| Fish type |
Brown
and rainbow trout |
| Situation |
The lower
reaches are approximately 8kms north of Hokitika with side roads
leading to sections of the middle reaches. |
| Setting |
The Arahura is a moderately
large river that has a large watershed. As this part of the
country has a very high rainfall this river generally carries
a lot of water and the current can be surprisingly powerful
as it nears the coast. The lower and middle reaches flow over
mostly open land with the upper reaches and headwaters flowing
through some steep bush-line valleys. |
| Maps |
Access
map
Access
map with topography
LINZ topographic map: (260 Map Series,
1:50,000)
J33
Kaniere for the lower and middle reaches
J34
Whitcombe for the upper reaches and headwaters.
|
| F&G pamphlet |
West Coast Sports Fisheries
access pamphlet >>> |
| Description |
The Arahura flows mostly over
a stone and gravel bed. The water is generally clear though
after prolonged rainfall it can become dirty and tends to stay
that way for a few days. The upper reaches are for the energetic
angler as the river flows through a beautiful valley. Some areas
are difficult to negotiate because of gorges however but there
are many kilometres of wonderful fishing opportunities. The
middle reaches have a more open land but care should be taken
when wading as the river can be surprisingly swift (and the
stone bottom slippery). The lower and middle reaches have mostly
brown trout but there are a reasonable number of good size rainbow
trout above the Milltown Rd bridge. |
| Fish numbers and size |
Fish numbers are moderate and
mostly in the 2 -4lb range. The upper reaches do have some large
fish however and the lower reaches and estuarine areas can be
good for large sea-run fish. |
| Ease of fishing |
The middle and lower reaches
offer fishing for all skills levels with the upper reaches being
suited to the more energetic and competent angler |
| Access |
Access to the lower reaches
is via State Highway 6 with a number of roads such as the Arahura
Valley Rd and Humphrey's Gully Rd leading of this and giving
access to the middle reaches. The Milltown rd crosses the Arahura
further upstream and from here anglers can walk a well defined
track into the remote back country headwaters. See the Arahura
access
map. |
| Recommended lures |
Nymphs:
Small nymphs such as Hare
and Copper, Pheasant
Tails and Caddis
imitations all work well in sizes 14 or smaller.
Dry flies:
Small flies such as Royal
Wulff, Hardies Favourite,
Dad's Favourite
and March Brown all work
well at all times of the day. Fish bushier flies such as Coch-y-Bondhu
and Humpy over the faster water.
Wet flies: Small
wets like Greenwell's
Glory, March
Brown and emerger
sedge patterns work well when fished sub-surface. These
flies are particularly effective when fishing the evening
rise. Large flies such as a Parson's
Glory or Grey
Ghost are excellent when the trout are chasing the whitebait
in the lower reaches and estuary. Use large dark patterns
such as a Hairy
Dog or Scotch
Poacher during the night.
Spinners: Small
bladed spinners (Mepps or Veltic)
fished upstream into the faster water or through the deep
pools. Bright spinners such as a Silver
Toby or Cobra work well
in the lower reaches when the whitebait are running. |
| Tributaries |
There a number of small tributaries
to the Arahura which can provide good fishing in there lower
reaches especially early in the season. |
| Regulations (1) |
| Applicable to |
Arahura River upstream of Milltown
(Landsburgh) Bridge |
| Region |
West Coast >>>
|
| Season |
Trout: 1 Oct-30
Apr
Salmon: 1 Oct-30 Apr |
| Methods |
Artificial fly, spinner, bait |
| Bag limit |
Total: 4
Rainbow trout: 2
Salmon: 1 |
| Size limit (cm) |
No limit |
| Regulations (2) |
| Applicable to |
Arahura River downstream of
Milltown (Landsburgh) Bridge |
| Region |
West Coast >>>
|
| Season |
Trout: All
year
Salmon: 1 Oct-30 Apr |
| Methods |
Artificial fly, spinner, bait |
| Bag limit |
Brown trout: 4
Rainbow trout: 2
Salmon: 2 |
| Size limit (cm) |
No limit |
