Owen River Lodge (NZ)

At Owen River lodge, guests enjoy fly fishing on numerous blue-ribbon streams and rivers. There are over 30 waters accessible by road – mostly within an hour’s drive – and countless others by helicopter. As a result, the region offers a vast variety, ranging from small, intimate rivers like the Owen River to iconic freestone rivers like the Wairau.

The average fish ranges between 3lb & 6lb, but each season, this fishery produces many fish over the 10lb mark.

Sight fishing paradise

New Zealand streams are impeccably clear, making 99% of your fishing sight fishing.
Imagine stalking a 7 or 8lb wild brown trout in water so clear that you can see your flies bouncing on the bottom in waist-deep pools.

Most local fishing from Owen River Lodge involves walking and stalking sighted brown trout. This means that for most rivers, you must see the fish before the fish sees you, making your guide an integral part of your stay.

All Owen River Lodge guides are professional, full-time fishing guides, with a wealth of experience. All the senior guides are also members of the NZPFGA.

Fishing tips:
You should use a dull-colored fly line, long leaders, and a fine tippet. Unlike lake fishing, most of the casting you will do will be medium to short distances—accuracy being much more important than the ability to cast the complete fly line. Generally, anglers use a 5 or 6-weight rod, 9 to 10 feet in length.

Seasons:

Early season – October and November

Early season fishing in New Zealand has some advantages and disadvantages. On the positive side, the fish haven’t seen an angler for five months. Some of the rivers may still be high due to the rainy season but with the abundance of rivers in the area, finding a fishable stretch is relatively simple.

The smaller streams are at their very best during the early season and for some, fishing for 5lb trout in 20-foot wide streams is the highlight of the fishing year.

In the early season, fishing is predominantly done with big nymphs, but all your fishing is still sight-fishing.

The weather this time of the year can be changeable, so it’s always an idea to pack your DULL-colored raincoat.

Summer – December, January, February and March

Summer in New Zealand is the busiest time to fly fish as it offers classic New Zealand dry fly fishing at its best.

The river levels will have dropped sufficiently, and the stable weather conditions make for comfortable days out casting dry flies. However, midway through summer, the sound of cicadas fills the air, and the brown trout seem to spend a lot more time looking up for a tasty morsel to float by. Typically, 75% of your fish will be caught using a dry fly (Cicada, Blowfly, or Grasshopper).

Late season – April

April in New Zealand sees the weather cooling, which sends a message to the browns that it’s time to stack on weight in preparation for their spawning in winter. Mayfly activity increases, making parachute style dries a go-to pattern, and also small nymphs.

The weather this time of the year can be changeable, so it’s always an idea to pack your DULL-colored raincoat.

Fishing Licenses

Any visitor from overseas must buy a Non-Resident Licence (NRL) – “Non-resident” means a person who is NOT ordinarily a resident in New Zealand. A Non-Resident Licence (NRL) entitles the holder to fish for trout & salmon in all Fish & Game regions, excluding the Taupo Fishing District.

Reasons to visit Owen River Lodge – Heli Fishing

Owen River Lodge is directly adjacent to Kahurangi National Park, New Zealand’s second-largest national park, and the Nelson Lakes National Park. The lodge has the appropriate concessions with the Department of Conservation to provide guided fishing in these National parks for unrivaled access to some of the most remote streams on the South Island.