Harris Creek Trout Fishing

Harris Creek is easily accessible but a challenging river to fish due to the clarity of the water.

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Fish type	Brown trout
Situation	Approx 25 from Kokatahi
Setting	Harris Creek is a small spring fed stream that runs over open farmland. It joins the Kokatahi River near the small settlement of Kokatahi.
Maps	Access map Access map with topography LINZ topographic map: (260 Map Series, 1:50,000) J33 Kaniere
F&G pamphlet	West Coast Sports Fisheries access pamphlet >>>
Description	A small sping fed creek running over mostly farm land to join the Kokatahi River. When other rivers are dirty the Harris genearlly remains clear allowing fishing throughout the season.
Fish numbers and size	Good numbers of fish mostly in the 2-3lb range
Ease of fishing	Although easily accessible this can be a challenging river to fish due to the clarity of the water.
Access	Mostly over private land so seek permission from the land-owner. See the Harris Creek access map.
Recommended lures	Nymphs: Any weighted Caddis nymph, Pheasants Tail or Hare and Copper are favoured though they should be in small sizes (16 is best) Dry flies: Fish respond to dry flies such as Adams, Geenwell's Glory, Dad's Favourite or Twilight Beauty throughout the day and into the evening when there can be an excellent rise. Keep sizes in the 16 to 18 range however. Wet flies: Small wets fished subsurface can be effective (such as Greenwell's Glory or March Brown or try a dark lure such as a Scotch Poacher or Hairy Dog fished deep at night. Spinners: Very small bladed spinners such as Veltic or Mepps could be tried but this is not a river best suited to spin fishing.
Regulations
Applicable to	Harris Creek
Region	West Coast >>>
Season	Trout: 1 Oct-30 Apr Salmon: 1 Oct-30 Apr
Methods	Artificial fly, spinner, bait
Bag limit	Total sports fish: 2
Size limit (cm)	No limit

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