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Spring Creek

 

Spring Creek is a spring fed river that provides good  sport for the dry fly purist in crystal clear water. While once this was a great small stream increases in intensive farming has seen it degraded with fish numbers suffering as a consequence.
Fish type Brown trout
Situation 15 minutes from Blenheim; 1.5 hours from Nelson
Setting A clear willow and grass lined stream that rises in the hills south of Blenheim and flows to join the Wairau near its mouth.
Access map Access map
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Description Spring Creek is a spring fed crystal clear stream that meanders over farmland for much of its length. It has a large amount of aquatic vegetation that provides excellent cover for trout as well as being an endless larder of insect life. In its lower reaches it passes through horticulture land and vineyards and fish numbers in this section have declined over recent years. In the upper reaches the river is small but is a beautiful dry fly river where the angler will be tested on sighted large and wary brown trout.
Fish numbers and size In the lower reaches numbers are low but fish tend to be large averaging around 4lb. Numbers are higher and fish smaller (around 2-3lb average) in the upper reaches.
Ease of fishing This is an easy river to fish as it flows over farmland though the actual catching of the large and wary trout that inhabit it provides a challenge. The weed life and snags can also be frustrating as fish once hooked will head for these causing many a busted line.
Access

Access is of O'Dwyers and Ruapara Rd and from where the river is crossed by State Highway 1 near Blenheim. See the Opawa River access map.
Recommended lures

Nymphs: 
Any weighted Caddis nymph, Pheasants Tail or Hare and Copper are favoured though they should be in small sizes (16 is best)

Dry flies:
Fish respond to dry flies such as Adams, Geenwell's Glory, Dad's Favourite or Twilight Beauty throughout the day and into the evening when there can be an excellent rise. Keep sizes in the 16 to 18 range.

Wet flies: Small wets fished sub-surface can be effective (such as Greenwell's Glory or March Brown or try a dark lure such as a Scotch Poacher or Hairy Dog fished deep at night.

Spinners: Very small bladed spinners such as Veltic or Mepps are best but this is not a river best suited to spin fishing.
Regulations
Applicable to Spring Creek
Region Nelson/Marlborough
Season 1 October - 30 April
Methods Artificial fly, spinner
Bag limit 2 (with only one fish exceeding 500mm in length)
Size limit (cm) No minimum size

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