Thread: Advice please on SI places to fish

I have a wedding to attend in Christchurch in mid-February, and I was thinking of staying on in the South Island afterwards for a couple of weeks and tour around, re-visiting some of the places I used to fish. A combination of overseas visitors and didymo had put me off going back for 20 years fearing what I would find. With only local pressure on the fisheries for the past two years I thought this might be my one opportunity to enjoy some quiet and productive fishing once again.
Here are some of the places I was interested in going back to (grouped by region).

Could I get some pointers please as to if these still offer reasonable fishing — and any info on access ?

Tarndale, Upper Clarence, Lake Guyon, Upper Waiau
Winding Creek & Broken River
Grays & Tekapo Rivers, Mary Burn, Lake Poaka
Upper Mataura , Upper Oreti, Von River

I thought I might go over one or two of the less-travelled passes too, as part of the road trip, so can look in on some places I’ve not fished before like the Hakataramea. I might also head over Danseys and have a look for shore cruisers in Poolburn and Manorburn reservoirs. Having somewhere to pitch a tent at or near any fishing spots would be a plus. I'll be taking a spade!

Please feel free to message me if you have any information you’d rather no go public with.

Thanks, Puffin

Hey mate, can put you up on two properties if you want, one with direct access into the upper mataura and one with direct access into the pomahaka (not mentioned but may float your boat..) Can also organise a place to pitch your tent or can use the olds AirBNB at Danseys if thats of any interest

Mataura and Waiau well worth a look mate, good numbers beautiful country down there. Cattleflat used to be a great spot to base out of and fish kilometers worth of the Mataura River.

Oreti is a waste of time.

Gets smashed by every Tom dick and Harry plus guides(despite no overseas clients).

The mataura is worth a nosey absolutely and some of its tributaries like the wyndham/ mokoreta. Mimihau is worth a solid look too.

The clutha and some of its tributaries like the manhuerikia are musts.

If you're thinking upper waiau I can give you a pointer in person so to speak.

Flick me a pm

Thought of coming north? Can do two lakes ,a hydro power stocked dam and rivers all in one day ..sand flies are a barstard but we can even get a bite to eat and a beer at mid day!

Got a spare bed ..