Access map

Lake Catherine is a popular fly fishing water that due to its location tends to be more sheltered than some of the other Rakaia lakes. It is surrounded by a mixture of open tussock land, scrub and trees. It is an attractive small water to fish and on many days fish can be seen cruising along the shallows and around any weed beds. Fishing around where either the small stream enters the lake at the southern end or the stream that is the outlet at the northern end provide good places to base yourself to watch for cruising fish.

 Lake Catherine (Monck) is walking access only with a DOC track (new in 2008) starting at the head of Lake Evelyn.

At the southern end of Lake Evelyn on Harper Road, turn right onto Olympus Road. About 3 kms along this road it forks with the left hand fork leading to the Ida Lakes and the right hand fork taking you to Lake Catherine. Park at the end of the road (at the locked gate) and walk approximately 200 metres down to the lake.

Nymphs: Damselfly nymphs, willow grubs as well as general patterns such as the Hares Ear

Wet flies: Both small wee wets such as Black and Peacock to imitate a snail or a palmered fly such as the Bibio fished just subsurface and small streamer flies such as dollflies and rabbits can all work well.