Waiau River Fishing

The Waiau drains Lake Te Anau into Lake Manapouri, from where electricity is hydro generated. This clear, deep river then flows down to the sea, through Tuatapere, at Te Waewae Bay.

Between the two lakes, the river consists of a sheer and tortuous gorge that is very challenging for the angler.

Access map
Access map with topography

LINZ topographic map: (260 Map Series, 1:50,000)
D43 Te Anau
C43 Manapouri
D44 Takitimu
D45 Ohai
D47 Riverton / Aparima

River level, rainfall and river flow

View details and graphs at the Environment Southland website of the current Waiau River:

• River level and rainfall
• River flow

Weather forecast

View the MetService weather forecasts for Invercargill.

Thirty years ago the river flow was much reduced from Lake Manapouri to Monowai, because of the hydro electricity generation demand. Flow has increased in recent years and stocks are now as high throughout the river as in any other Southland water.

Fly fishing is best in the evenings from December onwards, and particularly just below Mararoa weir. You can spin any time of the day or season.

The river downstream of Monowai is up to 100m wide, one of the few areas in which you can fish from a boat without annoying those fishing from the shoreline.

The upper Waiau is that section that flows from Te Anau to Manapouri. This is a meandering stretch of river that can be fished from a boat (in fact many areas can only be accessed this way). The river here is deep and clear and holds a good stock of both rainbow and brown trout. The section upstream from Manapouri contains a lot of fallen trees and other debris and is not pleasant to fish. Good fishing can be had however where the river leaves Te Anau though this is only accessible by boat.

Fish in this section rise freely and anglers should use sedge or mayfly patterns when trout can be seen feeding on or near the surface.

There is limited shoreline access at the Control Gates, Rainbow Reach, Balloon Loop and along the Keplar Track

The lower reaches (below Mararoa Weir) have been adversely affected by the use of water from the river for hydro-electricity production. Much of the river is on private property so ask the landowners permission before fishing these sections. Both fly and spinning is productive.

Both rainbow and brown trout are present . There are sea run fish in the lower section below the Tuatapere Bridge.

Limited access as the river frequently strays from the road. Between the two lakes, the Kepler Track 4km from Te Anau takes you to control gates then foot access to the riverbed. There is also access off SH95 at Queen’s Reach, Rainbow Reach and Balloon Loop.

At Monowai there is road access from Redcliff Saddle. At Tuatapere on SH96, the bridge over the Waiau is 300m before the town.

See the access map

Nymphs: Pheasants tail, Grey Ghost, Mrs Simpson, Hare’s Ear.

Dry flies: Peveril of the Peak, Dad’s Favourite, Coch-y-Bondhu, Mole, Royal Wulff, Humpy, Twilight Beauty.

Wet flies / Streamers: Greenwell’s Glory, Twilight Beauty, Dark Red Spinner and Invicta.

Spinners: Black minnow, silver Wobbler, Black Toby.

Waiau River between Manapouri Lake Control (MLC) structure and Tuatapere

Waiau River upstream of the Monowai Power station