Lake Marymere Trout Fishing

By Peter Langlands

Lake Marymere is the only water in New Zealand to support a recognisable strain of Loch Leven trout. The lake was the last catch-and-release only stillwater in Canterbury. Marymere is located on a tussock-clad plateau, elevated above its neighbour and renowned trophy trout water, Lake Hawdon. Both lakes glimmer like jewels when viewed from the easily climbed surrounding mountain tops. A steep mountainside climbs from the lake’s western shoreline to a considerable height.

The mountain has the remnants of a beech forest, whereas the rest of the hillside is of matagouri scrub and rock scree, which hang precariously above the lake. Golden tussocks surround the lake. Unlike Lake Hawdon, Lake Marymere does not have an outflowing stream, and the lake is more of an oversized tarn.

Large craggy boulders can be seen under the surface where dragonfly nymphs thrive. The beech forest and matagouri shrub have green beetles falling off the foliage into the lake’s waters over the summer. The grey stony shoreline is an ideal habitat for dragonfly nymphs, which thrive in the crevices of the large rocks. The lake, therefore, has a bountiful food supply for its trout during the summer.

My Thoughts / Advice

• Go prepared: Because the trout are wary, use light, fine tippet and practice good presentation.

• Prioritise catch & release: Even though you can keep 1 fish, the fishery is fragile. If you’re confident in releasing cleanly, that helps preserve it.

• Time your trip: Visit during the summer months when the water is warm and the fish are most active.

• Check regulations: Fish & Game rules can change — always verify before you go to avoid fines or accidentally breaking a rule.

• Bring good footwear: The walk-in and the shoreline terrain might be tricky (tussocks, rocks).

Images of Lake Marymere.

Fragile fishery

Despite the fishery’s small size, it has now survived for 80 years from natural breeding and is a self-sustaining fishery, which is just as well given the Fish and Game Council’s overall policy of not actively stocking fisheries in the Canterbury region (given that other actions such as habitat protection are perceived as being priorities).

The size of the spawning stock in Lake Marymere is small, possibly as low as several dozen fish, and the fishery is dominated by older fish. Most of the spawning trout in the lake use the shingle on the lake’s southeastern shoreline.

The trout may find spawning difficult when the lake is low, with the spawning shingles exposed. Yet, despite its small size, the lake’s trout population seems to be holding its own. Several other similar stillwater fisheries are found in the South Island and have survived by the mere fact of their isolation.

Lake Marymere is relatively accessible, being only just over an hour and a half drive from Christchurch. To reach the lake from the shingle Craigieburn Road, you will have to park your vehicle and walk about 15 minutes to the lake.

How to Get to Lake Marymere (From Christchurch)

Approx. travel time: 1 hr 30 min

Vehicle required: Any car in good weather; 4WD preferred after heavy rain

Mobile coverage: Very limited once past Lake Pearson

Step-by-Step Directions

1. Depart Christchurch → SH73 (West Coast Road)

• Head west out of Christchurch on State Highway 73.

• Pass through Darfield, then Springfield, and climb Porters Pass.

2. Continue past Lake Lyndon turn-off

• Stay on SH73; do not turn toward Lake Lyndon unless you want an extra side trip.

3. Drive past Lake Pearson (Moana-Rua)

• You’ll see Lake Pearson on your right.

• Continue for about 3–4 km.

4. Find the Marymere turn-off (Craigieburn Road)

• Look for the sign for Craigieburn Ski Field / Craigieburn Road.

• Turn left off SH73.

5. Drive Craigieburn Road to the Marymere parking area

• The road is gravel but usually well-maintained.

• Follow it until you reach the small Marymere/Lake Marymere car park.

• Parking is obvious — a small clearing on the right with space for several cars.

6. Walk to the lake (10–15 minutes)

• Follow the marked walking track through tussock and scrub.

• Terrain is uneven but easy.

• The lake appears suddenly as you crest a small rise — a classic high-country bowl.

Fishing Tips for When You Arrive

Best Places to Fish

• Western shore: deep water and shadow in late afternoon; trout cruise close.

• Southern Bay: good beetle falls on warm evenings.

• Boulder edges: where dragonfly nymphs hunt — use nymph patterns here.

Best Conditions

• Warm, settled days

• Light nor’wester pushing beetles onto the water

• Evening is prime: 6 pm–dusk

The lake’s distinctive trout are therefore very vulnerable to fishing pressure. Fish and Game made this water a catch-and-release fishery in 1994 – the region’s first stillwater catch-and-release fishery. However, this is no longer the case.

