“Anglers' Eldorado” was the name tagged to New Zealand in the late 1920s by Zane Grey, one of the world's best fishermen. The name still applies to the Dominion so far as rainbow and brown trout fishing are concerned. From thousands of miles of fishing waters–lake, stream, river, and dam–the average weight for rainbow trout is 3 lb, and for brown trout, 3 lb 8 oz. Small wonder that almost 200,000 anglers paid a modest licence fee in New Zealand in the 1962–63 fishing season. There is no trout fishing to speak of above the Waikato district in the North Island, although one river, the Kaihu, does carry rainbow trout averaging 2 lb. The Rotorua Fishing District, which embraces Rotorua, Waikaremoana, and Gisborne fishing waters, is probably the finest freshwater fishing area in New Zealand. The average weight for this vast region is 4 lb 8 oz.
Famous fishing waters in the Rotorua district include Hamurana Springs, Ngongotaha, Waiowhiro, and Utahina Streams, and the Ohau Channel, all entering Lake Rotorua. Great fishing lakes in this area are Okataina, Tarawera, Rotoiti, Rotoma, and Rerewhakaaitu. In the Waikaremoana section Lakes Tuai and Kaitawa have an almost incredible average weight of about 9 lb both for rainbow and for brown trout. Good fishing is to be had in the Rangitaiki River and its tributaries.
Although conditions and access are much more difficult in the Gisborne–Northern Hawke's Bay section, fine fishing is available in the Motu, Waikare-Taheke, Ruakituri, Waitahaia, Mohaka, and Waingakia Rivers. Part of the upper Waikato River system lies in the Rotorua Fishing District. This includes Lakes Aratiatia, Ohakuri, Atiamuri, Whakamaru, and Maraetai, the result of man-made dams in a series of hydro-electric generating stations superimposed on the old Waikato River fishery. These dams or lakes offer steadily improving fishing, both for rainbow and for brown trout, and many local fishermen believe that some of the best fishing in New Zealand will be found here in a few years.
The Taupo Fishing District–which is centred on Lake Taupo, New Zealand's largest lake–is world famous for its fighting rainbow trout, the aggregate catch on rod and line reaching a remarkable 1,000 tons a year of brown and rainbow trout. Good fishing is nearly always obtainable somewhere on the lake itself and fine catches may be had by fishing the river and stream mouths and trolling or casting from the shore.
Most famous of all New Zealand fishing waters, the Tongariro River enters Lake Taupo near Turangi. This was the scene of Zane Grey's many thrilling battles with big rainbow trout and he devoted a large section of his popular book Anglers' Eldorado to this fine water. Other good fishing may be obtained in the Waitotaka and Waimarino Rivers and in the Tauranga-Taupo, Hatepe, Waitahanui, and Waikato Rivers. The Western Bays waters of Lake Taupo and the Waihaha, Waihora, Whanganui, Kuratau, and Whareroa Rivers and streams contain heavy stocks of rainbow trout which average 3¼ lb.
The Waimarino Stream is the gem of the Waimarino Acclimatisation Society's district. It is a dry-fly water and carries brown trout averaging just over 4 lb. Another good fishing water in this district is the Makatote, which contains many rainbow trout averaging 3 lb, and brown trout averaging 4 lb. The upper reaches of the Wanganui River offer brown and rainbow trout averaging 3 lb.
Nowhere in New Zealand has the angler a better choice of easily accessible water than in North Taranaki, where 20 recognised trout streams radiate in a fan pattern from the base of Mount Egmont and the Pouakai Range. These waters are outstanding for variety and ease of access. The Manganui River is the largest trout-carrying stream in Taranaki, its brown trout averaging 3 lb.
Auckland, Tauranga, Hawke's Bay, Stratford, Hawera, and Wellington Acclimatisation Society districts all have good fishing. The best, however, is found in the back country and only the fit and active angler can hope to gain access to these waters.
The silvery sea-run brown trout is king in South Island waters, although there are many fine fishing waters carrying heavy stocks of domestic brown trout. The Mataura River, boundary of the Southland and Otago Acclimatisation Societies' districts, is the greatest brown trout water in New Zealand. Southland's Waiau River offers all types of water and splendid rainbow and brown trout fishing, plus Atlantic salmon averaging 2½ lb. Other good Southland waters are the Mararoa, Aparima, Oreti, and Makarewa Rivers.
The Clutha River, in the Otago Acclimatisation Society district, is New Zealand's largest river, carrying the waters of three magnificent lakes–Wakatipu, Wanaka, and Hawea. Many sea-run brown trout are caught in the lower reaches of the Clutha and all sections of the river offer good fishing. The Taieri, Catlins, Waikouaiti, Waipori, and Shag Rivers carry good stocks of brown trout, while Lakes Mahinerangi, Waipori, and Onslow produce many fine bags of heavy brown trout averaging 2 lb 8 oz.
