← Fishing

Brown trout

Brown trout came from Europe from the late 1860s and are now found across most of the country. They are cautious and clever, which is most of their appeal: in New Zealand’s clear rivers you can often see the fish before you cast to it.

Brown trout
Stewart Nimmo · CC BY-SA 4.0

Where they live

  • Rivers, streams and lakes south of the Coromandel Peninsula, in both islands (NIWA).
  • The South Island is the heart of it: lowland spring creeks, big braided rivers and back-country streams.

When

  • Most rivers and streams are open from 1 October to 30 April; some lakes and some lowland rivers stay open all year. The water you fish has its own rules, set by the Fish & Game region.
  • The best of the day is usually early morning and evening, and after a flood has cleared.

Seasons and rules for each region, from Fish & Game

How

Fly fishing
The classic way: a nymph (imitation of an insect larva) drifted near the bottom, or a dry fly on the surface when fish are rising. Polarised sunglasses let you see fish in the water.
Spinning
A small spinner or soft-bait lure, cast across and slightly upstream and retrieved through the current. Simple gear and a good way to start, where your region’s rules allow it.
Approach
Walk upstream, keep low and keep your shadow off the water. A spooked brown trout stops feeding for a long time.

Your first trip

  1. Pick a lowland river near a bridge with public land along the bank (see the places to start in each region).
  2. Fish the slower water at the head and tail of pools, early or late in the day.
  3. Check, Clean, Dry your gear before you go to a different river.

Check, Clean, Dry. Remove any plant matter from your boots, waders, net and line, and leave it at the water you’re at. Soak or scrub everything in 10% dishwashing detergent for at least 10 minutes (or hot water at 50–55 °C for 5 minutes). Let it dry completely, inside and out, then leave it at least another 48 hours before using it in another river or lake. MPI

Places to start

Each region page lists places where a public road meets the water and the bank is public land.

Sources: NIWA: brown trout · Fish & Game: our fish species.