According to North Canterbury Fish and Game Officer Richard Cosgrove,

“I’ve been as far back as the 2003/04 season, and in those regs, you could harvest fish from Lake Marymere, so the change from catch and release must have happened before that. Currently, the angling regulations are undergoing the biennial review, but as they stand, it is a fly fishing only lake, opening on the 1^st Saturday in November through to 30 April,  with a bag limit of two fish.” 13 June 2022. This has now been lowered to one fish only.

Up to 1994, many trout had been kept by people visiting the lake, and many who camped next to the lake over the summer months. Also, people illegally using spinners and bait fishing had taken their toll. The recognition of the water as being catch and release had raised the lake’s profile, and many fly fishermen had pride in that status and undoubtedly acted as vigilant guardians. We are looking into why that status was changed. We would certainly urge all anglers to continue to practice catch and release at Lake Marymere.

A Challenge

The browns cruise in exceedingly close in Marymere – an unnerving situation for visiting anglers. I say unnerving because the browns average 6 pounds, and many 8-pounders can be seen – trophy-sized stillwater trout by South Island standards. Canterbury angler, Mike Gopperth, has also caught an eleven-pounder out of the lake.

The reality of fishing Marymere is a disappointment for many anglers. The lake is not easy to fish, as I have watched both my father and brother, with their many years of experience, failing to hook a fish. Only a handful of Christchurch anglers have successfully innovated techniques for fishing Marymere. The trout are large and accordingly wary.

If you are easily phased by not successfully hooking a trout, you should not visit Marymere. But over time, perseverance will pay off. The trout you catch may well be a trophy, and you can marvel as you slip a trout back into the lake and watch its olive back disappear into the inky black depths.

Fishing techniques for Lake Marymere

Foam beetles and dark silhouettes. A pattern which proved successful at Lake Marymere is a large black foam beetle pattern fished on low-diameter lines such as Deceiver. The Marymere trout are extremely hard to catch and are very wary; therefore, good presentation is critical. The steep mountainside on the lake’s western shoreline blocks out the afternoon’s sun, resulting in dark light falling on the lake in the early evening. So fishing a large dry fly with a distinct silhouette has its advantages.

Dragonfly nymphs

Fishing dragonfly nymph patterns are also successful, but the fish can be extremely fickle about taking dragonfly nymphs. l say this after watching my brother spotting a large olive-backed brown cruising in the lake’s shallows during a northwest gale. The fish was in such shallow water that its back could be seen projecting from the water.

Nymphs would have undoubtedly been dislodged in the strong wind and washed up along the shoreline. The cruiser’s path was deliberate, possibly seeking out dragonfly nymphs removed from the rocks. A careful presentation was made into the gusty northwester but to no avail. Trying other nymphs resulted in the same response. Such is the challenge of fishing for Marymere’s trophies.

Some final thoughts

Lake Marymere is a summer fishing location. The trout are most active (feeding-wise) from mid-December to late February. Fishing at Lake Marymere during a warm summer evening with a light nor’wester is a magical fishing experience.

Lake Marymere 2024- 2025 Season Fishing Regulations

Season: 1st Saturday, November – 30 April. Fishing Methods: Fly (F). Allowed Species: Trout (Limit: 1). No angler shall be in possession of a sports fish which exceeds a maximum length of 400mm from Lake Marymere.

Fish & Game North Canterbury Regional Fishing Regulations 

Please note that while we try to keep the freshwater fishing regulations current on the Fishingmag.co.nz website, anglers should not rely on this being correct. We strongly advise you to refer to the official Fish & Game website before fishing any water. You can also check the freshwater fishing regulations in the Fish & Game guidebook supplied with your fishing licence. Fish & Game Regional Regulations.

Nearby Lakes Worth Fishing (Same Road)

1. Lake Pearson (very close)

• Easy roadside fishing

• Rainbow + brown trout

• Good trolling, spinning, and fly options

2. Lake Hawdon (short walk)

• Superb fly-only sight fishing

• Clear water, cruising browns

3. Lake Grasmere & Lake Sarah

• Smaller waters but hold nice browns

• Great for stalking fish on windless days

4. Lake Lyndon

• Often windy, but it has a good number of rainbow trout

• Accessible from SH73 before Porters Pass