HomeSouthlandSouthland: Where to fishHamilton Burn

Hamilton Burn

Hamilton Burn is a small tributary of the Aparima River. It offers superb dry fly and nymph water for a good population of large brown trout.

Fish type Brown trout
Situation Hamilton Burn rises in the  Takitimu Hills and flows south east to join the Aparima south of Mossburn.
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Description

Hamilton Burn (and the associated North and South Braxton Burns which join it in the upper reaches) are slow flowing waters that flow between banks lined with willow and broom. As they do not have a great structure the fish tend to cruise the pools looking for food or to station themselves along the foam feed-lines.

Although the water usually has some colour, fish can usually be spotted when they are feeding as they tend to often feed near the surface. they therefore respond well to dry flies and unweighted nymphs. When no fish are visible it pays to fish the likely looking water blind.

Methods This can be described as classic dry fly and nymph water though fish also respond well to small soft-hackled wet flies fished across and down.
Recommended tackle Light rods of 8 - 9 feet capable of casting a weight 5 line and long leaders with fine tippets.
Recommended lures

Nymphs:
Small lightly weighted or un-weighted nymphs such as a Pheasant Tail emerger, emerger and stonefly patterns.

Dry flies: Small mayfly patterns such as a Blue Dun, Kakahi Queen or Twilight Beauty. In the summer when the Cicadas are about, a large cicada pattern can prove irresistible. Also try a blowfly or bluebottle during warm still days or a Daddy-Long-Legs (Crane fly) in the evening.

Wet flies: Soft hackled  flies such as a Gosling worked across the faster water and through the riffles. Emerger patterns are also good on this water either fished as wee-wets or cast just ahead of a trout rising in the evening and left to float downstream rather like a dry-fly.

Spinners: Small bladed spinners such as a veltic or Mepps.

Tributaries There are number of tributaries of interest to the angler including North and South Braxton Burn, and Centre Burn
Regulations (1)
Applicable to Hamilton Burn and tributaries upstream from Mossburn - Otautau Road
Region Southland regulations
Season 1 Oct - 30 April
Methods Artificial fly and spinner
Bag limit 2 fish in total with only 1 salmon allowed
Size limit (cm) No size limit
Regulations (2)
Applicable to Hamilton Burn downstream from Mossburn - Otautau Road
Region Southland regulations
Season 1 Oct - 30 April
Methods Artificial fly, spinner and bait
Bag limit 2 fish in total with only 1 salmon allowed
Size limit (cm) No size limit

Other fishing waters of the region



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