On the Maniototo there are several irrigation dams that have been built to collect water during the winter period for release over the summer. These dams never run dry and have turned into good fisheries. Most of these waters are on private land but permission has been granted by the landowners to fish. Therefore it is up to anglers to respect the wishes of the landowners as sometimes they have areas closed for lambing, stock or paddock work. Please take your rubbish away with you and on no account dig for worms on their property.
West Eweburn Dam
This water is set in the hills behind the Naseby forest and has its own stock of brown trout which don’t grow to be very large. All methods are used and the season runs from 1 October to 30 April.
Access
Access Off state Highway 85 on the Wedderburn Naseby plantation road, then turn left into Reservoir Road that takes you to the dam wall.
Coal Pit Dam
Built during the mining era to store water for golf recovery, it is situated in the Naseby forest and has been consistently stocked by Fish & Game over the years. It often gets an influx of trout from draining the water race in April. It is home to both rainbow and brown trout, and do not be surprised to catch a brook char as they are picked up by the Mt Ida race. The water is open all year round.
Access
Access is from the Ranfurly-Naseby Road. It is well signposted. Do not bother fishing the first dam as it dries out in the summer. The area has toilets, car parks and picnic areas at the dam.
Hoffmans Dam
This is a mining dam situated in the Naseby forest. The water is in two parts with a very narrow neck. It is very deep in the first section where you come off the track over the Mt Ida race and sometimes the water is milky coloured. It sometimes holds brown trout which enter from the race but is not stocked.
Access
Access is gained off the Ranfurly-Naseby road, but instead of going on to Coalpit Dam, turn right up the hill and you will soon come to the signposted car park. You have to walk up the track from the car park around about 100 metres. There is a walking track which continues right around the dam.
Blakeleys Dam
This dam was built by the Blakley family and stands on private property. It has been stocked as a fishery since the 1970s. Permission to fish is granted unless there is a sign at the first gate advising that access is closed. It is a ‘put and take’ fishery that has stocked rainbow trout and the occasional brown trout which come down in the irrigation race.
Access
Access from Ranfurly: Take the Patearoa Road and turn right at the Waipiata-Gimmerburn intersection to Gimmerburn. Turn right again and pass over Creamery Road. The entrance way to the dam is on the second rise on your right. It is signposted with a Fish & Game access sign.
Rutherfords Dam
Another ‘put and take’ fishery on private land where the fish grow to a large size as the food supply is excellent. The dam is stocked with rainbow trout. The edge of the dam is very weedy except for along the dam rock wall and a section on the east side. The season is from 1 November to 15 April.
Access
The road to the dam leads off the Waipiata-Naseby Road about 1.5km past Barneys Lane. Turn left in front of the house in the trees and follow the road past the dog kennels then past the woolshed and either park or take the second gate on your left.
Mathias Dam
The dam is on the east side of the Maniototo and is part of the east side irrigation system. Because of this it is connected to the Taieri River and it has a permanent influx of small brown trout coming down the race. Fish & Game sometimes stock this water with rainbow trout.
Access
This water is on private property and access is by the Waipiata-Patearoa Road. After you pass the Hamiltons turn-off and the tarseal ends, the Fish & Game sign is on your left beside fence stye and a large willow. Walk across the paddock or along the access way. There are electric fences. Always leave gates as you find them.
Upper Taieri River
Meandering throughout the Maniototo Plains is the Taieri River. From below the gorge at Hore’s bridge to Kokonga, the river winds and flows at a very slow pace, making it a nice fishing area for all methods. It possibly suits the spin angler best as it allows you to fish downstream. Fish across to the far bank and retrieve back to the edge that you cast from.
Access
There are several bridge access points thought this section. The river has chainage on its banks throughout its length.
Hores Control Pond
This water is part of the Maniototo power and irrigation system. It is the dissipation pond that sends the water to both irrigation schemes after coming out of number one powerhouse. Small brown trout come down to live in the pond from the river via the power canal. This pond is often sheltered from the southerly wind and some of the other fickle winds that occur on the Maniototo.
It is quite shallow and although all methods are used, it fishes best to fly anglers as the section on the other side of the canal is very shallow.
Access
Access is via the Styx-Patearoa Road, turn to your right just over the canal where the tarseal ends. Please leave gates as you find them because again you are on private property.
McAtamneys Head Pond
This head pond is on the Styx-Pateroa Road as you go up the hill. The pond is on the McAtamney’s property so leave gates as you find them. The water itself is not very deep. It comes around the race from the Paerau control dam for the Taieri River, bringing with it a good population of small brown trout of which a few stay and some move on down through the power scheme to Hores Pond below. Fish & Game have stocked the head pond with rainbow to take advantage of the large number of midge insects that are produced by this water. This has been successful and they have grown to a reasonable size.
Access
From the Styx-Patearoa Road on your right going up the hill. There are two gates where you can enter. The first is just below where you see the pipe which feeds the power station going into the bank and the second is where you come alongside the canal for the first time. Both these gates are on your left.
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