Hooking a fish is not as difficult as landing one; take care care take one; landing as difficult as not is fish a Hooking NELSON / MARLBOROUGH REGION MARLBOROUGH / NELSON www.fishandgame.org.nz boulders to negotiate, along with an abundance of didymo. didymo. of abundance an with along negotiate, to boulders NEW ZEALAND NEW Nelson Marlborough Region Marlborough Nelson fishing conditions with big tumbling waters and slippery slippery and waters tumbling big with conditions fishing NEW ZEALAND NEW The two lake-fed rivers have trout present but challenging challenging but present trout have rivers lake-fed two The TM Gowan and upper Buller Rivers Buller upper and Gowan TM Supported by: Supported the season due to regular influx of fish from the lakes. lakes. the from fish of influx regular to due season the fishing is magic. Trout numbers remain good throughout throughout good remain numbers Trout magic. is fishing the change of light. With a cicada hatch in summer the the summer in hatch cicada a With light. of change the Cicada – Late summer Late – Cicada leaders are essential, or fishing early or late in the day on on day the in late or early fishing or essential, are leaders Copper, & Hare Tail, Pheasant Caddis, Buller clear water means that the smallest nymphs and long long and nymphs smallest the that means water clear Suggested Flies or Lures or Flies Suggested you will find anywhere, with trophy fish potential. Gin Gin potential. fish trophy with anywhere, find will you Brown trout in the inflowing rivers are amongst the canniest canniest the amongst are rivers inflowing the in trout Brown and Pell Stream. Stream. Pell and including for harling. for including trout can also be found in Lake Daniells, the Alfred River River Alfred the Daniells, Lake in found be also can trout and shallower parts of the lakes are especially productive, productive, especially are lakes the of parts shallower and good, although if in doubt ask permission first. Rainbow Rainbow first. permission ask doubt in if although good, to get your lure to where the fish are feeding. River mouths mouths River feeding. are fish the where to lure your get to access along most of the river and its fishable tributaries is is tributaries fishable its and river the of most along access lakes at times, provided you use a lead line or downrigger downrigger or line lead a use you provided times, at lakes map, the Maruia River offers lots of opportunities. Legal Legal opportunities. of lots offers River Maruia the map, productive in the clear waters. Trolling works well on the the on well works Trolling waters. clear the in productive While no specific access points have been marked on the the on marked been have points access specific no While are good in the lakes with fly fishing being the most most the being fishing fly with lakes the in good are Maruia River Maruia available on both lakes to their upper end. Trout numbers numbers Trout end. upper their to lakes both on available from landowners. landowners. from huts that anglers can utilize. A Water Taxi service is also also is service Taxi Water A utilize. can anglers that huts of gorge riparian rights apply, access permission is required required is permission access apply, rights riparian gorge of fishing. The National Park has good tracks, bridges and and bridges tracks, good has Park National The fishing. Good legal access along river up to top of gorge. Upstream Upstream gorge. of top to up river along access legal Good Travers, Sabine and D’Urville, provide excellent wilderness wilderness excellent provide D’Urville, and Sabine Travers, Lakes Rotoiti, Rotoroa and their inflowing rivers, the the rivers, inflowing their and Rotoroa Rotoiti, Lakes Mangles River Mangles conditions, resulting in large numbers of trout. of numbers large in resulting conditions, the backcountry angler. backcountry the growing conditions and excellent spawning and rearing rearing and spawning excellent and conditions growing The headwaters of the Buller include a feast of fishing for for fishing of feast a include Buller the of headwaters The food; others like the Mangles and Maruia have perfect trout trout perfect have Maruia and Mangles the like others food; Nelson Lakes Trout Lakes Nelson marble waters with abundant big aquatic insects as trout trout as insects aquatic big abundant with waters marble country rivers are in the Buller. Some like the Owen have have Owen the like Some Buller. the in are rivers country major proportion of the region’s estimated 900 km of back back of km 900 estimated region’s the of proportion major smaller rivers and creeks too numerous to mention. A A mention. to numerous too creeks and rivers smaller Access Trout are abundant in many Buller tributaries including including tributaries Buller many