Baton River Trout Fishing

Access map
Access map with topography

LINZ topographic maps: 1:50,000 (260 series)

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

View MetService weather forecast for Motueka

Despite its size, the Baton holds reasonable size fish that can provide anglers with a real challenge fishing for large fish in clear water. It is very isolated and so an ideal stream to get away from other anglers.

The river runs over a bed of stones and gravel and the bankside vegetation makes for ideal trout habitat. But the lower reaches of the Baton are not easy to fish as vegetation grows on both banks near its confluence with the Motueka. However, just a few kilometres up the road a number of points provide easy access to the river and good unrestricted casting.

Stealth and accurate casting with light gear is essential to success. This river remains clear for most of the season and so allows anglers to spot fish and fish to them.

Nymphs: Hare and Copper, Pheasants Tails and Theo's Bombers in small sizes (14 or smaller)

Dry flies: Greenwell's Glory, Kakahi Queen, Parachute Adams, beetle patterns such as Coch-y-Bondhu and cicada patterns (in the late summer)

Wet flies: Small wets such as Greenwell's Glory, Twilight Beauty, Invicta, Purple and Grouse work well, especially in the evenings when fish are rising.