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Fishing the Ōreti River, Southland

The Ōreti is a clear, gravel-bed brown trout river running the length of Southland. The upper reaches hold large, wary browns that call for a stealthy approach; the overlooked middle reaches offer easier, medium-sized browns; and the tidal lower river near Invercargill draws attention for its November smelt run and stays open all year. It can be fished on foot along its whole length.

Researched from 29 sources · Updated September 2026

A clear, gravel-bedded river runs through an open tussock valley in the upper Ōreti, with mountains behind under a soft grey sky.
Species
Brown trout; perch (lower river)
Best month
November, smelt run (lower river)
Season
1 Oct–30 Apr above SH99; open below
Access
Bridges and signposted beats
Licence
Fish & Game, plus Designated Waters

The water

The Ōreti rises near the Mavora Lakes and runs the length of Southland to the sea, clear over gravel throughout. Fish & Game and Wikipedia give the length as 170 km; NZ Fishing gives 130 km. The upper river has deep pools, long runs and sparse bankside cover. The middle river, through Mossburn, Lumsden and Dipton, runs in long glides, riffles and backwaters. Below Centre Bush, the lower river opens onto gravel and sand beaches, then weed and grass banks, before turning tidal near Invercargill, locally called the New River.

Typical brown trout run 0.5 to 4.5 kg in the upper river, up to about 2 kg in the middle reaches, and 1 to 5 kg in the lower river, getting smaller further upstream. A 2020 drift-dive survey of the upper river counted an average of 28 trout over 400 mm per kilometre, averaging just over 2.7 kg, notably heavier than in other South Island headwater fisheries. That survey is reported by a local accommodation provider; the underlying Fish & Game report could not be checked directly.

The Water Conservation (Oreti River) Order 2008 protects the main stem from Rocky Point to the forks, along with tributaries including the Weydon Burn and Windley River, for their brown trout habitat and angling amenity. Fish & Game lists the river's notable tributaries as the Weydon Burn, Acton Stream, Cromel Stream, Irthing Stream, Makarewa River and Waikiwi Stream.

The year

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Brown trout, mayfly (upper/middle river)Afternoon and evening mayfly hatches, region-wide
Brown trout, terrestrial driesBeetles, cicadas and blowflies active on warm days
Brown trout, spin/soft bait (mid-lower)Higher flows and pre-spawn feeding turn on lures
Brown trout, smelt run (West Plains)Smelt arrive upstream on a low to incoming tide
Brown trout, bait/spin (below highway)Open all year below the highway; evening bait bites
Perch, lower river (early season)Named as a good early-season target
Peak Good Quiet

Quiet months have no dated report, not no fish, and opening conditions can swing from year to year.

What drives the year

The season above the Riverton–Invercargill Highway runs from 1 October to 30 April; the river below stays open all year. Opening conditions are not consistent from year to year: October 2019 brought rain and elevated flows to the start of the season, while October 2021 found almost all Southland rivers, including the Ōreti, in good order for the opener.

Smelt run upstream through the lower river in November, and fishing is best on a low to incoming tide, which brings fresh fish in. As the water warms, afternoon mayfly hatches begin, reported around 2:00 pm in one spring account, then terrestrial activity such as blowflies and cicadas follows. January is the hardest month: low, clear water calls for smaller, lighter flies, lures, soft baits and line.

Rain in March tops the river up and favours spinning over fly. Cooling through March and April restarts the mayfly hatches, and trout feed hard on them as they build condition before spawning. Most reports of hatch and terrestrial activity describe Southland generally rather than the Ōreti itself, and one Lumsden accommodation provider's claim of summer and early-autumn hatches names no specific months.

Methods that work here

NZ Fishing also lists trolling, but boats and flotation devices are banned above the SH94 bridge.

MethodReachGearNotes
Sight fishing, mayfly (fly)Upper and middle river, walking-pace riffle-to-glide waterDry fly (size 10–12) with a small dark nymph dropperSide-on approach; stealth for wary fish
Sight fishing, terrestrials (fly)Upper and middle river, clear waterDry fly (size 14–16) with willow grub on 15 cm dropperSame side-on, stealthy approach
Backwater ambush (fly)Middle-river backwatersEmerger or small slow-sinking nymphCast ahead of a cruising trout's path
SpinShallow side water, even where it looks too shallowBladed metal spinners or small hard-body diving luresDeep holes are heavily pressured; try the margins
Soft baitMiddle river; lower river above the Makarewa confluenceNatural jig (1/12 oz); smelt-pattern; paddle-tail at higher flowSmelt pattern above the Makarewa confluence
Bait (lower river only)Lower river, deeper slow waterWorms, mussel, squid or shrimp on size 6 hook, ½ oz sinkerSquid and mussel allowed only in Southland; smelt by-catch works too

Smelt and its imitation

Smelt run up the tidal Ōreti in November, and a slim, silvery soft bait is the match.
Smelt run up the tidal Ōreti in November, and a slim, silvery soft bait is the match.

