The season started on Saturday and Otago rivers are expected to attract everyday Kiwi anglers and international visitors.
Aotearoa Anglers guide Jeff Forsee is based at Lake Hāwea and has fished around the world, including Alaska and Mongolia.
"New Zealand's very much on the radar for international trout anglers," he said.
Sight-fishing for trout in the high country was something special, he said.
"These are beautiful, clear mountain streams."
Mr Forsee described the activity as much like hunting — spotting trout and then coming up with a plan to catch them.
It was a chance to forget about the chaos of the world and disconnect, he said.
A report by the New Zealand Institute of Economic Research said anglers spent from $113million to $139m each year on their trips and supported more than 1000 jobs nationwide.
— Allied Media
