Testimonials

Barry Hawyes – UK, 2017

I have fished with Andrew annually from 2015. That means a lot of time spent on the water and a time that has resulted in us becoming friends.
Andrew is outstanding in his field – his knowledge of waters both local and back country is second to none and he always goes the extra mile to get your fish.
Every day’s fishing with Andrew has been memorable and I look forward to many more.
In addition to fishing knowledge you need to have a guide that gives you confidence that you will be safe.
Andrew always delivers on this.

Walter Fenning – USA, 2017

Andrew,

I wanted to thank you for a fantastic 2 days of fishing. I could not have asked for anything more from our time together. You put me on lots of fish, considerably improved my casting, showed me a couple new techniques, answered questions about your country and we had a jolly time together.

Hope I can get back again some time to fish with you.

Best of luck with your new child and I wish you all success.

Regards,

Walter

Sara Fleming – USA, 2016

Thomas Andrews –  2015

I’ve fished the Tongariro and surrounding rivers for over 15 years, and thought I’d seen it all. Sure, the rivers change from time to time after a flood, but there aren’t too many other surprises for a Taupo angler, right? My most recent day out with Andrew in August 2015 showed me how much I still have to learn, and more importantly, how well Andrew understands the fishery. Andrew took me to a couple of places that I’d literally driven past for many years (but never fished), showed me how to read the different kinds of holding water, how to approach each pool and run, and shared a couple of his secret flies and rigs. We caught many fish, but more importantly I learned a lot from him on that day. It’s reinvigorated my interest in the winter fishery, and I’m looking forward to trying Andrew’s strategies in a few other rivers on my own. A day with Andrew is truly an investment, regardless of your experience. I recommend Andrew without hesitation, he’s Taupo’s #1 trout guide.

Vern and Samuel Hines – Auckland, 2013

Hi Andrew,
Just wanted to say thanks so much for the absolutely outstanding hunting trip last week that Samuel and I had with you.
I’m 51 and have wanted to go on a deer hunt for many years but have been worried about all the lead flying around in the main hunting areas in the north island!!
The fact you have access to a big private area where no one else is shooting was the clincher, especially for my wife.
The whole package is fantastic mate, from the safety and familiarity lesson with the rifle up at the gun range, (Man that’s a loud gun!!!) to the brilliant accommodation you’ve got at your place (The Bach!!! Pretty flash bach) then the pre dawn start the next day and the coffee at the Turangi bakery on the way thru to the hunting block was a great way to start the hunting day.
The excitement levels really started to build as we began to drive into the bush area and once we parked it was good you calmed us down with another safety lesson and a really clear description of how we would actually go about the hunt.
The hunt itself was awesome from spooking one in the first 10 minutes, to seeing all that sign in the bush and then, after creeping thru the bush like a commando for a while, we finally caught up with them.
Luckily there are quite a few deer here as Samuel missing his first shot didn’t matter in the end, as he nailed his first deer about 30 minutes later (the poor guy’s heart was beating at about 200 and his hands shaking like a leaf).
The wait for mine was awesome, hiding behind that tree stump, and when I was just starting to think there were no deer in the bush across the valley we were spying on, holy crap they showed themselves!!! ALL TEN OF THEM!!!.  The slide/stumble/run down the hill when they weren’t looking was a real adrenaline buzz and the final scramble up to the ridge to take the shot is something I’ll never forget.
Man!. we now had plenty of venison to take back to the family, yeehah.
Thank god you drove us back mate as we were knackered, mainly from so much adrenaline in our bodies, although you couldn’t shut us up eh?
The other important part of the package is you being able to hang the deer overnight at your place, while your lovely wife cooked us an awesome dinner (venison casserole to keep with the theme) a great feed and only 2 beers and we slept the sleep of the dead!
Then next morning, skinning the deer, taking them to the butcher and working out what cuts we wanted was the completion of an outstanding package mate.
10 out of 10 Andrew, and the only thing I would change would be to get my own sniper rifle so I could knock over one of those spooky little Fallow deer from 500 metres!!
We will definitely be back.
If any prospective hunters want to talk to me that’s allgood 021953819.