in abundant are Trout Maruia River Maruia Buller River Buller Buller tributaries – Mangles, Owen, Owen, Mangles, – tributaries Buller during heavy rain but can be an acquired taste. acquired an be can but rain heavy during numbers are enormous. These rivers remain clear even even clear remain rivers These enormous. are numbers make weighted nymph fishing frustrating but invertebrate invertebrate but frustrating fishing nymph weighted make to make sure you don’t get carried away! Didymo can can Didymo away! carried get don’t you sure make to FISH & GAME NZ Didymo was first spotted by PROTECT OUR WATERS a Fish and Game officer in Access the Buller River below Lake Help stop the spread of didymo, an aquatic alga pest. Fish and Game Access Points and Rotoiti in September 2005; associated signs have been provided the first confirmed didymo CHECK Remove all obvious clumps from all items at various locations along the river location outside Southland. It that have been in contact with the water and look for and many tributaries. In most of still grows thickly in the first hidden clumps when leaving waterways. Leave the these locations you are free to few km of the upper river, clumps at the waterway. access the river without having to but is usually less abundant ask permission, however in some locations you need to ask CLEAN Soak or scrub all items for at least one downstream, particularly below permission first (check the description details on the map). minute with any of the following: the Howard River confluence Please respect private property and abide by the Access due to its frequent river freshes. Rules below to ensure the continued use of these areas. • Hot (60°C) water It has been moved, however, • 2% solution of household bleach Access Rules into several tributaries including the Matiri, Gowan and • 5% solution of salt Owen. Don’t be the person to shift didymo or other • Remember these simple rules and ensure ongoing access • 5% solution of nappy cleaner weeds elsewhere in the Buller catchment, so make sure for all. • 5% solution of antiseptic hand cleaner you Check, Clean and Dry your gear, or use a second set, • Park vehicles away from tracks and gates. • 5% solution of dish washing detergent before moving between tributaries. • Do not litter. • 2% solution is 200ml, a 5% solution is 500ml (two • Leave gates as you find them. large cups) with water to make 10 litres. Fishing Information • Cross fences without damaging them. The Buller is almost wholly a brown trout fishery, with • Stay within river margins. DRY If cleaning is not practical (eg: animals) dry the some rainbows in Lake Rotoroa; Lake Daniells and the • Do not stray into paddocks with stock. item to the touch and then leave for at least another 48 upper Maruia only. Only the main Buller below the • Avoid disturbing stock or trampling crops. Walk along hours before using in another waterway. fence lines were possible. Gowan Bridge is open year round, together with the two • Respect private land. If in doubt, ask permission. larger Nelson Lakes. • When fishing adjacent to farmland, leave your dog at angling regulations and bag limits. home unless you have the express permission of the property owner. Buller River Report any missing or damaged signs to Fish & Game. General Information Fishing Etiquette The mighty Buller River is both the region’s largest and most varied waterway with a huge choice of waters • Respect other anglers already on the water. for the angler. The Buller is now protected by a Water • Do not fish ahead of them. Conservation Order, originally sought by Fish and Game • A polite approach enquiring about fishing plans should New Zealand in 1987, finally gazetted in 2001 and then avoid problems. This will result in more productive angling, sharing of information and has begun many challenged in 2003. The resulting Order has been further angling friendships. strengthened and Gowan River protected for its trout fishery. The Buller is now the largest and essentially Fishing Information unmodified river catchment in the country of which A valid fishing licence is required and must be carried at most waters are protected from dams, large scale water all times. Refer to your South Island regulation booklet for abstraction or pollution into the future. BULLER RIVER ACCESS POINTS ᵴ = swimming spot ۩ = toilet Ᵽ = picnic area To Nelson/Blenheim SH63 1 SH6, 7.8 km south of Murchison or 3 km from O’Sullivans Bridge 2 SH6, 7.2 km south of Murchison or 3.6 km from O’Sullivans Bridge KEY Tricky road exit/entry - unsuitable for campervans. 3 SH6, 6.4 km south of Murchison or 4.4 km from O’Sullivans Bridge State Highways 4 Doughboy Stream Hinehaka Road Follow stream along edge of paddock to river. Other Roads ST ARNAUD 5 Hinehaka Road 4WD Roads 1.4 km from no 4.