southland
Notable
Waters: Mataura and Oreti Rivers
This region encompassing Fiordland and Southland has a deserved
worldwide reputation as one of New Zealands premier brown
trout fisheries.
Southland contains numerous rivers, streams and lakes that
contain brown and rainbow trout and salmon. These rivers can be
cold and windy at times but the quality and quantity of the fish
are unsurpassed.
The Mataura is a world class fishery and perhaps New
Zealands most heavily fished river. The best reaches are
downstream from Gore, Southlands Trout Capital,
but these fish are highly intelligent creatures and should not be
considered an easy meal. The Mataura is famous for its Mad
Evening Rise of big trophy brown trout. As these huge fish
tantalisingly rise to merely dimple the surface, often in full
view of the angler, the thrill of casting precisely into the
ripples is an ultimate fishing experience. Always the unknown
factor is - will they take the lure? Suffice to say that the
Mataura is arguably the best fly-fishing river in the world.
The Oreti River west of Mossburn is well stocked with brown trout
and vies with the Mataura as an exceptional fly-fishing venue.
The Upper Waiau River drains Lake Te Anau into Lake Manapouri
with one of the largest water flows in the country. This big
water is a trout frontier-land with deep pools that might never
have yielded a trout. In common with other Southland waterways
there is a large population of trout in good condition. The low
density of anglers ensures a high probability of a catch - just
the way it should be.
Fiordland National Park contains the beautiful glacial lakes of
Te Anau and Manapouri which along with Lakes Monowai, Hauroko and
Poteriteri, are significant fisheries in their own right. The
Eglinton and Hollyford rivers are matchless scenic gems
epitomising the regions unique qualities of seclusion,
tranquillity and superlative angling.
Guided sight fishing and heli-fishing for brown and rainbow trout
is available in Te Anau, Athol, Gore, Manapouri and Invercargill.
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