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Nenthorn Ponds Anglers Access

Ponds in the Nenthorn Valley have been populated with trout from “The Macraes Trout Hatchery” which was started in 2004 as a joint project between the Otago Fish & Game Council and Oceana Gold Ltd. The responsibilities for the hatchery are split in two with Oceana Gold supplying power and water to the hatchery and staff to hand feed the fish daily. Otago Fish & Game’s roll is to manage the hatchery, raise the trout and liberate them into Otago waterways.

Fish & Game has a stocking schedule where approximately ten thousand rainbow trout are raised annually. Seven thousand fish at 100grams are released every Spring to several dams and small lakes around Otago. Three thousand fish are raised to just over 1000 grams (1 kg) for Take a Kid Fishing events and for stocking of the Southern Reservoir, Sullivans Dam and Tomahawk Lagoon for local Dunedin anglers.


The aim of the releases is to:

  • Promote junior angling – through the Take a Kid Fishing sites with increased catch rates
  • Provide Otago’s urban community with accessible fishing opportunities

The Nenthorn Dam situated at Billys Flat off Nenthorn Rd is stocked annually.  The dam has rainbow and brown trout and is suitable for fly, spin & bait fishing.

Other fishing opportunities in the area include:

  • The Shag River – situated off State Highway 85. This river only has brown trout and is suitable for light spin & fly fishing (bait fishing in the large pools can be productive
  • The Taieri River – situated near Hyde.  This river only has brown trout and is suitable for fly, spin & bait fishing.

There are many more fishing locations in the Maniototo just over the hill.

Before you fish please ensure that you comply with Fish & Game New Zealand and obtain a fishing license and also check the time of the year that the dams can be fished which does vary between years. Before you fish please ensure that you comply with <ahref=”https://fishandgame.org.nz/otago/freshwater-fishing-in-new-zealand/fishing-locations-and-access/”>Fish & Game New Zealand and obtain a fishing license and also check the time of the year that the dams can be fished which does vary between years.