| Fish type |
Brown
trout, rainbow trout and a few landlocked salmon. |
| Situation |
The South
Island’s largest lake, Te Anau extends 60km from its
southern outlet near Lake Manapouri to its northern tip at
the famed Milford Track.
The lake’s western shore is rugged
and bush-covered, with two fiords extending into the Fiordland
mountains, while the farmed eastern side is straighter, drier
and grass covered. |
| Maps |
Access
map
Access
map with topography
LINZ topographic map: (260 Map Series,
1:50,000)
D43
Te Anau
D42
Livingstone
D41
Eglinton
C42
Mt Irene
C43
Manapouri |
| Check conditions |
Lake level
View a graph of the current
lake level.
Weather forecast
View the MetService weather forecasts for
Queenstown. |
| F&G pamphlet |
Waiau
and Te Anau Basin Rivers access pamphlet |
| Description |
For sheltered
spinning, try the eastern shore from the Rodeo Ground next
to Te Anau township, or any access point from there up to
Te Anau Downs harbour.
From a boat, trolling is deservedly popular
at the lake outlet or the stretch of eastern shore from the
township to Patience Bay. Most fishing from the shore is done
by spinning though there can be good fly fishing around stream
mouths where they enter the lake.
Fish can be hard to spot but the shallow
delta at the mouth of the Eglinton offers good visibility. |
| Fish numbers and size |
1-3kg. Brown trout are more
numerous but rainbows more readily caught. Salmon are rare,
although quinnat salmon numbers are increasing. |
| Access |
Road access
Lakeside access is plentiful off SH94 from
Te Anau up to Milford Sound. A gravel road from Te Anau Downs
harbour takes you to the Eglinton River confluence.
Boat access
Either from Te Anau township at the southern
edge, or at Te Anau Downs harbour, 29km from Te Anau on SH94.
See the Lake Te Anau access
map. |
| Methods |
Spinning, trolling, harling
and flyfishing. |
| Recommended lures |
Nymphs:
Pheasant Tail,
Hare’s Ear,
Sandy Case
Caddis.
Dry flies:
Coch-y-Bondhu,
Green beetle,
Adams, Early
Brown.
Wet flies / Streamers:
Red Setter,
Hairy Dog,
Mrs Simpson,
Craig’s
Night Time.
Spinners: Green
and brown Cobras,
Black and Gold
Tobys, Rapalas
and Tasmanian
Devils |
| Tributaries |
Tributaries to Lake Te Anau
include:
- Upukerora River
- Eglinton River
- Clinton River |
| Regulations
(1) |
| Applicable to |
Lake Te Anau: Except the area
below. |
| Region |
Southland
regulations |
| Season |
Trout: All
year
Salmon: 1 Jun-31 Mar |
| Methods |
Artificial fly, spinner |
| Bag limit |
Total: 4
Salmon: 1 |
| Size limit (cm) |
No limit |
| Regulations
(2) |
| Applicable to |
Lake Te Anau: The portion that
lies within 100m of any part of the wharf of the Real Journeys
Company's office in the township of Te Anau. |
| Region |
Southland
regulations |
| Season |
Closed |
| Methods |
None |
| Bag limit |
0 |
| Size limit (cm) |
N/A |
| Regulations
(3) |
| Applicable to |
Lake Te Anau tributaries |
| Region |
Southland
regulations |
| Season |
Trout: 1 Nov-30
April
Salmon: 1 Nov-31 Mar |
| Methods |
Artificial fly, spinner |
| Bag limit |
Total: 2
Salmon: 1 |
| Size limit (cm) |
No limit |
