The Clinton and Worsley Controlled Backcountry Fisheries

The Clinton and Worsley rivers and their tributaries are backcountry fisheries and controlled areas.

Special licencing requirements apply to these rivers - you must hold one of the Adult whole season licences and a backcountry endorsement.   

Backcountry Licence Requirements

All anglers who fish the Clinton and Worsley rivers must obtain a backcountry endorsement.

To get your Backcountry endorsement (available for free) click here. Only Adult Whole Season, Family, Loyal Senior, Non-resident Whole Season and Local Area licence holders are eligible for a Backcountry endorsement. 

Controlled-Period Licence Requirements

To help manage angling pressure on the Clinton and Worsley rivers, a fortnightly ballot operates throughout the sports fishing season (1 November-31 May).

Winners of the ballots are issued with a Controlled-Period Licence. 

Clean gear certificate requirements 

Please note, if you are successful in the ballot, you will need to obtain a clean gear certificate within 48 hours of going fishing in the Clinton and Worsley. 

Your certified clean gear must not be used in any other waters before reaching your Fiordland river. 

It must be carried with you whilst fishing, clean gear certificates are available free of charge from:  

•            Southland Fish and Game’s Invercargill office
•            Department of Conservation (Te Anau office)
•            Outside Sports (Te Anau)              
•            Southland Fish & Game Te Anau Office  

Rangers will be checking for clean gear certificates and if anglers are found without a clean gear certificate, enforcement action will be taken.

The potential spread of aquatic pests (like didymo) into Fiordland is a serious threat to these fisheries.

How does the ballot work? 

The Beats

The Clinton River downstream of the Prairie has been split into two actively managed beats.

The Lower Clinton Beat includes the Clinton River North Branch, the Clinton River downstream of the con­fluence with West Branch, and the Neale Burn.

The Middle Clinton Beat includes the West Branch of the Clinton River below ‘The Prairie’ to the North Branch con­fluence.

The Upper Clinton River above the ‘The Prairie’ has no beat controls but normal angling etiquette applies.

The Worsley River Beat is one actively managed beat.

Click here to see a map of the whole Clinton River showing the fishing beat boundaries.

The Ballot

The Clinton and Worsley beats are balloted fortnightly.

The ballot for a specific fortnight period opens four weeks in advance.

Anglers will then have two weeks in which they can enter the ballot.

There are six fishing allocations balloted for each beat, each fortnight period.

These allocations are Monday/Tuesday, Wednesday/Thursday and Friday-Sunday.

Anglers can enter the ballot for up to six allocations across all beats, each fortnightly period.  

A party leader and up to three companion anglers can be included on a ballot entry but each angler can only appear on one ballot entry, regardless of whether they are a party leader or companion angler.

If an angler enters the ballot more than once for a given fortnightly period, all of their ballot entries will be void for that period.  

To enter the Clinton or Worsley ballot, all members of your angling party must have a full season licence and Backcountry Licence Endorsement prior to entering the ballot.

If a member of your angling party does not have the appropriate licences, your ballot entry will be void.        

The ballot will close two weeks out from the start of a fortnightly period.

Anglers will be advised by email if they are successful with their ballot entry and issued with a Controlled Period Licence.

To enter the Clinton or Worsley ballot, applications will open on October 5 check back here then.

Compliance Monitoring

These regulations have been adopted to provide a better angling experience in response to increasing complaints regarding crowding and angler conflict on these fisheries.

While we appreciate it won’t suit all anglers, we urge people to ensure they only fish these waters if they have the correct controlled period licence.

To maximise the benefits of these changes, Fish & Game will be monitoring compliance on designated backcountry fisheries during the season.

Non-compliance with the backcountry endorsement and controlled period licence requirements is an offence under the Conservation Act and subject to a maximum fine of $5000 and will be treated the same as fishing without a licence offence.

We look forward to your cooperation in the management of these fisheries, and hope you enjoy your season.  

For more information please contact Southland Fish and Game on 03 215 9117 or southland@fishgame.org.nz 

Prevent the spread of aquatic pests  

To help prevent the spread of aquatic pests, remember to check, clean and dry your equipment.  

Please be aware that didymo is present in Lake Te Anau. Boots, waders and equipment that gets wet with lake water should not be used in the river.   

No watercraft (boats, pack rafts etc) are permitted in the Clinton River catchment.

Glaisnock Wilderness Area

NOTE: The Worsley River is situated within the Glasisnock Wilderness Area. No commercial activities, including fishing guiding, are permitted in this area.

Ballot entry dates

Period	Date	Ballot entries open	Ballot entries close	Approximate notification date	Download application form
1	1 Nov – 13 Nov	4 October	17 October	18 October	Period 1 form
2	14 Nov – 27 Nov	17 October	30 October	31 October	Period 2 form
3	28 Nov – 11 Dec	31 October	13 November	14 November	Period 3 form
4	12 Dec – 25 Dec	15 November	28 November	29 November	Period 4 form
5	26 Dec – 8 Jan	28 November	11 December	12 December	Period 5 form
6	9 Jan – 22 Jan	12 December	25 December	29 December	Period 6 form
7	23 Jan – 5 Feb	26 December	8 January	9 January	Period 7 form
8	6 Feb – 19 Feb	9 January	22 January	23 January	Period 8 form
9	20 Feb – 5 Mar	23 January	5 February	7 February	Period 9 form
10	6 Mar – 19 Mar	6 February	19 February	20 February	Period 10 form
11	20 Mar – 2 Apr	20 February	5 March	6 March	Period 11 form
12	3 Apr – 16 Apr	6 March	19 March	20 March	Period 12 form
13	17 Apr – 30 Apr	20 March	2 April	3 April	Period 13 form
14	1 May – 14 May	3 April	16 April	17 April	Period 14 form
15	15 May – 31 May	17 April	30 April	1 May	Period 15 Form

 

Ballot entry page

Please download, fill out and email the editable PDF above to enter the ballot for the period when applications open: ballots@southlandfishgame.co.nz