Lake
Opuha is a 700 hectare man-made lake, built with the purpose of
acting as an irrigation reservoir, which offers good fishing. The
lake lies hidden away and sheltered within the Fairlie Basin, 12km
from the township of Fairlie. As well as fishing, the lake is used
in summer for boating, kayaking and water skiing.
Lake Opuha boasts
three introduced species of fish. Rainbow trout were in the Opuha
river before the dam was built; brown trout and salmon have been
released since. Lake Opuha salmon are landlocked by the Opuha dam
and generally have a life expectancy of three years.
Situation
Stored
winter and spring river flow is released in summer for stock watering
and domestic and industrial use. In addition to water storage, Lake
Opuha provides electricity with a small scale hydro 7.5MW electric
plant on the outlet of the dam at the head of the Opuha River gorge.
The Opuha River then flows south-easterly to join the Opihi River.
Lake Opuha is great fishing
lake if you have your own boat and fishing gear. Power boats are
allowed on the lake and there are several boat ramps to get you
launched on to this wide warm body of placid water. Spaces
for camping and picnics are large and well spread out.
The Lions Club run a fishing
competition on the lake every November in conjunction with CSI
Fish & Game.
Access
Getting there
Turn off SH79 east of the Opihi River and Fairlie
and follow Clayton Road, a long straight tar-sealed road, to Lake
Opuha. See the Opihi/Opuha
River access map.
Methods
Trolling from a boat or spinning from the shore
work best.
