Access map

View the river flow.

This river offers excellent dry fly and nymph fishing for the browns that live in it. It flows in a gentle gradient over a mostly shingle bed through a farmed valley and the water generally remains clear. There is good vegetation cover in parts providing an excellent trout habitat.

The lower reaches offer easy fishing over open land. Much of the river can be waded.

There is limited public access from side roads off SH60 (the Takaka to Motueka road) and Long Plain Road. Getting to the upper reaches requires some walking. See the access map.

Nymphs:
Pheasant Tail variants or Hare and Copper (sizes 16 or even smaller  when river is very clear and low) work well.

Dry flies:
Greenwell's Glory, Coch-y-Bondhu, Adams, Kakahi Queen, beetle patterns (in early summer) and cicada patterns (from mid summer) during the day and Twilight Beauty and Dad's Favourite for the evening rise. Fish will often be seen rising during the day but require very delicate and accurate casting to fool them.

Wet flies:
Greenwell's Glory, Grouse and Purple and Red Tipped Govenor fished sub-surface work well, especially in the evening.

Spinners: Small bladed spinners such as Mepps or Veltic.

1 October - 30 April

Only licenced child anglers may bait fish.