| Fish type |
Brown trout |
| Situation |
1 hour 15 minutes from Nelson.
1 hour from Blenheim |
| Setting |
This lake which provides the source of the Buller River is deep and clean and home to a large population of brown trout. It is fed by the snow-fed waters of the Travers River which enters the lake at its head or at the southern end. It is surrounded by bush which mostly comes down to the waters edge making fishing difficult from the shoreline except in a few places. |
| Maps |
Access map
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| Check conditions |
View the MetService weather forecast
View the rainfall. |
| Description |
The clear cold waters of the lake and the surrounding bush makes for ideal trout habitat. Due to the closeness of the bush there are limited opportunities for the shore based angler though good fishing can be had around the outlet to the Buller River and at the southern end where the Travers River enters the lake. Mostly it is fished by trolling or spinning or fly fishing from a boat. |
| Fish numbers and size |
Fish numbers are good and the average size is between 3 - 4lbs. Large fish are regularly caught however and there is always the chance of a trophy fish in these waters. |
| Ease of fishing |
Most fishing is from a boat (there are two boat ramps; one at St Arnaud and the other at the northern end of the lake). There is excellent fishing to
be had where the Buller leaves the lake and at the mouth of the Travers at the southern end. |
| Access |
St Arnaud which is the only town on Lake Rotoiti is reached via highway 63 which turns of the Murchison Blenheim highway (State Highway 6) at Howard Junction. See the access map.
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| Recommended lures |
Nymphs:
Large heavily weighted nymphs in sizes from 10 - 14 work best. Any Pheasant Tail, Hare and Copper or Green Stonefly patterns work well.
Dry flies:
Fishing terrestrial flies around the shore line can be productive in the warmer months and particularly in the early morning or evening.
Wet flies:
Usually large streamer flies are fished in the lake. Trolled or harled flies such as Parson's Glory or a Rabbit fly work well. Use dark colours at night (eg Craig's Night-Time or Hairy Dog) and lighter colours during the day.
Spinners: Spinners either cast or trolled are very popular and effective. Toby patterns, Tasmanian Devils or Cobra
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| Regulations (1) |
| Applicable to |
Lake Rotoiti |
| Region |
Nelson/Marlborough |
| Season |
All year |
| Methods |
Artificial fly, spinner and bait. Down riggers are permitted |
| Bag limit |
2 of which only one can be 500mm |
| Size limit (cm) |
None |
| Special regulation |
| Boat fishing |
No angler shall fish for sports fish from any boat under motorised power in those parts of Lake Rotoiti within 100 metres from the centre of the meeting line with the lake and the Travers River, Coldwater Stream, Black Valley Stream and Buller River. |
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Other fishing waters of the region
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