Fiordland contains the Milford, Hollyford, and Routeburn Tracks, spectacular rainforest scenery, great trout fishing, and coastal attractions including Milford Sound, Doubtful Sound, Dusky Sound, Awarua Bay, and Martins Bay.
Fiordland ocean fishing
Tuna, crayfish, paua(nz for abalone,) whitebait, and blue cod are caught
commercially in Fiordland. Sportfishing for these and other new zealand fish species
is routinely spectacular.
Lakes
Season: 1 September-30 April
unless noted otherwise |
Lake Alabaster |
Lake Maniapouri |
Lake McKerrow |
Lake Te Anau |
Other lakes
Rivers
Season: 1 October-30 April, unless noted otherwise*
Arthur River |
Cleddau River |
Clinton River |
Cleddau River |
Eglinton River |
Grebe River |
Hollyford River |
Pyke River |
Spey River |
Worsley River
Other Rivers
Lake Alabaster
Access:
This lake can be reached by foot from the Milford Track.
Season:
Open all year
Lake Alabaster contains brown trout, which grow to over 10 pounds. The mouth of the Pyke River is a prime area for flyfishing with a type3 or 4 sinking line, and streamer flies, such as Wooly Buggers, Rabbits, and Fuzzy Wuzzys. Spin fishing can be good anywhere around the lakeshore.
Lake Maniapouri
A large and deep lake with many arms. Trolling and spinning are the most popular methods of fishing this lake, which also
provides the only access, by boat, to the Grebe, Iris and Spey Rivers, all of which enter
Maniapouri.
Lake McKerrow
Access:
This lake can be reached by foot from the Milford Track.
This is one of the easiest lakes in New Zealand in which to catch brown trout.
The Hollyford River flows into McKerrow, and the river mouth is an excellent starting point
to try flyfishing with a medium or fast sinking line, and a large streamer fly, such as a
#6 or #4 Red Setter or Wooly Bugger. The Hokuri Stream mouth can also attract trout,
especially after dark. Spin fishing is a good choice at other shoreline areas.
Season:
Open all year
Lake Te Anau
The northern end of Lake Te Anau is the starting point of the Milford Track.
As for Maniapouri, trolling and spinning are the most popular fishing methods,
Arthur River
Access:
Middle and upper reaches can be fished from points along the Milford Track.
Lower reaches are accessible from Milford Sound, where the river enters the Tasman Sea.
Features:
The Arthur River contains some very large brown trout. Lower reaches are deep and slow,
and spin fishing or streamer fly fishing with a type 3 sinking line, are recommended.
Nymphing and dry fly fishing suitable for the upper reaches, up to Sutherland Falls,
and up and downstream of Lake Ada.
Cleddau River
The lower reaches of this river, which contains sea-run and resident brown trout,
can be reached from the Te Anau to Milford road.
Clinton River
Access:
The start of the Milford Track follows the lower reaches of the Clinton at the top end of
Lake Te Anau.
Features:
The Clinton is justifiably famous for its brown trout population, which are reputed to have
rainbow trout speed. Fly fishing and spinfishing are effective.
Eglinton River
Access:
New Zealand State Highway 94, between Te Anau and Milford Sound,
bridges the river 3 kilometres upstream of its mouth
on Lake Te Anau, and then parallels the river for 50 kilometres.
Features:
Fly fishing only is allowed on the Eglinton, which contains both
rainbow and brown trout, and large mayfly nymphs, famous for their summer hatch
into a size 12 adult.
Grebe River
Access:
The lower reaches and mouth of the Grebe can be accessed by boat from Lake Manapouri's
South Arm. The middle reaches are accessible from the road from Monowai to South Arm.
Features:
Brown and rainbow trout are establised in the Grebe, and in several of its feeder streams.
*Season
1 Nov - 31 May
Hollyford River
If you're walking the track, pack a spinning or fly rod for fishing the sea run browns.
Pyke River
Access:
Reached by boat or floatplane to its mouth on Lake Alabaster, and by foot or helicopter
in its reaches between Lake Wilmot and Lake Alabaster, and between Lake Alabaster
and its confluence with the Hollyford River.
Features:
Big brown trout, quite easily caught by fly or spinning.
Spey River
Access:
Travel by boat to Lake Manapouri's West Arm to reach the mouth of
the Spey. Middle and upper reaches can be accessed by the road to Deep Cove.
*Season
1 Nov - 31 May
Worsley River
Access:
The mouth of the Worsley River, at the Worsley Arm at the northern end of Lake Te Anau,
can be reached by boat or, even better, by the Te Anau Floatplane.
Middle and upstream reaches can be fished by hiking up the valley.
Features:
The Worsley contains brown and rainbow trout up to 5 kilograms.
*Season
1 Nov - 31 May
Hollyford River
If you're walking the track, pack a spinning or fly rod for fishing the sea run browns.
Other Rivers
The Poison River enters Poison Bay, and contains sea run browns, chasing whitebait.
The Joe River, Upekeroro River, Awarua River will be updated soon.