Jeremy Norris, 45, was a frequent visitor to Lake Taupo and was described by friends as the "ultimate fly-fishing bum"

An angler whose body was found in the Tongariro River was a British writer who travelled the world chasing fishing adventures.

Jeremy Norris, 45, was a frequent visitor to Lake Taupo and was described by friends as the "ultimate fly-fishing bum" who devoted his life to trout fishing.

A line of fishermen braved steady rain yesterday to fish the Waitahanui rip near Taupo to pay tribute to him.

He would spend six weeks around Taupo every year, "fishing until he dropped", close friend Gary Lyttle said yesterday. He would live out of his van selling trout flies to buy food.

Mr Norris was named by police yesterday after his body was found snagged on rocks upstream from the National Trout Centre near Turangi on Monday afternoon. He is believed to have slipped and drowned.

"Everyone is absolutely shocked by his death," Mr Lyttle said. "Jeremy had only been in the country for less than week ... everyone here was looking forward to meeting him again."

Mr Norris qualified as a graphic artist but gave up the 9-5 routine to pursue his love of fishing, according to hiswebsite.

His fishing adventures had taken him around the world after he landed a giant fish in Gambia, west Africa, in 1993, the website says.

With only a camera and a fishing rod for company, he fished in Egypt, Kenya, India, Portugal, Australia, Belize, Honduras, Christmas Island, Venezuela, Zimbabwe, the United States and Canada.

"He was a very sociable character, he liked the locals who fished in the Waitahanui River," Mr Lyttle said. "Friends would joke with him that he was the illegitimate son of an English lord. He lived on peanuts and we would joke with him on how he was able to live the lifestyle."