Southland >Fisheries

Aparima River

The Aparima is the smallest of our large rivers. It enters the sea at Riverton and it has good fishing in its estuary. The middle reaches are accessible from roads that parallel the river for most of its length.  Anglers access points are well signposted along these roads, and are printed on our Northern Southland and Fishing surrounds Invercargill access brochures.  

Waiau River - upper

The Waiau drains the large western lakes but most of its water is diverted through a power scheme to the Deep Cove in Fiordland. However a useful residual flow is discharged through the control gates just south of Lake Manapouri. The Waiau is really two rivers. One that flows from Lake Te Anau to Lake Manapouri and the one that flows from Lake Manapouri through the Mararoa Weir, to the sea. The former is a very large river that fishes best in the late summer when caddis flies hatch. It is accessible from rough tracks that lead down to the river from the Te Anau to Manapouri road.  The photo on the right is of the Upper Waiau. Our Te Anau basin access brochure gives details.

Waiau River - Lower

The lower Waiau is a smaller river than the upper, but near the sea at Tuatapere it is a large river with good fishing all year round. The first 30km downstream of the weir provides excellent rainbow and brown trout fishing but access is limited. Several new access points have been opened recently and these are set out on our Southern Scenic Route brochure.  The reaches from the Weir are mostly wadeable but care must be taken as the boulders are large and often slippery. Fishing from dry land is safer and usually just as productive. Rainbow trout around 1kg predominate in this reach with many 2kg brown trout being caught too. The river flows through bush clad gorges where access is very difficult, but once there anglers can be assured of solitude.  The river gains a substantial flow from the Monowai River about 30km from the Weir and from here down fishing from a boat is permissible. Rainbows and browns are found fom this point to the sea. From November to March 4-5 kg Chinook salmon can be caught in this reach. They provide a nice surprise to a trout angler expecting a lively but much smaller rainbow to attack his lure.

The Waiau does not have a long estuary as other Southland rivers do but its lagoon is large and well populated with brown trout. Later winter and spring provides the best fishing, especially in the evening or early morning using a feather lure that imitates small baitfish, such as the native whitebait.

Mataura River

The Mataura is New Zealands most fished brown trout river. It is a large long river with hundreds of places that provide excellent trout fishing. Like all Southland rivers, perhaps even more so, its trout are difficult to catch for the newcomer, and even for the experienced angler catching trout on this river requres skill and local knowledge. The skill has to be learned  but local knowedge can be gained from Southland Anglers who are usually willing to provide advice. Fish and Game and local sports are good places to start.  Many locals use worms to fish for Mataura trout but visitors prefer fly fishing. On the Mataura there is room for all. We have a Mataura  River access brochure which really is needed to find the many access points available on this river. 

Oreti River

The Oreti is a large clear river with good stocks of brown trout throughout its length. Its estuary is about 20km long and easily accessible from Invercargill. The middle reaches, near the towns of Winton, Dipton and Lumsden, contain smaller fish on average, but in the upper reaches the trout are larger. Good access is available at the Mossburn Bridge.  

The middle reaches contain large numbers of backwaters such as the one pictured here. Trout can be found cruising these stillwaters throughout the day. Slowly sinking, dark coloured, fur style nymphs, about size 12, can usually get some interest from passing trout. Care must be taken as the water in these is usually clear and the trout in them are wary.