Why Choose Lake Brunner Eco Lodge for Fly Fishing?
Stunning Natural Setting: Surrounded by lush native forests, our lodge offers a serene and beautiful environment to enjoy fly-fishing.
World-Class Hospitality: Beyond fishing, the lodge offers luxury accommodations, eco-friendly amenities, and gourmet dining prepared with local ingredients.
Guided Expertise: With professional fishing guides at your disposal, you’ll have the best chances of success while learning about the unique fishing conditions of the West Coast.
New Zealand’s Fly-Fishing Season
New Zealand’s fly-fishing season typically runs from October 1st to April 30th.
During this time, the West Coast comes alive with brown trout rising in the rivers and streams around Lake Brunner. The late spring and summer months provide the best conditions, with warmer waters and an abundance of insect hatches that make fly-fishing exceptionally rewarding. Whether you’re a seasoned fly-fisher or a beginner looking to learn the craft, Lake Brunner Eco Lodge offers the ideal setting to immerse yourself in the sport.
Lake Brunner is open to fishing all year round with a New Zealand Fishing Licence. The lake is surrounded by native bush, which provides an endless supply of terrestrial food.
We strongly encourage catch and release.
What Type of Fish?
The surrounding rivers and lakes have brown trout. The size of the brown trout is in the 2-4lb range, though there are much bigger fish as well. Occasionally, in some rivers, you may find rainbow trout and the odd salmon. We cannot guarantee that you will catch any fish, but typically, on average, people catch 2 fish but spot many more that evade capture.
Prime Fly Fishing Locations Around Lake Brunner
There are 5 rivers and streams that are located within a 20 to 45 minute drive from the lodge:
Orangipuku Stream: This is a spawning stream that is wadeable and has good access from the road. It can discolour after the rain. Fishing is best late in the season in the lower reaches.
Bruce Creek: This is a spring-fed creek that is wadeable and located a short drive from the lodge, past some farmland. The Bruce Creek will also remain clear even after heavy rain, which also means its a great spot to fish all season, with plenty of feeder streams to explore as well.
Crooked River: This is a slow-moving wadeable river. Be prepared to walk a little to access some backcountry water. The lower reaches can also be fished by boat.
Arnold River: This is a wadeable, medium-sized river with a mixture of deep glides, deep pools, and enticing riffles. This river can also be fished all year round for trout with a licence.
Taramakau River: A large river that is accessible by road for the lower and middle reaches. The upper reaches need to be walked in to. Sea-run trout can be caught in the lower reaches in spring and early summer.
Several more rivers and streams are located within an hour's drive from the lodge. This means that you will have access to many rivers and streams that provide for a range of environments and skill levels.
Professional Guides to Enhance Your Experience
To ensure you get the most out of your fly-fishing experience, Lake Brunner Eco Lodge partners with local professional guides who have intimate knowledge of the region’s waters. Whether you're targeting a specific species or seeking out a more secluded fishing spot, our experienced guides will tailor the experience to suit your needs. They offer valuable tips on fly selection, casting techniques, and reading the water—enhancing your chances of landing that perfect catch.
A typical day starts in the morning with breakfast at the lodge. Between the lodge and your guide, we will provide the gear required, including shoes, rods, reels, and flies.
Once you have all the gear required, your guide will take you to your first location and start fly fishing.
We can cater for all types of skill levels, from never-been fly-fishing before to the seasoned fly-fisher.
While you are out fly-fishing in the surrounding area, you may see other anglers, but our guides will do their best to avoid them so that you get a secluded spot to fish. We use a range of guides from around the area, and they are all English-speaking.
Different rivers and streams around the area do require some level of fitness to be able to access certain parts. If you have any concerns, these can be discussed with your guide.
Our Local Fly Fishing Guides
Dean Harris: I love fishing. And I have fished many parts of the world over my 50 years on this blue spinning globe. For my own fishing, I like to start early … or fish late. Walk hard … or just cruise quietly because ‘that’s how I feel today’. I appreciate a guide who will share information and understand what my goals are when I fish. Help me to fish hard when I want … or back off and give me space if that’s what I need. That’s what I will do for you. I will look after you in the way I like to be looked after when I engage a guide. I want you to have the trip I want to have when I travel to fish. Sometimes it comes down to one guide, one day, one river … and the best outcome…. That is what I want for my guests.
Dustin Zirbel: Fly Fishing in New Zealand isn’t just a hobby for me; it’s my calling. There’s something magical about sight fishing for big trout in those crystal-clear waters—seeing the take and feeling the rod bend is pure exhilaration. I find so much joy in this pursuit that sharing it with others and seeing their excitement fuels my passion. That’s why I became a guide.
Achieving success in New Zealand fly fishing demands both expertise and dedication. I continuously strive to expand my knowledge by exploring new waters and refining various techniques. Over the years, I’ve acquired a wealth of experience that I’m eager to leverage for your benefit.