Clutha River

The first 4 km of the river, from the Lake Wānaka outlet to the State Highway 6 bridge at Albert Town. Only the lake feeds it, so its flow holds steadier than the river below the Hāwea. The Outlet Track follows the bank from the Outlet campground to Hikuwai Reserve in Albert Town. In the middle sits Deans Bank, the reach between the landmark posts 1 km below the lake and 600 m above the bridge. It is fly only, open 1 October to 31 May, and closed to fishing from boats, and the true right bank gives the easiest way in. Above and below Deans Bank the river is open all year to fly, spinner and bait. In early summer the caddis hatches bring an evening rise, and anglers keep fishing dries into the dark.

Best for: Evening caddis rises for brown trout and rainbow trout on Deans Bank, and nymphs or streamers in the deep runs at the outlet.

About 15 km of big, fast water with side braids and gravel banks, from Albert Town Bridge to the State Highway 8A bridge at Luggate. The Hāwea River joins just below Albert Town Bridge and the Cardrona soon after. Contact Energy's Hāwea Dam changes its release quickly by day and night, so the level here can rise or drop while the outlet reach stays steady. ORC's Clutha at Below Cardrona Confluence site reads this reach. The Upper Clutha River Track follows the bank all the way, with car parks at Albert Town, the Cardrona River, Stevensons Road, Reko's Point, Shortcut Road and Luggate. Above about 350 m³/s the river below the Hāwea is too high to fish from the bank. The side braids and slow edges hold fish through the winter, when streamers work well.

Best for: Walk-and-wade fishing for brown trout and rainbow trout from the track: streamers along the edges, nymphs in the braids and riffles, and beetle dries when the brown beetles are about.

About 33 km from Luggate, past the Lindis confluence, to the head of Lake Dunstan near Bendigo. Bank access thins out here, and much of the river runs past farmland, so ask before you cross private land. Anglers drift it in a raft or drift boat from the four-wheel-drive ramp at Luggate to the ramp at Bendigo, casting streamers to the edges as they go. You may fish from a boat only when no motor drives it. Near Luggate the river runs through the Devil's Nook, a double switchback where the current slams into a rock wall and holds a permanent whirlpool. It is where many kayakers need rescue, so scout it or take out above it unless you know the water.

Best for: Drifting streamers to the banks for brown trout and rainbow trout from a raft or drift boat.

About 13 km of fast, deep, willow-lined river from the foot of the Clyde Dam to the State Highway 8 bridge at Alexandra, where Lake Roxburgh begins. ORC's Clutha at Clyde site reads the dam's release. Brown trout are the main fish, with some rainbows and perch. The water carries fine silt and moves fast, so most trout are small and lean. Bigger fish come from two sources: rainbows and browns that run up from Lake Roxburgh to spawn, which can go no further than the dam, and browns that cruise under the willows in summer eating willow grubs. The Manuherikia joins just below the bridge, and browns of about 1.5 kg hold under the willows at the confluence. Open all year to fly, spinner and bait.

Best for: Willow grub dries for brown trout under the willows in summer, and deep lures or nymphs below the dam for spawning rainbow trout in winter.

About 9 km from the foot of Roxburgh Dam to the bridge at Roxburgh, where the river runs fast through deep runs and holes. From late January into autumn, salmon run up from the sea and gather in the pools below the dam, the end of their run, where anglers take them on heavy spinning gear. ORC's Clutha below Roxburgh Dam site reads the release. Below Roxburgh the river is willow-lined and hard to fish for about 80 km to Clydevale, and from Millers Flat to Beaumont it is slow and wide, so most anglers skip it. Below Roxburgh Dam the river is open all year to fly, spinner and bait, the daily bag is 4 trout and 1 salmon, and a salmon must be at least 450 mm.

Best for: Spinning for sea-run chinook salmon below the dam from late January, and brown trout in the deep runs.

About 25 km from the Clydevale bridge to the State Highway 1 bridge at Balclutha. The popular spots are wide, open, shallow gravel bars, but the bigger fish sit in deeper water and in the lee of snags. This is the river's sea-run water: migratory brown trout, sea trout and salmon move through it. Big willows crowd the banks, so a boat helps a great deal. Below Balclutha the river splits around Inch Clutha into the Koau and Matau branches. The Matau, reached from Stirling or Kaitangata off State Highway 1, is the most fished water on the lower river and the most reliable. Sea trout are best in the tidal reaches in September and October and again from January to March, and the salmon run from January to April. ORC's Clutha at Balclutha site reads flow and water temperature here.

Best for: Sea-run brown trout and chinook salmon on spinners and streamers, from the gravel bars or a boat.