For our first visit to Wanaka this week, my friend Karl and I had to fortune to be guided by Matt Butler. What a superb 3 days - we experienced... read more completely contrasting rivers in Central Otago just after the floods. The best the region had to offer when the going in some places was not easy.
Matt is an all round top notch guide - planning, organisation, spotting the impossible to see fish, stream craft and landing solid fish. I would recommend Matt to anglers of all levels.
Having been fortunate enough to fish throughout NZ over the years, Matt imparted new and improved techniques. A very patient and knowledgeable guide, and simply a great Kiwi.
If you’re planning a trip into the back country then Matt is definitely your guide. Thanks for showing me the beautiful gem of a river today.
Look forward fishing with you again!
Frank

  We hired Matt for 3 days of fly fishing in the South Island out of Wanaka. His knowledge of the area and rivers, and ability to put you on... read more big, trophy fish was unbelievable. He has 'eagle eyes' and can spot fish that even other trained fisherman would never be able to see. He's also a great student of the sport and very knowledgeable to tips, tricks and techniques to fish in all sorts of conditions. Not to mention, he's just a great guy and a pleasure to chat with over many hours on the water. I would highly recommend Matt if you have any interest in fly fishing in the South Island of New Zealand. We've fished all over the world, and no doubt, this was some of our best days on the water and a once in a lifetime experience. He's fantastic and we will certainly be ringing him up again for future trips!

  We had a great day out with Matt in Central Otago on big browns with rainbows in between. He put us onto plenty of fish and we had a... read more great day

  Matt was very professional and knowledgeable about everything fly fishing in New Zeland. My friend and I (Intermediate and beginner anglers) had an incredible day with Matt! He was very... read more easy to talk to and helped guide us through every step without being too hands on. With his patience and helping hand we ended up catching three fish!! I would 100% recommend him to anyone who is looking to spend a day on the riverbank, learning from one of the best guides out there!

  At the time of my 5 day trip with Matt most of the rivers near Wanaka and the surrounding area were blown out, however the trip was far from a... read more bust. Thanks to Matt's knowledge of the area we were able to find clear water everyday and caught all but one or two fish sighted. We also never blanked once! Matt is a phenomenal angler, teacher and guide who I would recommend to people of all skill levels. I cannot say enough good things about the experience, the trip and Matt. I learned more about trout fishing during my 5 days with Matt than I could have in 5 years fishing back home in Michigan. Would highly recommend booking your trip before it is too late! Also would DEFINITELY recommend getting in as much 12 o'clock casting practice as possible before your trip. I made the mistake of not doing so and it defiantly costed me the opportunity at landing even more fish than I did. Don't make the same mistake I did!

  Matt Butler is knowledgeable, professional fly fishing guide. We had a wonderful day on the “Manu” with him and were thrilled to catch rainbow trout and get very close to... read more reeling in some browns. I highly recommend Matt to anyone who wants an outstanding fly fishing experience.

  Had the pleasure of being guided by Matt this April,2019. His skill and knowledge is top notch, but what I really appreciated was his genuine desire to make our fishing... read more experience the best it could be. He worked with my son and I, teaching us the skills needed to catch those elusive New Zealand browns. His instructions are invaluable and I am a much better fisher because of Matt's guidance. We netted a few and lost many more. Matt, sorry about not keeping the angle correct on that last one. Would have liked to get that first fly that broke off back to you. The views on the second day were breathtaking. Worth the price without wetting a line. It was a pleasure to spend those two days with you. Your passion for life is contagious and has certainly rubbed off on my son and me. Go catch that record Roosterfish. Enjoy Japan. Go All Blacks!!!!

  I had the pleasure of meeting and fishing with Matt this March, 2019. He was a pleasure to be with for the day. The trout I usually catch... read more range from a pound to maybe two so I was looking forward to catching the larger browns I had read about in NZ. Matt communicated with me several times prior to the trip, provided me with all the gear for the day as well as a good lunch. He picked me up in Wanaka on time, and we drove a distance to a wonderful spot. We talked about everything along the way. His experiences fishing, my family, etc.. He makes you feel at home. Upon arriving to our fishing location be prepared to walk a ways. It is worth it. We were alone the entire day. Matt schooled me on how they fish "up stream" in NZ. He sight fished and located some very nice fish. I was able to catch the trout of my dreams with Matt. What I was most thankful for was his direction on how to handle the fish after hook up. He is a knowledgable fellow with extreme patience. Listen carefully whether you are a beginner or a seasoned fisherman you will learn from him. I did. For example, I learned how to nymph fish NZ style from Matt. It takes some doing but Matt will talk you through it, or even show you how on the water. Since I've been home and using what I learned, my catch rate has increased. I thank him for a wonderful experience. I already have sent his name on to my friends here at home. Hopefully they too can hook up with him and have a similar experience when they visit this wonderful country.