angling regulations and bag limits. bag and regulations angling

of your equipment. your of

all times. Refer to your regulation booklet for for booklet regulation Island South your to Refer times. all

checked cleaned and dried all all dried and cleaned checked

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

fish to seek cooler habitat. cooler seek to fish the Wairau unless you have have you unless Wairau the

flows and elevated water temperatures force the remaining remaining the force temperatures water elevated and flows Fishing Information Fishing if you have entered or fished fished or entered have you if

are better fished early in the season, before low summer summer low before season, the in early fished better are

tributaries or any other rivers rivers other any or tributaries

angling friendships. angling

exploring as they all hold fish in varying numbers. They They numbers. varying in fish hold all they as exploring

Flat or in any of the Wairau Wairau the of any in or Flat angling, sharing of information and has begun many many begun has and information of sharing angling,

migrating upstream. All the major tributaries are worth worth are tributaries major the All upstream. migrating fish upstream of the Dip Dip the of upstream fish avoid problems. This will result in more productive productive more in result will This problems. avoid

the river system, particularly when sea-run trout are are trout sea-run when particularly system, river the A polite approach enquiring about fishing plans should should plans fishing about enquiring approach polite A • or water the enter not Do

reaches and the estuarine area, but can be found throughout throughout found be can but area, estuarine the and reaches Do not fish ahead of them. of ahead fish not Do • Station. Rainbow on Flat

Respect other anglers already on the water. the on already anglers other Respect • upper reaches. Larger fish are found mainly in the upper upper the in mainly found are fish Larger reaches. upper River downstream of the Dip Dip the of downstream River

1.6kg overall, with 2–3kg fish common in the middle and and middle the in common fish 2–3kg with overall, 1.6kg Fishing Etiquette Fishing mainstream of the Wairau Wairau the of mainstream

of salmon in the summer months. Wairau trout average average trout Wairau months. summer the in salmon of Didymo is present in the the in present is Didymo

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

resident and sea-run brown trout. There is also a small run run small a also is There trout. brown sea-run and resident

General Information General

property owner. property

The fish population is very mobile and is a mix of river river of mix a is and mobile very is population fish The

home unless you have the express permission of the the of permission express the have you unless home

Wairau River Wairau

When fishing adjacent to farmland, leave your dog at at dog your leave farmland, to adjacent fishing When •

and discoloured water. discoloured and

Respect private land. If in doubt, ask permission. ask doubt, in If land. private Respect •

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

fence lines were possible. were lines fence

hours before using in another waterway. another in using before hours

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

Avoid disturbing stock or trampling crops. Walk along along Walk crops. trampling or stock disturbing Avoid •

item to the touch and then leave for at least another 48 48 another least at for leave then and touch the to item

experience heavy rainfalls which leave the River Wairau the leave which rainfalls heavy experience

Do not stray into paddocks with stock. with paddocks into stray not Do •

DRY If cleaning is not practical (eg: animals) dry the the dry animals) (eg: practical not is cleaning If

at . The Wairau catchment is large and can can and large is catchment Wairau The Tuamarina. at 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 Cross fences without damaging them. damaging without fences Cross •

large cups) with water to make 10 litres. 10 make to water with cups) large

relatively swift throughout the river’s length until reaching reaching until length river’s the throughout swift relatively Leave gates as you find them. find you as gates Leave •

2% solution is 200ml, a 5% solution is 500ml (two (two 500ml is solution 5% a 200ml, is solution 2% •

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 •

5% solution of dish washing detergent washing dish of solution 5% •

Park vehicles away from tracks and gates. and tracks from away vehicles Park • bed. The upper reaches above Rainbow Station are more more are Station Rainbow above reaches upper The bed.

5% solution of antiseptic hand cleaner hand antiseptic of solution 5% •

for all. for lower and middle reaches are mainly braided on a shingle shingle a on braided mainly are reaches middle and lower

5% solution of nappy cleaner nappy of solution 5% •

Remember these simple rules and ensure ongoing access access ongoing ensure and rules simple these Remember •

offering water types to suit all angling methods. The The methods. angling all suit to types water offering

5% solution of salt of solution 5% •

Access Rules Access The Wairau River has over 140km of fishable water, water, fishable of 140km over has River Wairau The

2% solution of household bleach household of solution 2% •

Rules below to ensure the continued use of these areas. these of use continued the ensure to below Rules Fishing Information Fishing

