Three Tips to Improve Your Fly Fishing Techniques Guide Talk: Hannah Julie Clement
In this edition of Guide Talk, we sit down with Hannah Julie Clement, a passionate fly angler and guide based in New Zealand. Known for her expertise on remote rivers and her commitment to sharing the sport, @shes_on_the_fly, Hannah dives into her journey, her favorite fishing spots, and what it’s like to guide in some of the most stunning and untamed landscapes in the world.
What are your top three tips for someone just starting out with fly fishing? Anything you wish you’d known when you began?
First and most important thing would be to believe in yourself and back yourself..! Fly fishing can be technical and can become so overwhelming but it is so so rewarding. I tell my clients all the time ‘we were all beginners at some stage’ and realising that your not going to be the best caster or catch fish instantly is ok..! Dont put too much pressure on yourself and have fun. It may only be small steps at the start but they all add up.!
Second tip… invest in some casting lessons. These are INVALUABLE…! If you don’t have a lot of time actually out on the water you wanna make sure the time spent is WELL spent making the most of opportunities. Investing in a casting lesson here and there is actually investing in yourself and will help so much on your fishing journey. You will be better at reading the casts, distance and delivering the fly to the fish the first time. It may not be super important internationally but I know here in NZ I say if your not first your last… first casts count..!
Third tip.. if you’re unsure… ask. I wish I had the confidence to ask or even just chat to like minded people when I first started. I felt silly, and that they’d think ‘what a newb..’ but in most cases fishos LOVE talking shit about fishing..! we’re all here and in it for the same thing.. because we have a common hobby or interest. The fishing industry love helping newbys and coming from retail I froth when I get a customer who knows bugger all about it but are heller keen to learn..! Id talk to them for hours explaining the ins and outs. There are also so many fishing clubs out there now days..! I wish there were more of them when I first started. They are amazing and you meet so many diverse people who are willing to help and just want to see you succeed.
Hannah, how did you first get hooked on fly fishing, and what was it that really drew you in?
I first got hooked on fly fishing when I started venturing out with a friend who happened to be a guide. I am very fortunate to have been taught by someone who has a wealth of knowledge, experience and patience and I picked it up pretty quickly. After I got a couple of fish under my belt and could cast well enough that the fly would go in the water (not in the willow tree) I began heading out most days off in search of trout. Sometimes I would walk a river and just watch the trout for hours… wondering why they would move this way or that…. Checking out their behaviour and learning what I knew very little about. From there being outdoors in the quietness of the river was becoming more alluring than anything. The fact that it can be just you, the fish and the river was so relaxing for me. It took me away from the pressures of everyday life, away from social media, away from others and allowed me to really dive into something I felt a true passion and excitment for. I am forever learning with fly fishing and it challenges me constantly, reminding me that its ok not to succeed all of the time. To be out with clients, family or friends and be camped next to the river are what gives me the most enjoyment. Joys and highs… it removes all pressures, and makes you really focus on the now and be in the moment. That is immeasurable to me.
You’ve fished in some amazing spots! What’s one place that totally blew your mind, and why?
I can’t tell you just how many places that amaze me in my travels around NZ. Every river has a different purpose to me… a different meaning. There is one river that really resonates with me. It’s a bush clad stream, not very big, totally secluded in the back country far away from service and people… away from electronics and a hard remote slog in. It isn’t a big fish river, it doesn't have a really big flow either but it really holds a special place because of its rawness. Many places feel like people have been there before. You can see some form of human interaction, yet this river felt so natural… so Jurassic. It impresses me that we still have these spots here in such a little country and I love losing myself in these untouched rivers. The fishing does help of course. There are plenty of fish to keep you busy and a lot of them are on the mid range of 3-5lb. They fight like trophies and the water is hard and boisterous keeping you on your toes, pushing your gear to the limits. That’s always exciting but it really is the rough, harsh, unforgiving, naturally beautiful river that attracts me.. and this had it all.
Being a guide has its ups and downs—what made you take the leap into guiding, and how’s the ride been so far?
At the time (10years ago) I was working at a place called Hunting and Fishing and was finding I needed more of a challenge in my job. Being in retails there’s only so far you can go up the ladder and I knew deep down I needed to be within the fishing sector so I emailed a few people and asked if becoming a guide would be the right move. At the time there were no full time registered female guides in NZ so I was a little hesitant to head in that direction… nervous if a female presence would either enhance or be discouraged. A few people got in touch and I made the leap into guiding with a lodge who helped with managing clients and expectations etc along with cutting my teeth in actually guiding people onto fish which was invaluable. I was really lucky to have the support of a lot of friends and family as there were a few tough times in those first few years, finding where I belonged in the scale of things. I can’t stress enough how important it was or is to have supportive people behind you that you can talk to when things became tough… there were a few times where I thought about leaving the industry because there were a lot of politics. Becoming my own guide and realising my own expectations and abilities took a lot more confidence than I thought being the only female at that time and I’m not going to lie… not everybody was supportive of me being there. Eventually I went out on my own and started my own company. Chasing back country camp trips with clients and remote multi day missions was where it was at for me. I found I became more driven and determined to succeed not necessarily catching trophy fish but providing the best possible day for clients and not feeling the need to compete with others. The whole experience is important to me, not just the fishing. From there I haven’t looked back. A few things have changed as they do over time but the eagerness and drive is still there to hike in for a few days and push the boundaries. I’m very lucky I have a great relationship with my Hunting and Fishing bosses and I can share my time working in the shop while still guiding through some of the spring and summer months. Being in the outdoors helps with my mental strength on a whole different level… I can feel myself getting cabin fever during the off season and long for the days to just be on the river, at the end of a days fishing chatting with clients and friends about absolutely nothing important… it resets, refreshes and grounds me again. I can’t tell you just how important it is to me to get that recharge from fly fishing. However, there’s nothing I love more than going to sleep knowing all you have to do tomorrow is get up and spend the entire day fishing with friends/clients and searching that next pool. My partner actually puts a time limit on my exploring now as the last pool always turns into another KM of walking up the river…!