Where to fish on foot

NZ Fishing also lists bridge access at SH94 Mossburn, Dipton, Otatara, Ferry and Riverton Road, without further detail.

Access pointReachWhat's thereNotes
Upper Oreti HutUpper, near the sourceHistoric musterers' hut, about 600 m altitude4WD stream crossing (hard after rain); DOC key/bond; boil water
Upper beats: Mt Nicholas Bridge to So Big CreekUpperColoured-marker beat system, 11 named beatsCar at sign means beat taken; none below So Big Creek to SH97
Three Kings, off Oreti RoadUpperScenic gorge water, good-sized trout, not easy fishingPark at the beat sign and fish upstream
Saleyard RoadMiddlePools and backwaters off the highwayPush through willows to reach the river; bring waders
Centre Bush to MossburnMiddleOverlooked reach, good access and trout numbersOften passed over; worth trying for numbers
Benmore Road endMiddleSemi-braided river, willow-lined pools and runsGood boots or waders needed to cross side braids
Lochiel BridgeMiddle to lowerRiver access down the true left of the bridgeBladed spinner or soft bait suits this stretch
West Plains–Taramoa RoadLowerDeep water just above West Plains BridgeAfter-work spot; good for kids fishing with bait
Sandy Point DomainEstuary, river mouthParking, toilets and picnic areas at Oreti BeachCheck LAWA water quality after rain
Makarewa tributaryTributary, various pointsPlenty of small to medium trout, occasional large fishAccess via Collean St, Branxholm-Makarewa Rd & other bridges

Where the trout sit

Look for fish just under the surface where a riffle slows into a glide, and cast from the side for a natural drift.
Look for fish just under the surface where a riffle slows into a glide, and cast from the side for a natural drift.

Common questions

What flow is too high to fish at Three Kings or Lumsden?

No threshold is set for these spots. Check the LAWA river flow gauges at Three Kings and the Lumsden Cableway against their high, elevated and normal bands, and check MetService rainfall. Spin fishing often works better at higher flows, though the Upper Oreti Hut stream crossing gets hard after heavy rain.

What if every upper Ōreti beat has a car at it?

A vehicle at a beat sign means that beat is taken, but anglers may still fish it downstream, behind whoever got there first. Below the So Big Creek beat and the SH97 bridge there are no beat controls, so that stretch is open to fish.

Is the upper Ōreti a good spot for a beginner?

The upper river holds large brown trout in clear water, but they are wary and need a stealthy approach, making it a harder starting point. The middle reaches around Lumsden, Dipton and Winton hold easier medium-sized browns, and West Plains on the lower river suits less experienced anglers, including kids fishing with bait.

How do you cross the braids at Benmore Road or Centre Bush?

At the Benmore Road end the Ōreti runs semi-braided, with willow-lined pools and runs, and good boots or waders are needed to cross the side braids. No further crossing detail is given for Benmore or Centre Bush.

Are felt-soled wading boots allowed on the Ōreti?

No. Felt-soled waders and boots are banned nationwide in New Zealand, which applies to the Ōreti. No alternative sole material is specified, so choose footwear that doesn't use felt.

Which part of the Ōreti is open for fishing from May to September?

The Ōreti below the Riverton–Invercargill Highway, including the Makarewa River, is open all year, so this reach stays open through May to September. Fish it on a low to incoming tide. For local conditions, contact Fish & Game Southland, 17 Eye Street, Invercargill, phone (03) 215 9117.

Guides who fish this

18 listed in the directory. A guide’s local judgement is the part no page can hold.

Find a guide

Main sources

  1. Oreti River - Fish & GameFish & Game New Zealand (Southland)
  2. Sports Fishing Regulations SOUTHLAND 2025/2026Fish & Game New Zealand
  3. Upper Oreti Designated Water Fishery - Fish & GameFish & Game New Zealand (Southland)
  4. Reel Life November 2021 - SouthlandFish & Game New Zealand (Southland)
All 29 sources

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