habitat. CHECK Y DR CLEAN

you have gone upstream or downstream. or upstream gone have you

water temperatures force the remaining fish to seek cooler cooler seek to fish remaining the force temperatures water your intentions on your vehicle dashboard indicating whether whether indicating dashboard vehicle your on intentions your

early in the season, before low summer flows and elevated elevated and flows summer low before season, the in early you have chosen by parking next to the appropriate sign. Leave Leave sign. appropriate the to next parking by chosen have you

your equipment. your

Six Mile Creek to the Molesworth Boundary. Indicate which beat beat which Indicate Boundary. Molesworth the to Creek Mile Six they all hold fish in varying numbers. They are better fished fished better are They numbers. varying in fish hold all they

entered or fished the Wairau unless you have sterilised all of of all sterilised have you unless Wairau the fished or entered

A voluntary beat system is in place for the Upper Wairau from from Wairau Upper the for place in is system beat voluntary A

upstream. All the major tributaries are worth exploring as as exploring worth are tributaries major the All upstream. any of the Wairau tributaries or any other rivers if you have have you if rivers other any or tributaries Wairau the of any

Upper Wairau Beat System Beat Wairau Upper

Do not enter the water or fish upstream of the Dip Flat or in in or Flat Dip the of upstream fish or water the enter not Do river system, particularly when sea-run trout are migrating migrating are trout sea-run when particularly system, river

Station. Rainbow on Flat Dip the of downstream River

and the estuarine area, but can be found throughout the the throughout found be can but area, estuarine the and

licences).

Didymo has been recorded in the mainstream of the Wairau Wairau the of mainstream the in recorded been has Didymo

Endorsement to fish these waters: (www.fishandgame.org.nz/ waters: these fish to Endorsement reaches. Larger fish are found mainly in the upper reaches reaches upper the in mainly found are fish Larger reaches.

Didymo

backcountry fisheries. Anglers must hold a Backcountry Licence Licence Backcountry a hold must Anglers fisheries. backcountry

overall, with 2–3kg fish common in the middle and upper upper and middle the in common fish 2–3kg with overall,

and the Upper Wairau (above Wash Bridge) are designated as as designated are Bridge) Wash (above Wairau Upper the and

salmon in the summer months. Wairau trout average 1.6kg 1.6kg average trout Wairau months. summer the in salmon . limits bag and regulations angling

The (upstream of confluence with Wairau), Wairau), with confluence of (upstream River Goulter The

all times. Refer to your regulation booklet for for booklet regulation Island South your to Refer times. all population of rainbow trout.. There is also a small run of of run small a also is There trout.. rainbow of population

Designated Backcountry Fisheries Backcountry Designated

A valid fishing licence is required and must be carried at at carried be must and required is licence fishing valid A

river resident and sea-run brown trout, with a growing growing a with trout, brown sea-run and resident river

Report any missing or damaged signs to Fish & Game. & Fish to signs damaged or missing any Report

Fishing Information Fishing The fish population is very mobile and is a mix of of mix a is and mobile very is population fish The

owner.

trout’s gills. trout’s unless you have the express permission of the property property the of permission express the have you unless

and discoloured water. discoloured and

Keep your hands, hooks and anything away from the the from away anything and hooks hands, your Keep • When fishing adjacent to farmland, leave your dog at home home at dog your leave farmland, to adjacent fishing When •

melting snow contributes significantly to the high flows flows high the to significantly contributes snow melting

around the tail and the other carefully cradling the fish. the cradling carefully other the and tail the around Respect private land. If in doubt, ask permission. ask doubt, in If land. private Respect •

discoloured for relatively long periods. Early in the season season the in Early periods. long relatively for discoloured

If you have to hold the fish, do it gently with one hand hand one with gently it do fish, the hold to have you If • lines were possible. were lines

experience heavy rainfalls which leave the River Wairau the leave which rainfalls heavy experience Avoid disturbing stock or trampling crops. Walk along fence fence along Walk crops. trampling or stock disturbing Avoid • Ideally, take the photo of the fish still in the water. the in still fish the of photo the take Ideally, •

at . The Wairau catchment is large and can can and large is catchment Wairau The Tuamarina. at

Do not stray into paddocks with stock. with paddocks into stray not Do • consider using gloves. using consider

