Hurunui River Fishing

Fish & Game are opposing the application by the Hurunui Water Project to dam the South Branch of the Hurunui.

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The Hurunui River upper reaches are split into two branches: the North Branch which is fed from Lake Sumner, and the South Branch. The two branches join to form the main river south-east of Lake Sumner. The river flows through a succession of short, attractive gorges and wends in an easterly direction, through scenic, hilly countryside and the Balmoral Forest, before heading for the coast  just south of Cheviot.

The Hurunui is around 130km north of Christchurch. It passes through the town of Hurunui on the south side of Balmoral Forest.

Upper Hurunui River maps

Access map
Access map with topography

Lower Hurunui River maps

Access map
Access map with topography

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

Weather forecast

View the MetService weather forecasts for Christchurch and Kaikoura.

River flow

The Hurunui generally becomes fishable once it drops below 35 cumecs, though trout anglers fishing in the upper reachs like to see it at 25 cumecs or less to allow better access along the banks.

View a graph of the current Hurunui river flow at the Environment Canterbury website:
- at the Hurunui/Mandamus confluence
- at State Highway 1

Rainfall

View a graph of the current Hurunui rainfall at the Environment Canterbury website:
- at the Hurunui/Mandamus confluence
- at State Highway 1

River and flood phone and text info

Phone: For river flow and rainfall info, phone 0900 74837 (RIVER). Calls cost 50 cents per minute (plus GST).

Text: For river level and river flow info, text:
- RV HURUM for the Hurunui at the Mandamus confluence
- RV HURU1 for the Hurunui at SH1
to 3226

The cost to have the text message sent to you is 30 cents.

Access pamphlet

Hurunui & Waiau Rivers access pamphlet

River report

Fish & Game river report: phone 03-366 2986 (1 Oct-30 April).

North Branch headwaters above Lake Sumner

Description

A location popular with fit anglers with a full day's fishing available. The river is moderate in size, clear, shingly and flood-prone. On a bright day, the trout can be spotted and stalked; but they are easily spooked and will go into hiding for at least a day. The river can be waded and crossed safely in normal conditions. Note that a north west wind often blows strongly downstream.

Fish numbers and size

Some good-sized brown trout.

Access

Off Lake Sumner Road, there is a 4WD track to the North Branch above Lake Sumner whch ends at a swing bridge. Note that you need to contact the Christchurch office of DOC for the combination of a gate lock to proceed past Loch Katrine. See the upper Hurunui access map and the list of access points.

North Branch of the Hurunui and the main river to the Mandamus confluence

Description

Below Lake Sumner, the North Branch of the Hurunui is large and clear; it remains clear after a fresh. The upper reaches and tributaries are best fished when the river is low. The river flows over a rock and gravel bed, and the shoreline is mostly stony. The pools are deep and the runs expansive. The river here is not easy to fish as its dangerous to cross and tricky to wade. Long casts are required, mostly fishing blind. The prevailing north westerly wind blows downstream.

You can catch trout anywhere down to the gorge above the Mandamus confluence. The 10km downstream from Lake Sumner to above Maori Gorge (where the road first comes near the river) is one of the most productive reaches of trout fishing in New Zealand. There's a full day's fishing to be had in this stretch of water. Blind fishing the big pocket water of the North Branch below Lake Sumner is particularly effective.

Immediately above the confluence with the Mandamus, the Hurunui runs through a gorge whoch is practically unfishable due to the steep banks which make access very difficult.

Fish numbers and size

Excellent stock year-round, up to 3.5kg. More than 50 large fish per km.

Access

Access is off Lake Sumner Road which skirts the river for part of its length.  From the Sisters Stream footbridge to Lake Sumner there is foot access only. You can walk down to the river’s edge at Surveyors Stream, where the road leaves the river.

See the upper Hurunui access map and access point 2 in the list of access points.

South Branch of the Hurunui

Description

The South Branch offers good fishing upstream of the confluence with the North Branch but access through and above the gorge reaches is difficult. It is are best fished when the river is low. The South Branch is smaller and less stable than the North Branch and discolours after rain. The trout become wary in response to heavy angling pressure so fishing early in the season is recommended.

Fish numbers and size

High upstream near the Stony Hut there are 6 km of water holding a few good-sized fish. Please catch and release.

Access

There is access by foot from the confluence with the North Branch. All other access is through Esk Head Station and requires permission from the landowner. See the upper Hurunui access map and the list of access points.

Mandamus confluence to the mouth

Salmon

This large, shingly and braided part of the river can be dirty and is most suited to spinning for salmon. The salmon season is mid January to mid March.

The best times to fish are as soon as the river clears after a fresh, when salmon run upriver. Look for deep water locations with a slow current. Salmon also congregate where the river flows into rocky outcrops or bluffs.

Trout

Populations of brown trout are present all year round, mainly in in deep holes and gorges. Look for pools with large rocks which provide cover for feeding trout. Early in the season some good browns can be caught under the willows. A run of sea-run fish in December can offer good sport.

Access

The Balmoral Bridge on SH7 provides the easiest access to both sides of the river. The lower reaches are accessed from roads leading off State Highway 1.

See the lower Hurunui access map and access points 3 and 4 in the list of access points.

Hurunui mouth

At the mouth

The best fishing tends to be in the surf when the river is low and salmon are congregating outside the mouth waiting for a flood before running the river. Wind and tides affect which side is best to surf cast from, but if in doubt head for the south side.

The best times to fish are generally on a low tide or early stages of the incoming tide. The first hour of daylight is great fishing on any tide.

The mouth gut

The river mouth gut is popular immediately after a fresh when the salmon tend to run into the river. The best time is during the top half of the incoming tide.

Tide tables

See the tide tables for Lyttleton at the LINZ website.

Fish numbers and size:

Very good numbers in season.

Access:

Access to the mouth is from side roads off State Highway 1. See access points 5 and 6 in the list of access points.

Spin fishing is the most effective, though fly fishing is quite feasible.

Spinning

At the river mouth: Use a medium-fast action rod of 2-2.5m in length, coupled with a fixed or free spool reel capable of holding 200m of 8-10kg line.

Up river: Lighter tackle such as a rod and reel with around 6-7kg line is recommended, with zed spinners of 10-22 grams fished right on the bottom. Target places where the current is slow and the water deep.

Fly fishing

Try streamer flies fished on sinking lines through the tails of pools or through slow flowing reaches.

Spinning is the best method when the river is discoloured and fly fishing when it’s low and clear enough to sight the fish.

Catch and release

Above Lake Sumner and in the South Branch (where there are fewer fish), please catch and release.

Spinning

Cast into calm water at the top of pools using good-sinking spinners such as the Tasmanian Devil or Toby.

Fly fishing

To avoid spooking the trout, approach carefully, standing well back from the bank and spot them before casting. Use nymphs or large attractor dry flies fished upstream on a floating line

Nymphs: Use stonefly nymphs or small weighted nymphs such as tungsten beadheads: see Hare and Copper Gold Bead and Caddis Tungsten Brown.

Dry flies: Well-hackled

Large attractor dry flies such as ???.

Spinners:  Tasmanian Devil or Toby.

Tributaries of the Hurunui River include:
- Pahau River
- Waitohi River
- Mandamus River
- Pahau River
- Waikiri River