Clarke River

As a river in West Coast, New Zealand, Clarke River fishes best when the flow is steady and the water is clear enough to see a foot or two down. Anglers who do well at Clarke River pay attention to small things: the angle of the current, the colour of the water, what's hatching, where the wading birds are working. Fly anglers can match local insect activity; spin anglers can run small spinners or soft plastics through the same lies.

Location

-43.8893, 169.5995 · View on OpenStreetMap →

Species Reported in West Coast

These species are commonly caught at fishing spots across West Coast. Conditions at Clarke River may vary.

Brown troutRainbow troutEastern Australian salmonAustralasian snapperRed codlingYellow-eye mullet

Fishing Techniques

• For Brown trout

  When fishing streams, focus on seams and current breaks, where trout hold to ambush prey.

• For Rainbow trout

  Vary your retrieve speed when using spinners to find what triggers a strike; sometimes a slow, steady retrieve works best, while other times a faster, erratic retrieve is more effective.

• For Eastern Australian salmon

  Eastern Australian salmon often school, so if you catch one, keep fishing the same area; they are aggressive feeders and readily strike at moving targets.

Recommended Gear

Tackle commonly used to target the species reported in West Coast.

Plan Your Trip

Before fishing Clarke River, make sure your licence covers West Coast, New Zealand and that any species-specific seasons are open. Local regulations change year to year, so check the current rules rather than going from memory.

Nearby Spots in West Coast

See all fishing spots in West Coast →

Other Fishing Regions in New Zealand