Stay within river margins. river within Stay • the tidal influence below the State Highway One Bridge Bridge One Highway State the below influence tidal the Wet and cool your hands before handling the fish and and fish the handling before hands your cool and Wet •

Cross fences without damaging them. damaging without fences Cross • relatively swift throughout the river’s length until reaching reaching until length river’s the throughout swift relatively into the water without delay. without water the into

Leave gates as you find them. find you as gates Leave • If you want a photo, make it quick and get the fish back back fish the get and quick it make photo, a want you If • confined on a more stable rock and boulder bed. Flow is is Flow bed. boulder and rock stable more a on confined

Do not litter. not Do •

Work quickly and avoid touching the fish at all. at fish the touching avoid and quickly Work • bed. The upper reaches above Rainbow Station are more more are Station Rainbow above reaches upper The bed.

Park vehicles away from tracks and gates. and tracks from away vehicles Park •

Unhook the fish gently, preferably with long nosed pliers. nosed long with preferably gently, fish the Unhook • lower and middle reaches are mainly braided on a shingle shingle a on braided mainly are reaches middle and lower

Access Rules Access

Keep the trout in the net and in the water while releasing it. releasing while water the in and net the in trout the Keep • offering water types to suit all angling methods. The The methods. angling all suit to types water offering

Use a net to land your fish, preferably a knotless one. one. knotless a preferably fish, your land to net a Use • The Wairau River has over 140km of fishable water, water, fishable of 140km over has River Wairau The www.wams.org.nz

titles interface adjacent to waterways, please visit please waterways, to adjacent interface titles

Aim to land your fish quickly. quickly. fish your land to Aim • Fishing Information Fishing

For specific information on where private and public land land public and private where on information specific For Use a single hook and consider trying barbless hooks. barbless trying consider and hook single a Use •

. areas of surviving. of

by the Access Rules below to ensure the continued use of these these of use continued the ensure to below Rules Access the by that takes a toll – an exhausted fish has much less chance chance less much has fish exhausted an – toll a takes that

respect private property and abide abide and property private respect line means you will have to fight the fish for longer and and longer for fish the fight to have will you means line

description details on the map). Please Please map). the on details description Use the heaviest line you can get away with. Too light a a light Too with. away get can you line heaviest the Use •

to ask permission first (check the the (check first permission ask to

Looking After Your Trout Your After Looking

however in some locations you need need you locations some in however

river without having to ask permission, permission, ask to having without river

angling friendships. angling

locations you are free to access the the access to free are you locations

angling, sharing of information and has begun many many begun has and information of sharing angling,

and many tributaries. In most of these these of most In tributaries. many and

avoid problems. This will result in more productive productive more in result will This problems. avoid

at various locations along the river river the along locations various at

A polite approach enquiring about fishing plans should should plans fishing about enquiring approach polite A •

associated signs have been provided provided been have signs associated

Do not fish ahead of them. of ahead fish not Do •

Fish and Game Access Points and and Points Access Game and Fish

Respect other anglers already on the water. the on already anglers other Respect •

Access Fishing Etiquette Fishing

Trout can be seen and caught anywhere in or around the edge of the pond. On a calm day the southern, inlet end can be a good place to fish. Here there is a shallow shelf where good numbers of cruising trout can be spotted. A particularly productive technique here can be to allow a nymph or lure to sink to the bottom and then give it a twitch when a trout cruises close. Wairau River Suggested Lures Access Coch-y-Bondhu Humpy Royal Wulf Twilight Beauty Hare & Copper Pheasant Tail Wairau salmon ascend the river February to April with Craig’s Night-time Woolly Bugger good catches made by local anglers who mainly fish below Renwick using heavy trout gear rather than the big salmon Water Boatman Yellow Rabbit gear used in southern rivers. The river is often small and Black & Gold Toby Rapala clear enough to enable effective fly fishing for salmon. Red & Gold Veltic Rainbow Enticer Salmon fishing above the Wash Bridge on SH63 is not permitted, to protect spawning salmon.

