NELSON / MARLBOROUGH REGION MARLBOROUGH / NELSON such as a Humpy, Irresistible or Royal Wulf. If the trout are are trout the If Wulf. Royal or Irresistible Humpy, a as such NEW ZEALAND NEW first choice. If the fish are rising try a size 12 to 16 dry fly fly dry 16 to 12 size a try rising are fish the If choice. first with a red and gold veltic or articulated trout being a good good a being trout articulated or veltic gold and red a with productive method. The trout will take any type of spinner spinner of type any take will trout The method. productive TM before the wind gets up. Spinning is a popular and and popular a is Spinning up. gets wind the before wind conditions. The best fishing is often in the morning morning the in often is fishing best The conditions. wind Supported by: Supported All fishing methods work well but can be depend upon upon depend be can but well work methods fishing All size and the occasional larger fish up to 3kg. to up fish larger occasional the and size Telephone (03) 544 6382 www.fishandgame.org.nz 6382 544 (03) Telephone fishery with good numbers of brown trout around the 1kg 1kg the around trout brown of numbers good with fishery P O Box 2173, Stoke, Nelson. Stoke, 2173, Box O P 66 Champion Rd, Richmond, Rd, Champion 66 available at the south eastern end of the pond. It is a reliable reliable a is It pond. the of end eastern south the at available the shoreline. Camping and boat launching facilities are are facilities launching boat and Camping shoreline. the Nelson Marlborough Region Marlborough Nelson Access is excellent with a gravel road following most of of most following road gravel a with excellent is Access NEW ZEALAND NEW reservoir about 220m wide, 1300m long and 3.5m deep. deep. 3.5m and long 1300m wide, 220m about reservoir and boat anglers. It is a small man made hydro storage storage hydro made man small a is It anglers. boat and TM Argyl Pond is popular fishing location for both shore shore both for location fishing popular is Pond Argyl Argyl Pond Argyl estuary where fish descend to fatten up after spawning. after up fatten to descend fish where estuary Silver Zed Spinner Zed Silver Veltic Gold & Red round. Much winter and early spring fishing occurs in the the in occurs fishing spring early and winter Much round. Rapala Toby Gold & Black The Wairau is open downstream of the Wash Bridge year year Bridge Wash the of downstream open is Wairau The Rabbit Yellow Dog Hairy Ghost Grey Night-time Craig’s permitted, to protect spawning salmon. spawning protect to permitted, Tail Pheasant Caddis Cased Horny Salmon fishing above the Wash Bridge on SH63 is not not is SH63 on Bridge Wash the above fishing Salmon Copper & Hare Stonefly Green clear enough to enable effective fly fishing for salmon. salmon. for fishing fly effective enable to enough clear Beauty Twilight Wulf Royal gear used in southern rivers. The river is often small and and small often is river The rivers. southern in used gear Humpy Coch-y-Bondhu Renwick using heavy trout gear rather than the big salmon salmon big the than rather gear trout heavy using Renwick Suggested Lures Suggested good catches made by local anglers who mainly fish below below fish mainly who anglers local by made catches good Wairau salmon ascend the river February to April with with April to February river the ascend salmon Wairau when a trout cruises close. cruises trout a when nymph or lure to sink to the bottom and then give it a twitch twitch a it give then and bottom the to sink to lure or nymph particularly productive technique here can be to allow a a allow to be can here technique productive particularly Access where good numbers of cruising trout can be spotted. A A spotted. be can trout cruising of numbers good where can be a good place to fish. Here there is a shallow shelf shelf shallow a is there Here fish. to place good a be can Wairau River Wairau edge of the pond. On a calm day the southern, inlet end end inlet southern, the day calm a On pond. the of edge Trout can be seen and caught anywhere in or around the the around or in anywhere caught and seen be can Trout also work well. work also such as a Mrs Simpson, Hamill’s Killer or Red Setter can can Setter Red or Killer Hamill’s Simpson, Mrs a as such Hares Ear, Snail or Water Boatman. Larger wet fly lures lures fly wet Larger Boatman. Water or Snail Ear, Hares 18 nymph such as a Pheasant Tail, Tail, Pheasant a as such nymph 18 – 14 size a try rising not FISH & GAME NZ Access PROTECT OUR WATERS Help stop the spread of didymo, an aquatic alga pest. Fish