Lake Gunn - Fiordland

Lake Gunn profile-
Peter Langlands


Lake Gunn offers a real wilderness Fiordland experience, but with ease of access, with the Te Anau- Milford Sound Road running along the eastern shoreline. The lake is ideal for kayak or boat fishing and there is a good beach for launching boats at the lake’s northern end. As Lake Gunn is Didymo free boaties should exercise extreme caution when cleaning gear. Large long-finned eels can often be seen cruising along the beach and add quite a spectacle to the experience.

The lake’s western shoreline , where the mountains falls into the lake offer deep drop-offs ideal for trolling. A small peninsula juts out on the mid part of the lake’s western shore and where the stream flows into the lake, shallow flats lie on the northern side of this small peninsula and are ideal for sight fishing for well conditioned browns. A small heavily weighted soft-hackle nymph works well on the cruising browns . The southern end of the lake, where the Eglington River flows out, is ideal for sight fishing also when the sun is out and there is a light wind blowing. These are rare conditions so if you get them make the most of the opportunity.

The lake’s south eastern corner which is shallow and stony, is an ideal location for spin fishing, especially at dusk. Given the lakes clear water all life like lures work best and a small “rainbow Rapala” is one of my favourites to use. Larger Rapalas work well when trolling in the deep water. The edges of the lake at the north end are quite steep, and fishing close the overhanging vegetation on the lakes margin is most effective.

Over the mid Summer to early Autumn the trout will rise freely offering exciting dry fly angling. At time the trout will take large dragonflies with spectacular aerial rises. The Black Gnat or Lover’s lure is a highly effective dry to use when drifted along the lakes shoreline in a light gentle warm breeze. Mayflies will hatch out in the shallows on the western peninsula and along the stony shoreline at the lakes southern end and having a few Kakahi Queens and Dads Favourite mayflies is a good option. As the lake is surrounded by native beech forest, and shrub the green beetle also at time features in the trout’s diet. Often when the wind picks up a distinct white foam line will form parallel to the lakes shore and this is a prime zone to fish from a drifting boat with a large buoyant dry.