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upper south island
The Marlborough province is the
sunniest in the South Island and boasts many fishing havens. The
Wairau River, which flows into Cloudy Bay near Blenheim, can be
accessed quite easily along both sides. Sea-run trout are in
plentiful supply at the rivers mouth, also the upper Wairau
provides excellent fishing. Highway 63, on the south bank,
connects Blenheim to the Nelson Lakes, offering interesting
tributaries en route.
Great fishing can be encountered at the mouths of rivers and
creeks along the north coast between Havelock, Nelson and
Motueka. Inland from Motueka, Highway 61 provides access to many
spots, including that on the western side of the old suspension
bridge leading up the Graham Valley to Flora Hut on Mount Arthur.
Magnificent lakes and rivers encompass the spectacular Nelson
Lakes National Park.
Most favoured by anglers is peaceful Lake Rotoroa, well known for
its abundant brown trout and lack of boats and water skiers.
Supplies of rainbow trout inhabit the lake, however are no longer
being restocked. The south end of the lake is home to the very
best boat fishing, at the mouths of the Sabine and DUrville
rivers. Smaller streams entering the lake also provide an array
of fish.
The Buller River flows from Lake Rotoiti to Wesport, paralleled
by Highway 6, and provides suburb fishing along its entire
length. The adjacent township of Murchison is perched on a small
plain at the junction of the Upper Buller and Matakitaki rivers,
boasting magnificent trout streams in all valleys encircling the
river. The Mangles and Tutaki Rivers offer great fishing, as do
numerous streams near Reefton.
Rivers in and around Nelson Lakes National Park can be fished
between the 1st of October and the 30th of
April. The Buller River is open to anglers all year round.
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