Hot (60°C) water (60°C) Hot •

Please respect private property and abide by the Access Access the by abide and property private respect Please

minute with any of the following: the of any with minute permission first (check the description details on the map). map). the on details description the (check first permission

CLEAN Soak or scrub all items for at least one one least at for items all scrub or Soak permission, however in some locations you need to ask ask to need you locations some in however permission,

the river without having to ask ask to having without river the

clumps at the waterway. the at clumps

these locations you are free to access access to free are you locations these

hidden clumps when leaving waterways. Leave the the Leave waterways. leaving when clumps hidden

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

that have been in contact with the water and look for for look and water the with contact in been have that at various locations along the river river the along locations various at

CHECK Remove all obvious clumps from all items items all from clumps obvious all Remove

associated signs have been provided provided been have signs associated

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

Help stop the spread of didymo, an aquatic alga pest. alga aquatic an didymo, of spread the stop Help

Access

PROTECT OUR WATERS OUR PROTECT FISH & GAME NZ GAME & FISH

not rising try a size 14 – 18 nymph such as a Pheasant Tail, Hares Ear, Snail or Water Boatman. Larger wet fly lures such as a Mrs Simpson, Hamill’s Killer or Red Setter can also work well.

Trout can be seen and caught anywhere in or around the edge of the pond. On a calm day the southern, inlet end Wairau River can be a good place to fish. Here there is a shallow shelf where good numbers of cruising trout can be spotted. A Access 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 salmon ascend the river February to April with good catches made by local anglers who mainly fish below Suggested Lures Renwick using heavy trout gear rather than the big salmon Coch-y-Bondhu Humpy gear used in southern rivers. The river is often small and Royal Wulf Twilight Beauty clear enough to enable effective fly fishing for salmon. Green Stonefly Hare & Copper Salmon fishing above the Wash Bridge on SH63 is not Horny Cased Caddis Pheasant Tail permitted, to protect spawning salmon. Craig’s Night-time Grey Ghost Hairy Dog Yellow Rabbit The Wairau is open downstream of the Wash Bridge year Black & Gold Toby Rapala round. Much winter and early spring fishing occurs in the Red & Gold Veltic Silver Zed Spinner estuary where fish descend to fatten up after spawning. Argyl Pond Argyl Pond is popular fishing location for both shore and boat anglers. It is a small man made hydro storage TM 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 Nelson available at the south eastern end of the pond. It is a reliable 66 Champion Rd, Richmond, fishery with good numbers of brown trout around the 1kg P O Box 2173, Stoke, Nelson. Telephone (03) 544 6382 www.fishandgame.org.nz size and the occasional larger fish up to 3kg.

All fishing methods work well but can be depend upon Supported by: 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 articulated trout being a good first choice. If the fish are rising try a size 12 to 16 dry fly NEW ZEALAND such as a Humpy, Irresistible or Royal Wulf. If the trout are NELSON / MARLBOROUGH REGION WAIRAU RIVER ACCESS POINTS ᵴ = swimming spot ۩ = toilet Ᵽ = picnic area ۩ 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. Walking access upstream to the diversion. 6 Stop Bank Road South Bank 7 Spring Ck 8 Turn left down Peninsula Road (south bank of Ferry Bridge) to carpark. Foot acess to river and mouth of Springs 9 BLENHEIM Creek. Tuamarina 7 Wairau Bridge SH1 ᵴ 10 River 11 Driving access above and below bridge on the South Bank. 12 8 Gravel Pit Access 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.

13 14 Taylor Stream  9 Hillocks Road End ᵴ Vehicle access over flood bank to the river. 15 16 10 Cravens Road End ᵴ Vehicle access over flood bank to the river.

