Guided Trout Fishing in the South Island
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Thinking about guided trout fishing in New Zealand? You’re looking at some of the best brown trout water on the planet. The Mataura River and surrounding Southland streams are home to 100% wild fish, prolific mayfly hatches, and the kind of dry fishing that’ll have you talking about your experience for years!
Ready to book your trout-fishing adventure?
What’s Included with Your Trip
When you need a trout fishing guide near you, I make sure everything you’ll need is sorted. I’ll have equipment is available for hire @ $60.00 per person per day, these include:
Rods
Reels
Waders
Boots
Whether it’s your first time picking up a fly rod or you’ve fished rivers across the world, my approach adapts to you. Beginners get patient instruction. Experienced anglers get access to challenging fish in uncrowded waters.
Why Choose Guided Trout Fishing in Southland?
Southland sits at the bottom of the South Island, and it’s earned its reputation as the Brown Trout Capital for good reason. The Mataura River runs right through Gore, offering nearly 150km of fishable water with trout that rise freely to well-presented flies.
With guided trout fishing near you, you get more than a day on the water. You get access to spots most anglers will never see—private farmland, quiet backwaters, and stretches where you might not see another fisher all day.
When it comes to Mataura River fishing, local knowledge makes all the difference. Knowing which river fishes best when the weather shifts, where the fish hold during different hatches, and how to read Southland’s changeable conditions—that’s what separates a good day from an unforgettable one.
Looking for Guided Trout Fishing Near You? Book Now!
Ready to experience what makes Southland special? Book your guided trout fishing trip today and fish uncrowded rivers for brown wild trout with an experienced local guide.
If you’re planning a wider New Zealand fly fishing trip, Southland connects easily to trout fishing in Dunedin, and I can even be your guide to trout fishing in Otago, covering even more water worth exploring.
Book your adventure today with Mataura Valley Trout Safaris!
Frequently Asked Questions
The season runs from October to April across most Southland rivers. December through March sees the best mayfly hatches on the Mataura River, and that’s when dry fly fishing really comes into its own.
In Autumn, you can find yourself catching larger fish as they start to feed up and grow before spawning. If you’re looking for trout fishing guides near you during peak seasons, it’s worth booking early!
Not at all. My guided trips cater to complete beginners through to expert anglers. You’ll get patient instruction if you’re new, and all gear is provided. The real focus is on helping you catch fish and enjoy the experience without pressure.
Access and knowledge. My relationships with landowners that open up water you’d never find on your own. I know where the trout hold in different conditions, what they’re feeding on, and which of the many nearby rivers will fish best when the Mataura isn’t ideal. On a guided trout fishing day, you spend your time fishing, not figuring things out.
A full day typically runs 6-8 hours on the water. Half-day options are available if you’re short on time. The pace is set by the fishing—when the fish are rising, you’ll be casting. When conditions are tough, I’ll know where to find fishable water.