Cheers Vern and Samuel Hines

Ian Smith – Brisbane, 2013

I have just had the pleasure of a week’s worth of Andrew’s guiding after visiting from arid Queensland with some mates. I have fished the area many times but I still find it incredibly useful to have current local knowledge (i.e a guide!!). This year I caught more trout then the past 20 years combined fishing the Tongariro solo! I even saw my backing! Such fat healthy fresh fish, we were spoiled. What an amazing place to live and work! I brought on this trip 3 friends, 2 had never fly fished before and had different degrees of confidence in fast water. From our group of 4, Andrew would take 2 guys each day, the other 2 weren’t really left to fend for themselves but were directed to water suitable for their abilities. Andrew made sure we all caught fish and fished within our comfort zones. He knows the place so well he could cater for all of us in some way. I love skinny water sight casting and I was even able to sight cast a fish out of shallow rapids in winter. There is more to guiding than just knowing the location. A guide has to be good company too. The 4 of us had a great time and thoroughly enjoyed fishing with Andrew. We will be back! I have fly fished for 30 years now and never stop learning. Having Andrew on my shoulder was fantastic. Technical skills tips, constant suggestions, always something or somewhere new to try. I do have to say though that its good to be back home in 30 degrees!! So long and thanks for all the fish! See you

Jeremy Church – South Island

Just got back to reality after an amazing days fishing with Andrew on the Hinemaia, it was easily my most successful and enjoyable day on the river. Andrew put my Dad and I onto fish throughout the length and breadth of this little river, I can safely say I well and truly lost count of the fish we hooked and landed! Cheers Andrew for a stunning day on the river, hard to think we could ever top that day but can’t wait to try with you next time we are in town.

William Newton and Ed Shryne – London

After booking our flights to New Zealand earlier this month Ed and I knew exactly who to contact with regard to fishing in the Taupo region of New Zealand from our previous experiences 4 years ago. The following day, after landing in Auckland, we were on the Hinemiaia at 7am with Andrew. His enthusiasm and passion for the sport had not changed in the slightest since we were last here, even though he had aged by four years!e Andrew is always assessing the next tactics and his mind never falters from the task in hand. As a consequence, we caught 15 incredible fish on our first day, 16 on our second day and 10 on our last days guiding. Andrew takes an enormous amount of pride when he lands a fish for a client and for that we are extremely appreciative of his keenness of “A fish on situation moment!”
Besides the fishing his sense of humour and personality is a pleasure to be around and thus has given us many happy memories to treasure and an enormous amount of laughs were exchanged during our 3 days guiding with Andrew. Essentially, this trip to Taupo was a last holiday before we start our graduate schemes with property firms back in the UK having just graduated from University in July. During our two week vacation we were primarily fishing the rivers running into Taupo, as a result we caught just short of 60 fish on four of the different rivers between the two of us and without doubt this success would not have been achievable without the support and generosity that Andrew gave to us throughout our trip. Undoubtedly the fishing in New Zealand is far superior to any fishing that can be obtained within the UK and therefore we were prepared to travel 18,331 kilometres to fish the spectacle New Zealand has to offer. Andrew, we will be back very shortly and thank you ever so much once again for a truly memorable two weeks. No holiday on earth can ever match the delights and excitements that New Zealand fishing has to give.

Derek Helliwell – Auckland

I’ve been fishing the Taupo region for about 7 years now and have used several guides in that time. For the past 2 years I have used Andrew Christmas and have not tried anyone else since because, quite frankly, I think I have found the best guide!
I usually visit for a few days at a time and by using Andrew at the start of my visit gives me a valuable update on the rivers in the area – and he is one guide who seriously knows his stuff. I have yet to fail on any of my many trips with him, and have caught some cracking fish both on the Taupo rivers (Tongariro, Waiatahanui, Hinemaia, etc) and at Lake O (it felt great to catch seven 5lb-plus fish when everyone around me was catching nothing at all).
A full day fishing can be hard on the body but Andrew makes sure there is plenty of food (excellent catering!) and he’s very relaxed and the type of person you can have a really good laugh with – he has a great sense of humour which is crucial in making the day go so easily. I would heartily recommend trying Andrew first – there is a very good reason why he’s the busiest guide in Taupo, and it has everything to do with his ability to put you onto the best fishing. I will definitely be using Andrew again on my next trip to Taupo.

