Freestone · Mixed Sedimentary · Otago

Pomahaka River

The Pomahaka is one of West Otago's best-kept brown-trout rivers — a friendly Clutha tributary with long glides and runs and a reliable afternoon mayfly hatch, fished much like the Mataura.

Species

Closed season

Season reopens 1 October. Plenty of other water available now.

Closed — confidence not applicable today.
Water temperature for brown trout
Cool — slow
8°C est.ideal 10–16°C
0°14°28°
The full read · show the working · for brown trout · confidence 75%
How the 0 is built — score × weight = contribution
Temperature68 × 28%19.0
Flow80 × 22%17.6
Clarity95 × 18%17.1
Feeding Time70 × 13%9.1
Pressure80 × 7%5.6
Insect activity45 × 12%5.4
Conditions total= 74
Can you trust it?
Water temperatureair-to-water estimateestimated
Level / flowon-river gaugeobserved
What would change the calculation
Warmer water — toward the 10–16 °C ideal band — would lift the temperature score.
Conditions
●Live gauge
Flow
36.8 m³/s
Water temp
8.2°C
Estimated
Clarity
Clear
Air temp
4°C
Wind
W 23 km/h
Moderate breeze
Pressure
1012 hPa
Rain · 48h
12.0 mm
Moderate rain
Rain · ahead
0.7 mm
No meaningful rain · next 48h

Live readings — water temperature is an estimate where the gauge does not record it.

Weather-only: no live gauge wired. Colours after rain — best falling and clearing.

Hatch timeline · todayQuiet day

Hatch predictions

Today's headline hatch shown — see all 3 active hatches hour by hour with Pro.

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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.
Through the year
0–3 scale · June 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
Burrowing Mayfly / Green MayflyHatch
3
2
2
Caddis / SedgeHatch
3
3
3
2
2
3
Cased Caddis / CreeperHatch
3
3
3
2
2
3
3

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

Permits & access
Permit required — see local rules.
  • Otago Fish & Game — a Fish & Game licence is required
  • Check the current Anglers Notice
  • Check Clean Dry (didymo present)
  • Respect private-land access.
Directions
Apple MapsGoogle Maps
About this water

The Pomahaka is one of West Otago's best-kept brown-trout rivers — a friendly Clutha tributary with long glides and runs and a reliable afternoon mayfly hatch, fished much like the Mataura. Time your day to the rise, sight-nymph the runs between hatches, and add summer terrestrials. Best low and clear.

Under the surface

The Pomahaka winds out of the Umbrella and Old Man ranges through the tussock and farmland of West Otago to join the Clutha, an unhurried river of gravel runs, willow glides and a famous afternoon mayfly rise. Brown-trout water of real quality, less pressured than its bigger neighbours.

Wading: Slick gravel, didymo, colour after rain

  • River
  • Mixed sedimentary
  • Unconfined
  • Pool riffle
  • Glide
Seasons & zones
  • Trout1 October → 30 April (upper) / year-round (lower)
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