and Game Access Points and associated signs have been provided CHECK Remove all obvious clumps from all items at various locations along the river that have been in contact with the water and look for and many tributaries. In most of hidden clumps when leaving waterways. Leave the these locations you are free to access clumps at the waterway. the river without having to ask permission, however in some locations you need to ask CLEAN Soak or scrub all items for at least one permission first (check the description details on the map). minute with any of the following: Please respect private property and abide by the Access • Hot (60°C) water Rules below to ensure the continued use of these areas. Fishing Information • 2% solution of household bleach The Wairau River has over 140km of fishable water, Access Rules • 5% solution of salt offering water types to suit all angling methods. The • Remember these simple rules and ensure ongoing access • 5% solution of nappy cleaner for all. lower and middle reaches are mainly braided on a shingle • 5% solution of antiseptic hand cleaner • Park vehicles away from tracks and gates. bed. The upper reaches above Rainbow Station are more • 5% solution of dish washing detergent • Do not litter. confined on a more stable rock and boulder bed. Flow is • Leave gates as you find them. • 2% solution is 200ml, a 5% solution is 500ml (two relatively swift throughout the river’s length until reaching large cups) with water to make 10 litres. • Cross fences without damaging them. the tidal influence below the State Highway One Bridge • Stay within river margins. DRY If cleaning is not practical (eg: animals) dry the at Tuamarina. The Wairau catchment is large and can • Do not stray into paddocks with stock. item to the touch and then leave for at least another 48 experience heavy rainfalls which leave the Wairau River • Avoid disturbing stock or trampling crops. Walk along hours before using in another waterway. discoloured for relatively long periods. Early in the season fence lines were possible. melting snow contributes significantly to the high flows • Respect private land. If in doubt, ask permission. and discoloured water. • When fishing adjacent to farmland, leave your dog at home unless you have the express permission of the Wairau River The fish population is very mobile and is a mix of river property owner. General Information resident and sea-run brown trout. There is also a small run Report any missing or damaged signs to Fish & Game. Didymo is present in the of salmon in the summer months. Wairau trout average Fishing Etiquette mainstream of the Wairau 1.6kg overall, with 2–3kg fish common in the middle and • Respect other anglers already on the water. River downstream of the Dip upper reaches. Larger fish are found mainly in the upper • Do not fish ahead of them. Flat on Rainbow Station. reaches and the estuarine area, but can be found throughout • A polite approach enquiring about fishing plans should Do not enter the water or the river system, particularly when sea-run trout are avoid problems. This will result in more productive fish upstream of the Dip migrating upstream. All the major tributaries are worth angling, sharing of information and has begun many Flat or in any of the Wairau exploring as they all hold fish in varying numbers. They angling friendships. tributaries or any other rivers are better fished early in the season, before low summer Fishing Information if you have entered or fished flows and elevated water temperatures force the remaining A valid fishing licence is required and must be carried at the Wairau unless you have fish to seek cooler habitat. all times. Refer to your South Island regulation booklet for checked cleaned and dried all angling regulations and bag limits. of your equipment. WAIRAU RIVER ACCESS POINTS ᵴ = swimming spot ۩ = toilet Ᵽ = picnic area ۩ Wairau Bar 1 Vehicle access to the northern side of the Wairau River mouth. Boat ramp. 1 2 Wairau Diversion Bridge Northern side driving access downstream of the bridge, walking access upstream, downstream and southern side of the bridge. To Christchurch SH1 3 Bothams Bend North Bank 2 Access from Thomas's Road. Drive over the stop bank and park out of the way. This is the start of the diversion. 4 Bothams Bend Road - South Bank Opawa Access off start of Clayton's Road. Turn left at end of road onto the stop bank. Driving access upstream, foot To 3 4 5 access downstream of the diversion. River 5 Ferry Bridge North Bank ᵴ Ᵽ Picton SH1 6 Park on the downstream side of the bridge.