Bryan Smith – Las Vegas

I would like to thank Andrew for the wonderful two days of fishing that I spent with him on the Tongariro.  It was one of the best trips of my life and I owe much of its success to his expertise and company.  Fishing with the best guide on one of the top rivers in the world yielded many impressive fish including the fish of a lifetime- a 10lb brown.  We fished all types of water, used a variety of different methods, and, most importantly, had a great time.  I have fished many of the top rivers in the world and can safely say that the Tongariro River is my favorite.
I can’t wait to return next year to see what else Andrew has up his sleeves and show my fishing buddies how good fishing can be!
Talk to you soon,
Bryan

Dave and Trish Ryno -  Colorado USA

My new wife and I recently spent our honeymoon in New Zealand. We had booked with another guide ten months in advance and we found out the day before our first day of fishing that he would not be able to make it and that Andrew would be our guide. While we were at first frustrated, it turned out to be a blessing in disguise. On short notice, Andrew was able to plan our days, organize our gear and schedule quad bikes and a helicopter. Within an hour of being notified that he would be our guide, he had every detail arranged. It was quite impressive! He took us to three very different locations – each with beautiful scenery but diverse terrains and views and each providing successful fishing. And while the fishing was great, Andrew’s patience and refreshing personality were even better. Andrew is not only a skilled angler, but also a naturally talented angler. He is extremely knowledgeable about New Zealand, the backcountry, and it’s pristine rivers. The weather altered our third day of fishing and Andrew accommodated that by adjusting his schedule to our availability within our itinerary which was just one of many examples of how Andrew went out of his way to make our experience the best possible. We are already planning for a return trip to the South Island in two years – but only after stopping on the North Island to have Andrew guide us for 2-3 more days. We have fished quite a bit but we learned a lot from Andrew in our three days with him and we will never forget the experience he provided for us. Thank you, Andrew.for making our New Zealand fishing experience more than we could have asked for!

Matt Martin – Melbourne, Australia

Thanks for the fantastic 3 days of guiding for Dad and myself. We had a great time, caught some beautiful fish and learnt heaps.  Dad had never fly fished before, but I think we have another convert thanks to your patience, humour and extensive knowledge. Wonderful experience, highly recommended. Look forward to coming back soon.

Paul Dyson – Tairua, New Zealand

After being on the river with Andrew I now understand why he has a reputation as ‘The Top Guide’ on the Tongariro. He showed me where the fish were and how to catch them. Not only did I catch 8 fish including two Brownies of 7.5lb and 6lb, but I also learnt new techniques and skills that will help me in the future. His knowledge and patience are unsurpassed and mixed with his great sense of humour make a day with Andrew totally awesome.

Jake Walsh and Lori Moore – Durango, CO, USA

I‘ve been an avid fly-fisher for over 12 years now. I have fished the rivers and lakes of the southwest United States and in Canada. My love for fly-fishing has enriched my life and never had it been more enriched then fishing with Andrew Christmas in New Zealand. My fiancee and I planned to fly-fish guideless while visiting the Taupo area, until we heard of “Christmas on the River”. We were told that booking Andrew was a must for a great fishing experience. They were right, and I’m so glad we found him. We landed the most beautiful trout we have seen. They were big too. It was awesome! Lori and I agree that the day we had with Andrew was the highlight of our month-long vacation. We thank Andrew for creating that with us.
I have fished with many guides in my day and I know that it takes a special skill-set to do it well. Not only can Andrew find you fish but his personality enhances the fishing experience as well. He’s a cool guy!

Jake Walsh and Lori Moore
Durango, CO

Danny Gray – Scotland

On arriving in Taupo, I asked several sources for a good river guide and the same name came up each time. Knowing how valuable local knowledge is, I booked Andrew Christmas for a days fishing. After the morning session, having landed over 10 hard fighting bullets which Andrew assured me were Rainbows, I was a very happy Scotsman. Andrew’s knowledge of the river pools and runs accounted for 99% of these fish, I like to think I fluked one on my own! After lunch, Andrew took me to one of his ‘secret’ places, a cracking little spot which tested my casting ability, or lack there of. But Andrew was on hand to retrieve my fly from a tree, and falling into the river at the same time much to my amusement! 🙂 The day culminated with a flash of a mouth and the 2 of us shouting like kids after Andrew netted the 8lb monster brown which gulped my Hares Lug! I would strongly recommend Andrew to all from complete beginner (he tells me he loves them) to seasoned expert. His knowledge and experience of the river (and pubs) is second to none, and the banter is even better. Cheers mate, I shall return!

