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Orangipuku River

The Orangipuku River is a spawning stream for Lake Brunner and a number of fish enter the stream to spawn late in the season. It holds a good resident population of fish in its clear waters.
Fish type Brown trout
Situation 30kms from Moana at the southern end of Lake Brunner
Setting The Orangipuku flows northwards to enter Lake Brunner at Swan Bay at the southern end of the lake. A short distance from the lake the river divides into a number of small feeder streams that means the river has limited water beyond this. Of these only Bruce Creek is worth fishing.
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Description The lower reaches of the Orangipuku are worth fishing especially late in the season as trout move up the stream to spawn. The river flows over a shingle and gravel bed through open land. There is good access on from the bridge that leads to Mitchells. Fish are easy to spot in the clear water and against the grey shingle and rock bed. The most fish are in the section from the bridge to the outlet at Swan Bay though there is also very good fishing upstream from the bridge.

There can be very good fishing at the mouth of the river where it enters that lake, again especially late in the season as trout will congregate there waiting to move into the river for spawning. The river is wadeable but does discolour badly after rain.
Fish numbers and size Resident fish numbers are low though there can be good numbers of reasonable size fish early and late in the season as the trout move in from the lake to spawn.
Ease of fishing The lower reaches are easy to fish with the middle and upper reaches having more appeal to anglers who like to stalk fish in the clear waters.
Access Access is via Kumara - Inchbonnie Road that takes you close to rivers entry into Lake Brunner at Swan Bay.
Recommended lures Nymphs: Small nymphs such as Hare and Copper, Pheasant Tails and Caddis imitations all work well in sizes 14 or smaller.

Dry flies: Small flies such as Royal Wulff, Hardies Favourite, Dad's Favourite and March Brown all work well at all times of the day.

Wet flies: Small wets like Greenwell's Glory, March Brown and sedge emerger patterns work well when fished sub-surface. These flies are particularly effective when fishing the evening rise at the mouth of the river where it enters the lake.

Spinners: Small bladed spinners (Mepps or Veltic) fished upstream into the faster water or through the deep pools are best for this small river.
Tributaries The main tributary is Bruce Creek which joins the Orangipuku approximately 1 kilometre before it enters Lake Brunner.
Regulations
Applicable to Orangipuku River
Region West Coast
Season 1 Oct-30 Apr
Methods Artificial fly, spinner, bait
Bag limit Total sports fish: 2
Size limit (cm) No limit

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