Your Introduction to Fishing in The Southern Lakes Region

You really can’t beat the Southern Lakes region of New Zealand’s South Island for an outdoor lifestyle. To skiing, hiking, biking, and climbing, you can add outstanding freshwater fishing. The glacial lakes around Queenstown, Wanaka, Hawea, Te Anau and Tekapo, plus the surrounding smaller lakes like Moke Lake, tributary rivers, streams, and back-country waters provide a world-class angling experience. And at Outside Sports you can get everything you need to make the most of your day’s fishing. 

In this article we’ll discuss: 

• The top fish species in the Southern Lakes 

• The most popular fishing techniques 

• Fishing guides 

• Fishing seasons 

• Fishing license requirements 

The Southern Lakes have stocks of brown trout, rainbow trout, and land-locked Chinook (quinnat) salmon. All these species were introduced as game fish in the late 19th century and they love it here – just like we do!  

• Brown trout are sought after for their size and feistiness when on the hook.  
• Rainbow trout are known for their acrobatic antics.  
• Land-locked salmon, which are more prevalent in Lake Hawea and Wakatipu, provide exciting fishing for anglers targeting a bigger catch.  

Because the Southern Lakes are large and in most cases over 300 metres deep in parts, fishing from a boat or yacht is very popular. A lot of people enjoy trolling along drop-offs and depth contours with lures or downriggers. Trolling is most productive when your lures are kept within about 1.2 m of the bottom where the trout are most likely to be feeding.  

At dawn and dusk, fish commonly move into shallower water, which is ideal for trolling, harling, or casting from a drifting boat. Lake edges, river mouths, and areas where the bottom contours change abruptly tend to be good spots to be, because they concentrate food and attract feeding fish.  

If you prefer shore-based fishing, there are plenty of river mouths and streams entering the lakes. Casting with spinners, soft baits, and weighted lures around these feeding zones can yield good results, especially when conditions are calm – which often means early in the morning.  

Fishing from a kayak is also getting super popularity on the Southern Lakes, because it gives you lower-cost access to the shallows and river mouths without the expense.  

Fly fishing tactics range from dry flies and nymphs in smaller tributaries to weighted streamers along lake shorelines and shallow river flats. We encourage catch-and-release  to protect fish quality, to share the fun with other people who come along after you, and to ensure healthy fish stocks in the future. 

Sight fishing is where you see the fish and cast to it directly. This technique works well around here thanks to the Southern Lakes’ pristine, clear water and abundant feeding zones. 

If you’re visiting the Southern Lakes or you want to get expert tuition to improve your skills, there are several excellent guiding services in the region who can take you to the best fishing waters of the day. Check guides in the Southern Lakes and other parts of New Zealand on the officially registered fishing guides directory. 

This is a very serious matter in New Zealand! You must get an officially issued license to fish legally in these waters, and it’s important to check current bag limits, size limits, and any local restrictions before heading out. If you fish without a license or ignore limits you can lose your catch, and all your gear can be seized – including the boat or car you used to take you fishing.  

Freshwater fishing in the Southern Lakes generally runs year-round, though seasons can vary by water and the species you’re after. It can get extremely cold and wet here in winter – and with little warning - so if you do still want to go fishing remember to wear the right cold weather protective clothing.  

In our stores in Te Anau, Queenstown, Wanaka, and Tekapo we stock the lines, rods, and lures you need to fish in each town's lakes and rivers. We also sell the official NZ government fishing licenses you need to fish in any of our region’s lakes and rivers.