Access map

The Mangles is a small river that holds a good stock of fish. The lower 10kms are hard to fish as the river flows through deep gorges and banks tend to be covered in thick blackberry and scrub making access difficult. Fish in this section are plentiful and once on the river, the angler finds that the river is able to be waded so opening up a good stretch of water to be explored. The upper 5kms are over open farmland and the fishing is both easy and productive as the river runs over a gravel and rock bed through a series of pools and riffles. The river is easily wadeable and a delight to fish.

The Tutaki tributary is worth exploring in the early and late sections of the season but gets low and warm through the summer and early autumn months.

The Mangles joins the Buller about 5kms to the east of Murchison. The Mangles Valley road follows the river to Tutaki and the Tutaki Rd follows the major tributary the Tutaki River for several kilometres. See the access map

Nymphs: Any Pheasant Tail variant or Hare and Copper (14 or 16 sizes) 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.
Wet flies: Greenwell's Glory, Grouse and Purple and Red Tipped Govenor fished sub-surface work well, especially in the evening. Larger patterns fished in the deeper pools
such as Hamill's Killer and Mrs Simpson can also be effective.

Spinners: Small bladed spinners such as Mepps or Veltic.