Southland holds New Zealand's largest trout biomass — and almost nobody outside the country knows about it. Clear, cold rivers winding through sheep country and native bush, spring creeks running off limestone hills, stillwater lakes set against the mountains of Fiordland. Kristina Placko and Daryl Paskell between them have spent decades fishing and guiding every corner of it.
Quick Fit
Level
Target species
Technique
Guide speaks
About this experience
Southland is not a place that shouts about itself. It sits at the bottom of the South Island, far enough from the tourist trail that most visiting anglers never make it there. That is precisely what makes it worth the trip.
The rivers here — the Mataura, the Oreti, the Aparima and the smaller streams running off the ranges — hold brown trout that have never been under serious fishing pressure. Big, wary fish in water clear enough to see the bottom at three metres. Southland has the highest density of wild trout in New Zealand, a fact its guides are quietly proud of. Finding the fish is not the challenge here. Presenting to them is.
Daryl Paskell has been guiding these rivers since 1996. He knows which reaches fish best after a rain event, which spring creeks hold fish through summer when the main rivers run low, and which backcountry valleys are worth the walk. Kristina Placko brings NZPFGA-registered guiding credentials and a philosophy that fly fishing should be genuinely accessible — she has taught complete beginners and coached experienced anglers who needed to slow down and think more carefully about their presentation.
Together they offer fly fishing and spin fishing on light tackle across an almost unlimited variety of water. October through May is the formal season, with the best dry fly fishing running through the summer months when Southland's famous Mataura mayfly hatches bring fish to the surface in numbers.
What you can catch
Brown trout dominate the Southland rivers — typically 1.5–3 kg, with good fish over 4 kg in the right places. Rainbow trout are present in some river systems and the stillwaters. Both species are best caught on a careful presentation: sight fishing to individual fish in clear water, or reading the water well enough to fish blind where conditions demand it.
The signature fish of Southland — wild browns in clear, cold rivers and spring creeks. Southland has the highest density of wild trout in New Zealand. Fish average 1.5–3 kg; specimens over 4 kg are present in the right water. Selective and wary, best targeted with careful sight fishing and precise presentation. The Mataura is famous for its evening dry fly fishing during mayfly hatches.
Season
Present in several Southland river systems and stillwaters. Rainbows here fight hard in cold water and offer a livelier, more aggressive style of fishing than the wary Southland browns. Good options in the lakes and some of the broader river systems.
Season
Rod setup & recommended gear
Fly fishing: 5-weight to 6-weight single-hand rod, floating line, 9 ft leader with 4x–5x tippet. Nymphs, dry flies, and small streamers as conditions dictate. Spin fishing: light spinning rod with 4–6 lb line and small lures or soft baits. Kristina and Daryl provide rods, reels, and all terminal tackle. Bring your own gear if you prefer.
Season
November–March (dry fly & summer hatches)
Location
From
€1200/group
Free · no payment now
Your guide
Kristina Placko and Daryl Paskell are the guides behind Fly Fishing Southland NZ, operating out of Lumsden in the heart of Southland — the region with New Zealand's largest trout b…
