Spate · Mixed Sedimentary · Marlborough, NZ

Wairau River

Wairau River and valley
Poor · Brown Trout
Hare & Copper Nymph · 12-16
Closed season
Season reopens 1 October. Try elsewhere.
Closed — confidence not applicable today.
What moved it
  • Level19.52 mLast reading 16h ago
  • Water temp15.1°C
  • ClarityClear
Today's fly
Hare & Copper Nymph
Hare & Copper Nymph12-16
High-confidence seasonal pick
Conditions on the water
Live gauge
Level
Steady
19.52 m
Last reading 16h ago
Water temp15.1°C
ClarityClear
Weather16°C
WindE 11 km/h
Pressure1022 hPa
Rain · recent0.4 mm
Rain · ahead0.6 mm

The nearest gauge doesn't record temperatures, so we've estimated it — defer to the river keeper's advice.

How these readings are sourced

Weather-only: no live gauge wired. Braided river — main stem best falling/clearing after rain; clear tributaries fish sooner.

Water temperature for Brown Trout
Ideal
15°C est.ideal 10–16°C
0°14°28°
How to fish it · for Brown Trout
When
Nymphing can work through most of the day.
Where
Cover mixed depths.
Method
Start with tight-line nymphs and adjust if fish rise or drift higher.
Kit
9 ft #4 rod, floating line, 12 ft tapered leader to 4–5 lb fluoro tippet.
Hatch timeline · todayPeak at 17 Uhr

Hatch predictions

Today's headline hatch shown — see all 7 active hatches hour by hour as a supporter.

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Sub-surface · on the nymphunder the surface

Hatch predictions

Supporters see the full sub-surface read.

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Beyond the hatch · worth watchingambient prey(1)

Hatch predictions

Supporters see what else is on the menu.

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Evidence
Records-basedModerate confidence

Based on species-occurrence records, not local invertebrate surveys.

Through the year
0–3 scale · September highlighted
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Trout seasonSeason
2
2
2
1
1
2
2
Deleatidium / NZ Mayfly DunHatch
3
3
3
3
2
2
3
3
3
Large Dark MayflyHatch
3
3
2
2
3
Burrowing Mayfly / Green MayflyHatch
3
2
2
Caddis / SedgeHatch
3
3
3
2
2
3

Numbers are intensity 0 (none) to 3 (peak) — a guide, not a guarantee.

Ranked for today
Fly box · Brown Trout
Permits & access
Permit required — see local rules.
  • Nelson-Marlborough Fish & Game region — a Fish & Game licence is required
  • Check the current Anglers Notice
  • Check Clean Dry (didymo present)
  • Respect private-land access.
What's coming
Plan ahead
5-day outlook
Gallery · 2
  1. Wairau River and valley
  2. Terrain map of the venue
    Terrain map
The full read · show the working · for Brown Trout · confidence 75%
How the 0 is built — score × weight = contribution
Temperature100 × 28%28.0
Flow80 × 22%17.6
Clarity95 × 18%17.1
Feeding Time40 × 13%5.2
Pressure80 × 7%5.6
Insect activity27 × 12%3.2
Conditions total= 77
Can you trust it?
Water temperatureair-to-water estimateestimated
Level / flowon-river gaugeobserved
Prey activitymodelled from regional profilemodelled
What would change the calculation
The dawn and dusk windows score higher than the midday lull.
Directions
Apple MapsGoogle Maps
Seasons & zones
  • Trout 1 October (main river) / 1 November (upper / some tributaries) → 30 April (upper) / year-round (lower)

    Nelson-Marlborough Fish & Game licence required. Legal status: guidance_not_permission.

Related guides
Euro Nymphingsubsurface methods
Booking & contacts