N 11 The Islands 17 Waikakaho 18 Vehicle access 3.2km upstream from Gravel Pit Access (8). River 12 Selmes Rd End ᵴ 19 Vehicle access over flood bank to the river. Renwick 13 Suttons Corner 20 Park away from gateway. Walking access through small wooden gate to river 2.5km from The Islands (11). Renwick Bridge 14 Wratts Road End 21 Park before the farm house driveway. Walking access over stile and along fence line to the river. 22 15 Steadmans Walking access through a small gate to the river 1.5km from Suttons Corner (13). 16 Giffords Road End ᵴ To 28 Vehicle access over flood bank to river. 17 Jefferies Road End ᵴ Nelson SH6 23 Vehicle access over flood bank past gravel processing area to river. 24 18 Gravel Pit Road Opposite Gibsons Road. Follow vehicle track past shingle storage area to river 3.1km from Steadmans (15) and Onamalutu 3.9km from SH6 Bridge. 25 26 WAIHOPAI 19 Renwick Bridge SH6 South Bank ᵴ River RIVER Vehicle access off SH6 upstream and downstream of bridge. Also vehicle access upstream along stop bank past access point 22 and Fareham Lane up to SVIS intake. Vehicle access also available at Pauls and Boyces Road ends. 20 Renwick Bridge SH6 North Bank Access on upstream and downstream side of bridge. 21 Salmon Farm Go over first bridge 200m along Northbank Road. Vehicle access through gate and along track beside stop bank. 27 Park at end of vineyard. Short walk fording small stream to river. Alternatively head 500m further along North Bank Road to double gates immediately past Salmon Farm. Park vehicle away from gates, 10-minute walk to river. 22 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. 29 23 Rock Ferry Bartletts Creek Park 100m on past Onamalutu Road. Walk down a steep track 25m south of the sign to the river. 1.3km further 30 31 along road is a vehicle track giving better off road parking. 24 Waihopai River Bridge Walking access on east bank of Waihopai River via Condors Forest Road. Park near gate. 20 minutes walk to 32 Wairau River on Waihopai West bank. 34 25 Langley Dale Farm Before entering, permission is required from Richard or Simon Adams - ph (03) 572 8541 or inquire at the house. 33 No sign on gate, only a didymo sign. 7km from Rock Ferry (23). 35 26 Narrows Vehicle access to river. 36 27 North Bank Road 37 5.8km from Langley Dale Farm (25). Top Valley 28 Fareham Lane 1.3km downstream from Waihopai Bridge. Vehicle access to river at SVIS intake and along stop bank to SH6 Stream Bridge. 29 March Burn Creek Vehicle access to road end. Short walk to the river. 30 North Bank Road Foot access to river. 3.3km from Bartletts Creek Bridge. 38 31 Loddon Lane Vehicle access straight ahead to river through temporary gravel crushing site. 32 Pine Valley #2 Foot access to river. 33 North Bank Road 1.7km from Pine Valley #2 (32). Foot access to river. 34 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 39 1.8km upstream also exists but a 20 minute walk is required. 35. Mill Road Lake Chalice Vehicle access to river. Park away from gateways. 36 Tapps Road Vehicle access to river. Tapps Road not signposted. Park away from gateways. 2.4km from Mill Road (35). 37 Top Valley Stream Bridge GOULTER Walking access to Wairau River down streambed. Access to Wairau River from Top Valley Stream to the Goulter Confluence is easily obtained at various locations off the West Bank Road. RIVER 38 Larking Road (Springfield Terraces) Argyle Pond Vehicle access to river. Road not signposted. Follow access signs KEY and park away from gates. 7.7km from Tapps Road (36) and 40 & Channels State Highways 3.8km from Fowlers (39). 39 Fowlers Access Way Other Roads Dry weather vehicle access only. Follow vineyard edge to the river. 2km downstream from Wye River Bridge. 4WD Roads 40 Branch Hydro Channel Road LEATHAM Vehicle access to the Wairau River, hydro channels and Goulter 41 Confluence. Walking Tracks RIVER 41 Branch River Bridge SH63 Ᵽ Vehicle access to riverbed downstream end. Wairau River Kowhai Point ۩ Ᵽ 42 Camping and picnic area. Tributaries 43 Wash Bridge SH63 42 Upstream limit for salmon and winter fishing. Camping Access Points # 44 Stoney Creek 1.4km from Wash Bridge (43). Open Open 43 BRANCH Wash Bridge 45 Groyne Corner 1 Oct - 30 Apr All Year RIVER 5.7km from Stoney Creek (44). Park in riverbed. 44 46 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 (45). 47 Rainbow Valley Ski Area Turnoff Public road to Six Mile Creek and Ski Area turnoff. Good access 45 via the many creeks flowing into the Wairau River. UPPER WAIRAU AND RAINBOW RIVER ACCESS To gain vehicle access beyond Six Mile Creek gate, contact Rainbow Station 46 owners Kate and Dave McEwen ph (03) 521 1838. During December to February the road is open to public with a manned gate above Six Mile Creek Rainbow Station Rd and a toll is charged per vehicle. The road is closed during the first week of January for cattle mustering. 47 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 Hamner Springs St Arnaud/Nelson SH63 Rainbow Skifield Rd