability to explain those skills in a way suited to your particular level. Ollie has the lot, and is great company for a day - or in our case four days on the river. I can’t wait till our next trip."
Leon - Melbourne, Australia
"We just wrapped up an incredible 2 week journey with Ollie fishing some of the North Island’s iconic rivers and lakes. It was hands down the best fly experience of my life. Ollie put us on so many big fish…many were sight fished and others were caught simply because Ollie knew how to read the water and where the big fish would be holding. We consistently landed rainbows and browns in the 3-6 pound range, and one bruiser brown of 7 pounds, and we hooked fish bigger than that. Ollie is truly passionate about the sport and his willingness and enthusiasm to teach and share knowledge is unparalleled. I was a good angler before I fished with Ollie but am now a much better angler as a result of my time with him. He is well versed in the South Island fisheries as well. Do yourself a favor a book a trip with him…you won’t regret it. I’m already looking forward to a return trip with him."
Phil - Oregon, USA
"I fished for four days with Ollie earlier this year and cannot recommend him highly enough. I have fly fished for almost 50 years but Ollie showed me that you can teach an old dog new tricks. I learned some new techniques as well as improving ones I thought I already knew how to do well. On top of this he was great company and a great person to fish with."
Adam - New Zealand
"I had a really awesome day with Ollie! He was super friendly, easy to chat to, and seriously skilled at what he does. We started our day with a few fishes within the first hour, and able to keep the momentum going throughout the day. I am totally impressed with Ollie’s knowledge of the stream, Euro nymphing techniques, ability to read the water and spot fishes. He made the whole trip fun and relaxed. Learned a lot and had heaps of laughs along the way too. Couldn’t have asked for a better experience — highly recommended!"
Josh - New Zealand