Calvin Chinn – Singapore

When I wrote to inquire about guiding for a day with Andrew and telling him we were a family of 4, I was skeptical that he would be able to accommodate us. With only one experienced fly fisherman amongst us, it would be a tough ask. But when the day came, he showed the patience and professionalism of a true guide and made the day one of the highlights of our trip to NZ. I have fished around the world and I will say that Andrew is an outstanding professional. I will be returning to NZ and Andrew has already been primed of our return.

Vic Krzyzanski – USA

In my thirty years of flyfishing Andrew is, by far, the best guide I’ve come across. Andrew is professional, personable, patient and knowledgeable. He knows the water and has a keen sense for locating fish. The novice, as well the experienced fisherman, will benefit from his guidance. It was a total pleasure to fish with him.

Russell Nitardy – Wisconsin, USA

I want to thank you for one of my greatest fishing experiences. I have fished in Mexico, Canada, Alaska and the USA and this was the highlight of my New Zealand vacation to be able to fish with you for an afternoon. I only wish I could have done a full day with you. It was a real treat to fish with you and would recommend you to any one.

Marilynn Bruton – NZ

My day on the river with fly fisher (guide extraordinaire) Andrew Christmas was magic. Not only is he a great guy, he has a superb personality and a droll wit. He revealed an amazing knowledge of all things piscatorial, took me to this beautiful (drop dead picture postcard stuff) stretch of the Tongariro river and we fished. Without a doubt I had a great time, we caught 5 fish, 2 of them trophy trout. Not only had Andrew arranged my accommodation, provided some gear, he even made arrangements for one of the fish to be smoked! The guy will be a legend if he keeps his wits about him, perhaps he is one already?

Dave and Erika – Canada

Great experience! Andrew was knowledgeable in both the fishing and the local area. We received excellent door-to-door service and didn’t need to pack anything but the camera! We will be recommending fishing with Andrew to anyone we know visiting the Taupo area.

Sue Ogorman – NZ

I have been out with Andrew a couple of times – and I will go out with him again at any opportunity, he’s a great guy and a great guide. On the girls weekend – one honorary girl with us – (not that normal for girls to be on the water apparently) he was very patient, we caught three fish, all keepers, and it was our first time out, and he produced an absolutely fabulous lunch – trout and artichoke pie and a bottle of bubbles! The other fishermen reckoned the only reason we caught the fish was the pheremones.
I had such a good time and enjoyed it so much that I took my family back at the start of our family holiday. July – freezing cold – this time there was Brendan (husband) and our 21 and 18 year old daughters. Again success – 3 trout and beautifully smoked and vacuum packed to take home. The 18 year old didn’t really take to it (too cold) but it was a big hit with everyone else. We’ll definitely be back when the opportunity arises. Where else can you relax, enjoy magnificent scenery – snowy mountains in the backdrop – get into the rhythm and catch a feed !! It’s fab – highly recommended.

Doris Ha – Hong Kong

Nice Guy and Nice trout fishing trip. We found Andrew through our Apartment Manager, they told me Andrew is good guide for both fishing and hiking. We catch two fish within two hours, one is 1.5 kgs and one is 2.5 kgs. Both of us very exciting!!
Andrew, we will come back soon.

Mark Osuna – Eugene, Oregon

I asked locally (Taupo) who a good guide was and Andrew was mentioned, we had 3 people fishing and Andrew handled us very well and knew the river very well. We ended up catching over 15 fish that day and I have used Andrew again since that and have always caught fish.

Beth Aldridge – Owner, Burkes Backpackers

Since purchasing Burkes Backpackers in November 2007, Andrew has become an invaluable operator for our guests.
The majority of our guests are international backpackers who are on a budget. Therefore, fly fishing is out of most of their realms in terms of an activity here in Taupo. However, Andrew has introduced a product that not only works but is getting great feedback from all of the guests that we send with him. All of them so far have come back with at least one fish having hooked a number more and have thoroughly enjoyed the unspoilt places that Andrew has taken too as well as learning, what is for most of them, a totally new skill.
Keep up the good work!