As a woman in the fly fishing world, what’s the vibe like? Are you seeing any cool changes in the community?
It’s taken a wee while to really start changing down in this country I feel. Just in terms of numbers of woman fishing and making a presence as our population is so much smaller to begin with but they are definitely changing..! It’s great to see a lot more woman give fishing a go or really dive into it..! It’s a non judgemental sport really, the fish don’t care what you look like, what you wear, who you are or what you do, whether your a male or female… they care about fly presentation and selection. It’s so refreshing and enticing for more woman to get involved and immerse themselves into an incredible community. I can’t be happier when I meet fellow females in the sport and see the passion they have for it like I do. I’d always love to see more but it is nice to have some friends in the industry that bounce off each other and keep the froth alive..! Currently I believe there are 4 registered female fly fishing guides in NZ and I’d love to see that number rise..! It’s great to have a bigger fishing community for woman developed here in NZ. We have our NZ fishing ferns, our woman comp team who are doing us all proud competing internationally, lots of regional clubs and some lodges who cater for woman’s week. It’s a great opportunity to get yourself involved with like minded people if you’re not typically the person to go seeking outdoor activity. Fly fishing doesn’t have to be strenuous or difficult, I get a lot of woman in the shop who are so surprised at how little gear you need or how many clubs there are and how easy it is to get into it..!
With all the fishing, guiding, and sharing your adventures on @shes_on_the_fly, how do you keep it fun and balanced?
Haha. Some would say it’s never balanced…! I’m quite lucky that my partner and kids are really outdoorsy people. When I’m not guiding or working in the shop I’m trying to explore new rivers and the kids are always keen for adventures. Craig my partner is a great fishing buddy as he can’t really fish but loves to be the ‘net bitch’ as we call it. Whether I’m guiding, or fishing personally it’s always fun for me, it’s not about the fish (sometimes it is don’t get me wrong…) but more about trout behaviour and figuring problems out with approach or complex situations. I love a really challenging trout as it tests every skill I’ve got and I still get humbled by them..! Ive recently been hooking trout and letting our youngest play them. She’s shown the most enthusiasm for fly fishing and is absolutely frothing to go out which of course I’m encouraging..! That’s been really rewarding for me, to see her face light up and is keen to get stuck in each time and asking to head out… what more encouragement do you need..?!
For me everything has a season, I keep fishing a priority during the months of oct-April. After that I have my hunting seasons with deer, ducks, chamois and tahr. Then in August and September I’m at the fly tying desk prepping again for the new season having to rearrange fly boxes and flies. It’s all a roundabout really.
What’s next for you, both in guiding and your personal fishing adventures? Any dream destinations still calling your name?
I think I’d like to keep on with how my business is tracking for a few more years. expand my knowledge base with more diverse regions than my familiar haunts, or areas. NZ is a pretty big fishery and there’s PLENTY of rivers around… It’s always good to explore new rivers and helps elevate the pressure from certain fisheries. In terms of personal fishing I’d love to hone in on skills more. I really thrive on cracking challenging trout… walking up to a pool wondering how the heck I’m gonna trick this dinosaur. I once waited 2 hours before I made a single cast..! Everyone can always develop their skills though and I am no exception. I still learn most days even from clients. They keep me in check as much as I do to them..!
In terms of destinations…. Bolivia is calling my name…! Total bucket list for me… and I think it’s because it seems quite similar to NZ trout. Sight fishing to giant fish, green surroundings and totally immersed in nature. I know I’m gonna be as happy as a pig in shit when I get there… although… a lot more creepy crawleys over there and things that can harm you so it adds to the thrill and adventure..! it will happen it’s just a matter of when. Another place would be the Seychelles. There’s something almost enticingly scary about chasing GT’s in an unforgiving place that makes you wanna go… ha..! The weather, reef, fish and remoteness… what’s not to love..?! It’s these wild and raw places that draw my attention… in truth I haven’t actually ever done any form of salt water fly fishing however good things take time and I find it hard to leave my country when so many anglers come to visit a world class place… perhaps I’ll start with somewhere like Christmas Island or Autataki first… I don’t like eating any type of fish so food may be a problem..!
