Forgotten River

Forgotten River cuts through Southland, New Zealand and offers classic river fishing. The local patterns are the universal river patterns: fish the heads of pools at first light, the deep slow water in the middle of the day, and the tail-outs as light fades. Light tackle and a careful drift go a long way at Forgotten River — heavy splashes spook a whole pool.

Location

-44.4595, 168.3054 · View on OpenStreetMap →

Species Reported in Southland

These species are commonly caught at fishing spots across Southland. Conditions at Forgotten River may vary.

Brown troutRainbow troutEuropean perchEastern Australian salmonChinook salmonAustralasian snapper

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 European perch

  Vary your retrieve speed and lure depth until you find what the perch are responding to on that day, and use light line.

Recommended Gear

Tackle commonly used to target the species reported in Southland.

Plan Your Trip

Anglers heading to Forgotten River should sort licences and confirm seasonal regulations for Southland before the trip. A quick weather check the morning of helps too — wind direction in particular can make or break a session at a spot like Forgotten River.

Nearby Spots in Southland

See all fishing spots in Southland →

Other Fishing Regions in New Zealand