Lake Coleridge Fishing

Lake Coleridge lies between the Torlesse and Mt Hutt ranges near Rakaia, at the foot of the Southern Alps.

From Christchurch, take SH73 to Darfield, turn onto SH77 and drive towards the Rakaia Gorge Bridge. At Windwhistle, turn onto Coleridge Road, then into Homestead Road at Acheron Cutting.

Access map
Access map with topography

LINZ topographic map: (260 Map Series, 1:50,000)
K35 Coleridge
K34 Wilberforce

Lake Coleridge, one of the Rakaia group of 10 lakes, is the largest and most heavily fished lake in North Canterbury, despite being exposed to both nor’ and sou’westers. It is 18km long and covers just over 3,500ha.

The most common catch is the rare chinook salmon. Trout are hard to spot so blind fishing is necessary, usually along the eastern shoreline. In calm, bright conditions you might spot trout in some of the smaller lakes just to the east of Lake Coleridge.

The lower reaches of the tributaries all hold trout but they’re shingly and unstable, so stick to the lake.

The season runs from November to the end of April.

The best access points are:

• at the Intake which is off Mt Algidus Road
• Ryton Bay on the eastern shore. Turn left off Harper Road before Ryton River bridge.
• Harper Bay After crossing the Harper River, continue up Harper Road, through the Harper village and turn left after crossing the Harper River.

Deep troll a spinner from a motor boat.

Spin from the shore on a blustery day at the downwind end and into the wind.

Bait fishing is not permitted.

Nymphs: Muddler Minnow, Yellow Rabbit

Dry flies: Blowflies, Coch-y-Bondhu, Manuka Beetle, Black Gnat

Wet flies: Twilight Beauty, March Brown   and emerger patterns

Spinners: Rapalas, Tasmanian Devils, Ticers