Lake McGregor Trout Fishing

Lake McGregor is fed from Lake Alexandrina and flows through an outlet creek into Lake Tekapo.

Access map

Access map with topography

LINZ topographic maps: (260 Map Series, 1:50,000)
I37 Lake Tekapo

Rainfall

View graphs at the Environment Canterbury website of recent recent rainfall at Mt Gerald.

Weather forecast

View the MetService weather forecast for Timaru

Lake McGregor is a small, very deep lake surrounded by willow trees which provide good shelter from the prevailing Nor'westerly wind.

Around many of the small bays there is a shelf of shallow water that quickly drops off into the depths. Fish usually cruise the edge of the deep water and can be difficult to spot. Consequently, most fishing is done blind using streamers cast and retrieved over the drop-off.

In early mornings and evenings, particularly during the warmer months, there can be good dry fly and nymph fishing around the shoreline.

At the outlet channel that leads to Lake Tekapo there can be excellent fishing at all times of the year.

From SH8 just south of the township of Lake Tekapo, take the Godley Peaks Road and continue along it for approximately 9 km. 

See the upper Waitaki access map.

Mostly streamer fishing though summer. Dry fly and nymph fishing are possible particularly in the early morning or late evening.

Use a rod capable of casting a weight six to seven sinking line. When harling use a sinking line.

Dry fly: During the height of summer there may be some success using a blow fly pattern, Humpy or beetle pattern.

Nymphs: Well weighted nymphs capable of getting down deep in patterns such as Pheasant Tail

Wetflies: Streamer patterns such as a Woolly Bugger, Rabbit pattern, Parsons' Glory or a bully pattern such as a Hamill's Killer or Mrs Simpson.

Trout: No limit

Salmon:

Minimum 300 mm minimum

Maximum: 450 mm maximum from 1 Mar-30 April