The Wairau is open downstream of the Wash Bridge year round. Much winter and early spring fishing occurs in the estuary where fish descend to fatten up after spawning. Argyle Pond Argyle Pond is popular fishing location for both shore and boat anglers. It is a small man made hydro storage reservoir about 220m wide, 1300m long and 3.5m deep. Access is excellent with a gravel road following most of the shoreline. Camping and boat launching facilities are available at the south eastern end of the pond. It is a well stocked fishery with brown trout around 1kg and rainbow trout up to 3kg, although sediment dredging occasionally affects the fishing.

All fishing methods work well but can be depend upon wind conditions. The best fishing is often in the morning before the wind gets up. Spinning is a popular and productive method. The trout will take any type of spinner TM with a red and gold veltic or pink enticer being a good first choice. If the fish are rising try a size 12 to 16 dry fly such TM as a Humpy, Irresistible or Royal Wulf. If the trout are not rising try a size 14 – 18 nymph such as a Pheasant Tail, Nelson Hares Ear, Snail or Water Boatman. Larger wet fly lures 66 Champion Rd, Richmond, NEW ZEALAND such as a Mrs Simpson, Woolly Bugger (black or olive) or P O Box 2173, Stoke, Nelson. NELSON / MARLBOROUGH REGION Hamill’s Killer can also work well. Telephone (03) 544 6382 www.fishandgame.org.nz WAIRAU RIVER ACCESS POINTS ᵴ = swimming spot ۩ = toilet Ᵽ = picnic area

۩ 1 1 Vehicle access to the northern side of the Wairau River mouth. Boat ramp. 2 Baldicks Bend 2 Foot access along river by vineyard. Please take care during harvest. To Christchurch SH1 3 Wairau Diversion Bridge North Side 3 Northern side driving access downstream of the bridge, walking access upstream, downstream and southern 4 side of the bridge. 4 Wairau Diversion Bridge South Side Opawa Vehicle access during whitebait season. Foot access all year. To 5 6 7 River 5 Bothams Bend North Bank Picton SH1 8 Access from Thomas's Road. Drive over the stop bank and park out of the way. This is the start of the diversion. 6 Bothams Bend Road - South Bank 9 Spring Ck Vehicle access to diversion and Wairau directly below SH1. 10 11 BLENHEIM 7 Ferry Bridge North Bank ᵴ Ᵽ Tuamarina Park on the downstream side of the bridge. Walking access upstream to the diversion. 12 River 13 8 Stop Bank Road South Bank 14 Turn left down Peninsula Road (south bank of Ferry Bridge) to carpark. Foot acess to river and mouth of Spring Creek. 9 Wairau Bridge SH1 ᵴ

15 16 Taylor Stream Driving access above and below bridge on the South Bank.  10 Gravel Pit Access 17 18 Off the Tuamarina / Kaituna Road. Vehicle access over the flood bank to the river. There is also foot access to the river 1.7km further upstream along the Tuamarina/ Kaituna Road.