Trout fishing in the Waitaki and Waimate Acclimatisation Societies' districts is regaining its former high standard as a result of the work being done by officers of the two societies. Access to most waters is fairly easy; the Waitaki and Hakataramea Rivers give the best sport, with rainbow and brown trout averaging 3 lb or more.
The waters of the Ashburton and South Canterbury Acclimatisation Societies' districts are noted for quinnat salmon and rainbow and brown trout. The boundary between the two societies is the Rakaia, which contains heavy stocks of quinnat salmon and also of brown trout, averaging 3 lb. Sea-run brown trout averaging 3 lb may be taken from the Ashburton River. Other good waters are the Hinds and Rangitata Rivers and the many high-country lakes in the Mount Somers area and the Tekapo region.
The North Canterbury Acclimatisation Society district is one of the five best fishing areas in New Zealand. The Waiau River carries a good head of brown trout averaging 3 lb and has a fine quinnat salmon run from February to April each year. Good fishing is also available in the Hurunui, Ashley, Waimakariri, and Selwyn Rivers. This district has some fine lakes well stocked with rainbow and/or brown trout and small salmon.
Excellent lake and river fishing, both for brown and for rainbow trout, is offered in the Marlborough and Nelson Acclimatisation Societies' districts. The Rai River is one of the Dominion's best dry-fly waters. Brown trout averaging 4 lb and rainbow trout averaging 3 lb are taken from this water; both species would average 3 lb in the Ronga, Tunakino, and Opouri Rivers, all tributaries of the Rai. Two other good fishing waters in the Marlborough district are the Pelorus and Wairau Rivers. North American anglers are enthusiastic about Nelson district fishing waters because the scenery is similar to that of the west Coast of the United States and Canada. The Riwaka, Takaka, Cobb, Wangapeka, Buller, Travers, Gowan, D'Urville, Sabine, Owen, Mangles, and Maruia Rivers all carry good heads of fish, as do Lakes Rotoiti and Rotoroa. Being sparsely populated, the West Coast and Westland Acclimatisation Societies' districts have a heavy trout population, averaging just over 3 lb in their lakes, rivers, and streams. All waters carry brown trout. Rainbow and quinnat salmon are present in the Taramakau River, boundary of the two societies, but are really limited to Westland waters. The Grey River system contains the major fishing waters of the West Coast district, but fine fishing is also available in the waters of the Buller River system. The Westland Society district has many fine rivers and lakes, the best fishing being at Lakes Kaniere and Mapourika, both of which contain brown trout averaging over 4 lb. The two districts offer good fishing in beautiful scenic conditions, but some of the country is really rugged and anglers are advised to talk to local anglers before planning trips.
The Southern Lakes Fishing District, a region of more than 12,000 sq. miles, has a greater variety of waters than any other area of New Zealand. Atlantic and quinnat salmon, sea-run brown trout, and brown and rainbow trout are all acclimatised in the area. The district is administered by the Wildlife Branch of the Department of Internal Affairs. It can be considered as five areas—Haast, Wanaka-Hawea, Wakatipu, Te Anau and Manapouri—each of which has a resident field officer available to advise and assist anglers on places and methods of fishing.
The Wildlife Branch of the Department of Internal Affairs administers the Southern Lakes, Taupo, and Rotorua Fishing Districts. All other districts are administered by acclimatisation societies who are responsible to the Marine Department which controls freshwater fishing under the Fisheries Act of 1908. Most New Zealanders treat fishing as a sport and do not join clubs or other organisations. Hence there is no national society of fishing clubs organising all anglers in New Zealand, but there are a number of good clubs in various districts. Perhaps the biggest and best known is the Tongariro and Lake Taupo Angling Club, based at Turangi.
Licence fees for all fishing districts are usually £2 10s. a season for men, £1 5s. for women, and 7s. 6d. for juveniles, except at Taupo where the fees are £3 10s. for men, 2 for women, and 7s. 6d. for juveniles. For overseas anglers visiting New Zealand there is a universal licence fee of £2 for men and 1 for women; this permits fishing anywhere in New Zealand. The acclimatisation society fishing licences do not allow anglers to fish in those districts controlled by the Wildlife Branch of the Department of Internal Affairs. For these a separate licence is required.
The fishing season in all acclimatisation society districts, except Nelson, is from 1 October to 30 April. The Nelson season opens 15 October and closes 15 April. The Southern Lakes season extends from 1 October to 30 April. Tributaries of the main lakes have a season from 1 October to 31 May and all other waters of the district from 1 November to 31 May. The Lake Rotorua season is from 1 July to 30 June; all other waters in the Rotorua Fishing District are from 1 October to 30 June. The Taupo fishery season extends all the year round. There are other minor restrictions, such as fly fishing on certain waters only, but information relating to these matters is clearly stated on licence forms.
by Cyril Thomas Bunt, formerly Journalist, Information and Press Section, Tourist and Publicity Department.