Crooked River Trout Fishing

The Crooked River is a an excellent fly water flowing over a for the angler prepared to walk a little to reach some backcountry water.

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Fish type	Brown trout
Situation	10kms from Moana, 30 kms from Greymouth
Setting	The Crooked River flows from the Alexander Range west to enter Lake Brunner at Howitt Point. In its lower reaches before it enters the lake it is slow moving and meanders across open land (hence its name). The middle reaches mostly flow over farmland and just below the confluence with the Evans River it moves into a bush lined valley.
Maps	Access map Access map with topography LINZ topographic map: (260 Map Series, 1:50,000) K32 Lake Brunner
F&G pamphlet	West Coast Sports Fisheries access pamphlet >>>
Description	The Crooked river offers very different fishing throughout its length. The lower reaches can be fished by boat (with there being particularly good fishing where it enters the lake). In the middle reaches from Te Kinga to the Crooked River Reserve there is excellent dry fly and nymph fishing. The upper reaches are in backcountry and the water generally very clear offering the opportunity to stalk the larger fish in the runs and pools. The river mostly runs over rock and shingle and the further upstream you go the clearer the water.
Fish numbers and size	There are good numbers of fish in the Crooked especially when late in the season when they move up the river to spawn.
Ease of fishing	The lower reaches can be fished by boat. The middle reaches are esay but above the confluence with the Evans River it becomes more challenging.
Access	Access is via the Moana - Rotomanu Road for the middle and lower reaches and the Rotomanu - Kopara Rd for the first section of the upper reaches. The headwaters require some walking. See the Crooked River 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. In the more boisterous water use large visible palmered flies, especially in the hotter months when the river is low and very clear. Wet flies: Small wets like Greenwell's Glory, March Brown and sedge emerger patterns work well when fished sub-surface. These flies are particularly effective when fishing the evening rise at the mouth of the river where it enters the lake or anywhere along the middle section below the confluence with the Evans River. Spinners: Small bladed spinners (Mepps or Veltic) fished upstream into the faster water or through the deep pools are best for this small river.
Tributaries	The only tributaries of note is the Evans River which is an important spawning stream but has limited appeal to the angler as it generally holds a small head of fish and the Poerua River which drains out of Lake Poerua.
Regulations
Applicable to	Crooked River
Region	West Coast >>>
Season	Trout: 1 Oct-30 Apr Salmon: 1 Oct-30 Apr
Methods	Artificial fly, spinner, bait
Bag limit	Total sportrs fish: 2
Size limit (cm)	No limit

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