Mavora Lakes Angler Survey

Each year Fish & Game New Zealand, Southland Region, carries out a field survey of anglers fishing certain rivers and lakes in the Southland province. These surveys not only record angling activities but also explore anglers’ perceptions of the fishery. A collation of these perceptions can sometimes highlight issues that anglers notice happening to the fishery. Fish & Game Southland can then further investigate perceived problems to see if they are in fact happening and if so, whether or not they can be corrected or mitigated.

The Mavora Lakes have only had road access to them for the last 40 years. Before that anglers had to make a rugged cross country trip to get there. At that time anglers fished for large brown trout that cruise the littoral zone and at the river mouths with a feathered lure late in the evening. With the advent of the road, and thus a big increase in anglers, the Mavora Lakes became noted for the superb fly fishing available, angling for trout cruising the shallow margins.

Until the construction of the Manapouri Lake Control (MLC) which largely barred the migration of large brown trout into the Mararoa system that drains the Mavora’s, rainbow trout were unheard of in the lakes. However since that time their population has steadily increased. They are now common and more frequently caught than browns in the south lake.

Survey Outcomes:
Long time anglers are certain that angling has deteriorated, with less fish feeding in the shallow margins and those fish that are there are considerably smaller than they used to be.

The majority of anglers consider angling pressure has increased.

Rainbow trout are surpassing brown trout as the most commonly caught species.

Next Steps:
Fish & Game Southland is investigating reasons for the apparent decline in brown trout feeding in the littoral zone. They are also researching other examples of situations where rainbow trout have out-competed brown trout when introduced to lakes.

Click on the following link to read a full copy of the results of the Mavora Lakes Angler Survey.