New Zealand Fly Fishing Guides - Ben Kemp

New Zealand Fly Fishing Guides - Ben Kemp

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Ahaura River
Arnold River
Crooked River
Orangipuku River

Ahaura River

Ahaura River offers some interesting fishing. The upper section in the Kopara area sees the combination of several small mountain rivers within a short distance- the Waikiti, Trent, Waiheke and Tutaekuri come together in a short distance to form the Ahaura. A few miles downstream, the tannin-stained Haupiri River also contributes to make a big river of the Ahaura. 

We launch the drift boat off the stop-banks at Kopara, a couple of miles above the Haupiri confluence. This section of the river is blue mountain water, with wide, gravelled beaches, and is braided and unstable. When the Haupiri joins, its tannin-stained colour transforms the main stream. Depending on recent floods, there is usually a good pool at this point. A couple of miles below the junction, the river tightens up, and the gorge commences. 

  • The Earthquake Rapids above Jims Flat are interesting.... Depending on river flow, its either really easy, or a technical little boulder garden. Over the years, a number of jet boats have been sunk here - usually on the way down, when steerage is lost trying to maneuver around the boulders.

Below these rapids, the riverbanks become towering compacted gravel cliffs 80-100ft high, and the river is confined to a single channel. It is deep and slow-moving in many places, often with huge, boiling eddy's on the bends, of which there are many. 

In terms of fishing, it is largely untapped.... there are only a couple of places where old 4WD tracks reach the river on the north bank. The cliffs preclude access up or down stream any distance from these access points. 

Ahaura River Fly Fishing Trips West Coast, New Zealand

The best way to fish the gorge section of the Ahaura is to make it an overnight camping trip, with a stop either at the Jims Flat hut (rustic!) or further down in tents. It is a big day out for a one day trip - takes 6 hours brisk paddling in a kayak, add another 4 for the drift boat with a lunch stop and fishing.  

Techniques include; 

  • drifting a dry with a nymph on a dropper along the edges
  • spin fishing, with black Toby's, CD Rapala, or red/gold Tasmanian Devil
  • streamers- wet flies splashed down against the banks, and retrieved quickly 
  • Ahaura River Fly Fishing Trips West Coast, New Zealand

Almost every afternoon, usually by 2pm, an onshore breeze springs up, blowing briskly up all the river valleys along the West Coast. This makes for difficult downstream progress in the drift boat, keeps the oarsman very busy holding correct line along the river banks. It makes sense to pitch camp just below a good stretch of water in mid-afternoon, fish upstream on foot with the wind at your back, and sample the evening rise. Setting off after breakfast next morning will generally see us out to the extraction point before the next days breeze gets up too much. Usual practice is to hang the 5hp Honda on the transom, ready to power into the wind on the homeward leg. 

Ahaura River Arnold River Crooked River Orangipuku River
 


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