Pelorus River

Te Hoiere/Pelorus River rises in Mount Richmond Forest Park and runs east through bush and farmland to Pelorus Sound at Havelock. SH6, the road between Nelson and Blenheim, follows its lower river. It holds both brown and rainbow trout. The middle and lower river have good numbers of fish of about 0.5 to 1.2 kg. The upper river, above the Tinline, has fewer but larger fish, mostly browns, in wilderness water along the Pelorus Track. Sea-run fish come into the lower river. The Rai, the main tributary, joins at Pelorus Bridge and is a small farmland river with plenty of browns and rainbows of about 0.9 to 1.4 kg (2 to 3 lb).

The water is often crystal clear, and that is the challenge. The fish see a careless approach, so wade slowly and fish small. Nymphs such as a Hare and Copper, a Pheasant Tail or a caddis in size 14 or smaller work, and dries such as an Adams, a Dad's Favourite, a March Brown or a brown beetle in size 12 to 14. The middle river above Pelorus Bridge runs as glides and rapids over stone and gravel through open farmland, with room to cast. Below the bridge it is wider and harder to read, and a spinner works well when the water is slightly coloured. The Rai is a dry-fly river, and its fish rise to well-presented small flies through the day and into the evening. Flows are read at the Bryants gauge, above the Rai, and at the Rai Falls gauge on the Rai. As a rough guide, the Pelorus wades well at about 2 to 12 m³/s at Bryants and is blown out past about 40.

Pelorus Bridge Scenic Reserve on SH6, 18 km west of Havelock, is the base. DOC runs a campsite there on the river bank. Maungatapu Road follows the true left bank upstream from the bridge for about 13 km, and from its end the Pelorus Track follows the river for an hour to Emerald Pool and on to Captains Creek and Middy Creek huts. The river rises quickly after rain, so do not cross it in flood. Above the Rai confluence the Pelorus is fly and spin only, open 1 October to 30 April. Below it, the river is open all year, and bait is allowed. On the Rai the same change comes at Carluke Bridge.