A Brown Trout, a Dinner Table, and the Magic of New Zealand

By Jen Ripple

As a professional fly angler, owner of a fly fishing magazine, and freelance outdoor writer, I’ve had some incredible opportunities to travel the world and host fly fishing trips. I recently had the opportunity to host a women’s fly fishing trip to Owen River Lodge in Owen River, New Zealand, on the South Island in April—an experience that reminded me why we travel, why we fish, and why community matters most.

Partnering with April Vokey of Anchored Outdoors and Linda Leary of FisheWear, we gathered a group of remarkable women—some old friends, some new—in one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever visited. Owen River Lodge is a premier destination lodge: charming and comfortable accommodations, world-class chefs serving up unforgettable meals, and access to some of the finest trout water on the planet – all without any predators of any kind. No snakes, no bears, nothing that can harm you except some pesky sand flies. It truly is paradise. It’s Jurassic Park without the dinosaurs.

We spent our days wade fishing crystal-clear rivers, walking stretches that were long but manageable, all set against the backdrop of New Zealand’s untouched landscape. The weather was beautiful, except for one day when a few of us ventured out by boat to a more remote area. That day the wind was howling, it was cold and rainy, but it turned out to be the most memorable: it was there I caught not only the largest brown trout of the trip—an 8-pounder—but also my personal best brown to date.

By Jen Ripple

As a professional fly angler, owner of a fly fishing magazine, and freelance outdoor writer, I’ve had some incredible opportunities to travel the world and host fly fishing trips. I recently had the opportunity to host a women’s fly fishing trip to Owen River Lodge in Owen River, New Zealand, on the South Island in April—an experience that reminded me why we travel, why we fish, and why community matters most.

Partnering with April Vokey of Anchored Outdoors and Linda Leary of FisheWear, we gathered a group of remarkable women—some old friends, some new—in one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever visited. Owen River Lodge is a premier destination lodge: charming and comfortable accommodations, world-class chefs serving up unforgettable meals, and access to some of the finest trout water on the planet – all without any predators of any kind. No snakes, no bears, nothing that can harm you except some pesky sand flies. It truly is paradise. It’s Jurassic Park without the dinosaurs.

We spent our days wade fishing crystal-clear rivers, walking stretches that were long but manageable, all set against the backdrop of New Zealand’s untouched landscape. The weather was beautiful, except for one day when a few of us ventured out by boat to a more remote area. That day the wind was howling, it was cold and rainy, but it turned out to be the most memorable: it was there I caught not only the largest brown trout of the trip—an 8-pounder—but also my personal best brown to date.

By Jen Ripple

As a professional fly angler, owner of a fly fishing magazine, and freelance outdoor writer, I’ve had some incredible opportunities to travel the world and host fly fishing trips. I recently had the opportunity to host a women’s fly fishing trip to Owen River Lodge in Owen River, New Zealand, on the South Island in April—an experience that reminded me why we travel, why we fish, and why community matters most.

Partnering with April Vokey of Anchored Outdoors and Linda Leary of FisheWear, we gathered a group of remarkable women—some old friends, some new—in one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever visited. Owen River Lodge is a premier destination lodge: charming and comfortable accommodations, world-class chefs serving up unforgettable meals, and access to some of the finest trout water on the planet – all without any predators of any kind. No snakes, no bears, nothing that can harm you except some pesky sand flies. It truly is paradise. It’s Jurassic Park without the dinosaurs.

We spent our days wade fishing crystal-clear rivers, walking stretches that were long but manageable, all set against the backdrop of New Zealand’s untouched landscape. The weather was beautiful, except for one day when a few of us ventured out by boat to a more remote area. That day the wind was howling, it was cold and rainy, but it turned out to be the most memorable: it was there I caught not only the largest brown trout of the trip—an 8-pounder—but also my personal best brown to date.

By Jen Ripple

As a professional fly angler, owner of a fly fishing magazine, and freelance outdoor writer, I’ve had some incredible opportunities to travel the world and host fly fishing trips. I recently had the opportunity to host a women’s fly fishing trip to Owen River Lodge in Owen River, New Zealand, on the South Island in April—an experience that reminded me why we travel, why we fish, and why community matters most.

Partnering with April Vokey of Anchored Outdoors and Linda Leary of FisheWear, we gathered a group of remarkable women—some old friends, some new—in one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever visited. Owen River Lodge is a premier destination lodge: charming and comfortable accommodations, world-class chefs serving up unforgettable meals, and access to some of the finest trout water on the planet – all without any predators of any kind. No snakes, no bears, nothing that can harm you except some pesky sand flies. It truly is paradise. It’s Jurassic Park without the dinosaurs.

We spent our days wade fishing crystal-clear rivers, walking stretches that were long but manageable, all set against the backdrop of New Zealand’s untouched landscape. The weather was beautiful, except for one day when a few of us ventured out by boat to a more remote area. That day the wind was howling, it was cold and rainy, but it turned out to be the most memorable: it was there I caught not only the largest brown trout of the trip—an 8-pounder—but also my personal best brown to date.

And yet, as is more often the case on these trips, the best part of the trip wasn’t the fishing. It was the time around the dinner table, hearing about the adventures of the day, and laughing. There’s a unique kind of magic on an all-women’s trip like this—a sense of camaraderie and shared experience that stays with you long after the flights home. That’s how real friendships are made.

For those considering a trip to New Zealand, let me say this: move it to the top of your list. Besides being a long flight, getting to the lodge is easy-breezy. I flew into Auckland and spent bookend days exploring the city with Linda. Auckland is safe, has great shopping, and is full of surprises. If you’re into boutique shopping and strong coffee, the Ponsonby neighborhood will steal your heart. And for foodies, Commercial Bay offers an impressive array of global cuisine that’ll leave you planning your next meal before you’ve finished the last bite.

Gear-wise, you will need a 6 wt for these monsters. If you’re thinking twice about bringing your own gear halfway across the globe, then don’t worry. The lodge has everything you could ever need (and more) in every size imaginable. In fact, it’s probably a smarter choice to just borrow your waders and boots from the lodge, like I did, since Biosecurity at the New Zealand Airport has a very strict policy on bringing in outdoor gear, and unless it’s new, you’ll probably have issues.

Trips like this remind me that fly fishing is never just about the fish—it’s about the places it takes me and the people I meet along the way. Owen River Lodge gave all of us more than big browns and great food; it gave us memories and new friends that will last a lifetime. I may have come home with a personal best, but more importantly, I came renewed with a deep appreciation for the power of travel, fly, and the great community of female anglers.