N 11 Hillocks Road End ᵴ 19 Vehicle access over flood bank to the river. Waikakaho 20 12 Cravens Road End ᵴ River 21 Vehicle access over flood bank to the river. Renwick 13 The Islands 22 Vehicle access 3.2km upstream from Gravel Pit Access (10). Renwick Bridge 14 Selmes Rd End ᵴ 23 Vehicle access over flood bank to the river. 24 15 Suttons Corner Park away from gateway. Walking access through small wooden gate to river 2.5km from The Islands (13). 16 Wratts Road End To 29 Park before the farm house driveway. Walking access over stile and along fence line to the river. 17 Steadmans Nelson SH6 25 Walking access through a small gate to the river 1.5km from Suttons Corner (15). 26 18 Giffords Road End ᵴ Vehicle access over flood bank to river. 19 Jefferies Road End ᵴ Onamalutu 27 WAIHOPAI Vehicle access over flood bank past gravel processing area to river. River RIVER 20 Gravel Pit Road Opposite Gibsons Road. Follow vehicle track past shingle storage area to river 3.1km from Steadmans (17) and 3.9km from SH6 Bridge. 21 Renwick Bridge SH6 South Bank ᵴ Vehicle access off SH6 upstream and downstream of bridge. Also vehicle access upstream along stop bank past access point 24 and Fareham Lane up to SVIS intake. Vehicle access also available at Pauls and Boyces Road ends. 28 22 Renwick Bridge SH6 North Bank Access on upstream and downstream side of bridge. 23 Salmon Farm Go over first bridge 200m along Northbank Road. Vehicle access through gate and along track beside stop bank. Park at end of vineyard. Short walk fording small stream to river. Alternatively head 500m further along North 30 Bank Road to double gates immediately past Salmon Farm. Park vehicle away from gates, 10-minute walk to Bartletts Creek river. 31 32 24 Condors Bend Road End Drive straight ahead along gravel road for 1km then turn right. Vehicle access to flood bank. Walk over bank to the river. 33 25 Rock Ferry 35 1.3km past rock ferry. Park in cut in and walk down steep track to the river. 26 Waihopai River Bridge 34 Walking access on east bank of Waihopai River via Condors Forest Road. Park near gate. 20 minutes walk to 36 Wairau River on Waihopai West bank. 27 Narrows 37 Vehicle access to river. 38 28 North Bank Road Top Valley 29 Fareham Lane 1.3km downstream from Waihopai Bridge. Vehicle access to river at SVIS intake and along stop bank to SH6 Stream Bridge. 30 March Burn Creek Vehicle access to road end. Foot access only along stopbank to river. 31 North Bank Road Foot access to river. 3.3km from Bartletts Creek Bridge. 39 32 Loddon Lane Vehicle access straight ahead to river through temporary gravel crushing site after fording a stream. 33 Pine Valley #2 Foot access along stream bed to river. 34 North Bank Road 1.7km from Pine Valley #2 (33). Foot access to river. 35 Church Lane and Keith Coleman Lane Vehicle access to river from Church Lane (turn right at river bank). Access to river from Keith Coleman Lane 40 1.8km upstream also exists but a 20 minute walk is required. 36. Mill Road Lake Chalice Vehicle access to river. Park away from gateways. 37 Tapps Road Vehicle access to river. Tapps Road not signposted. Park away from gateways. 2.4km from Mill Road (36). 38 Top Valley Stream Bridge GOULTER Walking access to Wairau River down streambed. Access to Wairau River from Top Valley Stream to the Goulter KEY Confluence is easily obtained at various locations off the West Bank Road. RIVER 39 Larking Road (Springfield Terraces) State Highways Argyle Pond Vehicle access to river. Road not signposted. Follow access signs and park away from gates. 7.7km from Tapps Road (37) and 41 & Channels 3.8km from Fowlers (40). Other Roads 40 Fowlers Access Way Dry weather vehicle access only. Follow vineyard edge to the 4WD Roads river. 2km downstream from Wye River Bridge. 41 Branch Hydro Channel Road Walking Tracks LEATHAM 42 Vehicle access to the Wairau River, hydro channels and Goulter RIVER Confluence if Wairau low. Wairau River 42 Branch River Bridge SH63 Ᵽ Vehicle access to riverbed downstream end. Tributaries 43 Kowhai Point ۩ Ᵽ Camping and picnic area. Camping # Access Points 43 44 Wash Bridge SH63 Upstream limit for salmon and winter fishing. Open Open 45 Stoney Creek 1 Oct - 30 Apr All Year 44 1.4km from Wash Bridge (44). Wash Bridge BRANCH 46 Groyne Corner RIVER 5.7km from Stoney Creek (45). Park in riverbed. 45 47 Rainbow Station Hay Shed SH63 No vehicle access. Park away from gate, follow signs across paddock to stile and track to river. 4.1km from Groyne Corner (46). 48 Rainbow Valley Ski Area Turnoff Public road to Six Mile Creek and Ski Area turnoff. Good access 46 via the many creeks flowing into the Wairau River.

UPPER WAIRAU AND RAINBOW RIVER ACCESS 47 To gain vehicle access beyond Six Mile Creek gate, contact Rainbow Station on (03) 521 1838. During December to Easter weekend the road is open to Rainbow Station Rd public between 7am and 6 pm with a manned gate above Six Mile Creek and a toll is charged per vehicle. 48 BRANCH AND LEATHAM RIVERS, ARGYLE POND AND CANALS The lower Branch, Leatham, Argyle pond and Canals have easy access via the roads alongside. To To Hanmer Springs St Arnaud/Nelson SH63 Rainbow Skifield Rd