Little Wanganui River

Running through West Coast, New Zealand, Little Wanganui River is the kind of river that fishes well at the right water level. Drop a lure or fly into the bubble line at the head of a pool and let the current swing it past holding fish. Long, slow glides at Little Wanganui River hold the bigger fish; the broken water above and below holds the smaller, more aggressive ones. Stay quiet on the bank — river fish are easily spooked.

Location

-41.4000, 172.0500 · View on OpenStreetMap →

Species Reported in West Coast

These species are commonly caught at fishing spots across West Coast. Conditions at Little Wanganui 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 Little Wanganui 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