Anatoki River Trout Fishing

Access map
Access map with topography

LINZ topographic maps: (260 Map Series, 1:50,000)
N26 Takaka for the lower reaches
M26 Cobb for the middle reaches and headwaters

View graphs at the Tasman District Council website of recent:
- Anatoki river flow
- Anatoki rainfall

View MetService weather forecast for Motueka.

This river offers excellent dry fly and nymph fishing for the browns that live in it. It flows in a gentle gradient over a mostly shingle bed through a farmed valley and the water generally remains clear. There is good vegetation cover in parts providing an excellent trout habitat.

The lower reaches offer easy fishing over open land. Much of the river can be waded.

There is limited public access from side roads off SH60 (the Takaka to Motueka road) and Long Plain Road. Getting to the upper reaches requires some walking.

See the access map.

Nymphs: Any Pheasant Tail variant or Hare and Copper (sizes 16 or even smaller) work well.

Dry flies: Greenwell's Glory, Coch-y-Bondhu, Adams, Kakahi Queen, beetle patterns (in early summer) and cicada patterns (from mid summer) during the day and Twilight Beauty and Dad's Favourite for the evening rise. Fish will often be seen rising during the day but require evry delicate and accurate casting to fool them.

Wet flies: Greenwell's Glory, Grouse and Purple and Red Tipped Govenor fished sub-surface work well, especially in the evening.

Spinners: Small bladed spinners such as Mepps or Veltic.