Hydro Lakes chapter Catch That Trout South Island

Artificial/Hydro Lakes

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South Island

New Zealand’s main source of electricity is that produced from hydro electric generation schemes. Large scale projects were undertaken through the fifties and sixties leaving the country in the fortunate position of currently having an excess of power generating capacity. Several of the lakes created by hydro developments have resulted in some hugely successful fisheries. Lakes like Dunstan have provided outstanding fishing and ideal trout habitat. There was the original belief that it was the drowning of the flora that provided such excellent conditions for the introduced trout population but as the quality of fishing continues even twenty years on, there must be other reasons why these lakes are such productive fisheries. The stability of their controlled levels may be part of the reason and the likelihood that the strain of rainbow trout originally brought into New Zealand is particularly well-suited to lake existence.
The main South Island hydro lakes were formed by the damming of the Waitaki and Clutha Rivers and the resulting lakes like Ohau, Pukaki, Tekapo, Benmore, Waitaki, Roxborough and Dunstan provide a wide range of trout fishing waters. These, added to the Otago lakes like the Poolburn and Manorburn Reservoirs, ensure there is always fishable water not far away if the rivers are in flood.

Food & Flies
The food found in these lakes are much the same as for natural lakes.

Common Name Scientific Name Nymph Adult

Brown Mayfly Zephebia dentata Pheasant Tail Brown Dun
Brown Mayfly Deleatidium myzobranchia Pheasant Tail March Brown
Brown Mayfly Deleatidium vernale Furry PT Dad’s Favourite

Horn Caddis Olinga feredayi Horn Sedge
Cased Caddis Pycnocentrodes Cased Caddis Sedge

Snail Black & Peacock LovesLure

Willow Grub Pontania proxima Willow Grub

Midge Pupa Chironomus spp. Midge Pupa

Water boatman Sigara spp. Water Boatman

Blowfly Blue Blowfly

Damselfly Zygoptera Damsel Damselfly

Dragonfly Odanata Dragon Dragonfly

Green Beetle Pyronota festiva Green Beetle

Cicada Hemiptera Cicada

North Island


Artificial lakes and hydro-lakes
New Zealand’s main source of electricity is produced from hydroelectric generation schemes. Large scale projects were undertaken through the 1950s and 1960s, leaving the country in the fortunate position of being able to avoid having nuclear power plants.
Several of the lakes created by hydro developments have resulted in some hugely successful fisheries. Lakes like Otamangakau and Aniwhenua provide outstanding fishing and ideal trout habitat. There was the original belief that it was the drowning of the flora that provided such excellent conditions for the introduced trout population but as the quality of fishing continues 20 years on, there must be other reasons why these lakes are such productive fisheries. The stability of their controlled levels may be part of the reason and the likelihood that the steelhead strain of rainbow trout originally brought into New Zealand is particularly well suited to lake existence. For these fish, the large lakes are their ‘sea’ where they live until sexual maturity compels them to run up the rivers to spawn.
The main North Island hydro-lakes were formed by the multiple damming of the longest river in New Zealand, the Waikato River. It runs from Mt Ruapehu, through Lake Taupo to the sea south of Auckland, 425 km from its source. The lakes resulting from the dams, such as Karapiro, Arapuni, and Waipapa provide a wide range of excellent troutfishing waters. These, added to the smaller hydro lakes like Mangamahoe and reservoirs like Kourarau Dam, ensure there is always fishable water not far away if the rivers are in flood.

Food and flies
The food found in these lakes are much the same as for natural lakes.

Common name Scientific name Nymph Adult
Brown Mayfly Zephebia dentata Pheasant Tail Brown Dun
Brown Mayfly Deleatidium myzobranchia Pheasant Tail March Brown
Brown Mayfly Deleatidium vernale Furry PT Dad’s Favourite
Horn Caddis Olinga feredayi Horn Sedge
Cased Caddis Pycnocentrodes Cased Caddis Sedge
Snail Black and Peacock Loves Lure
Willow Grub Pontania proxima Willow Grub
Midge Pupa Chironomus spp. Midge Pupa
Water boatman Sigara spp. Water Boatman
Blowfly Blue Blowfly
Damselfly Zygoptera Damsel Damselfly
Dragonfly Odanata Dragon Dragonfly
Green Beetle Pyronota festiva Green Beetle
Cicada Hemiptera Cicada