Last updated October 2026
The Rai River is a small, easily reached trout river in the Rai Valley, roughly midway between Nelson and Blenheim.
State Highway 6 runs beside most of it, with many signposted access points, and it joins the Pelorus River just below the Pelorus Bridge reserve. It holds a good mix of brown and rainbow trout, averaging 2 to 3 lb in the main river, and in the warmer months the evening rise can be spectacular. Below Carluke Bridge it is open all year.
At a Glance
- Location
- Rai Valley, State Highway 6, roughly midway between Nelson and Blenheim
- Type
- Small, gently flowing river of riffles, glides, pools and rapids, mostly through open land
- Main species
- Brown and rainbow trout, averaging 2 to 3 lb in the main river
- Methods
- Fly and spinner; bait also allowed below Carluke Bridge
- Season
- All year below Carluke Bridge; 1 October to 30 April above it
- Best time
- Warm evenings in the warmer months for the rise; the lower river also fishes in winter
- Access
- Rai Falls car park, 1.5 km from Pelorus Bridge, and signposted points along SH6
- Licence
- Fish & Game licence; free for children under 12, but they still need one
- Rules
- Fish & Game Nelson/Marlborough
No tides. Flow is what matters on this small river: after heavy rain check the Rai Falls gauge and fish it as it drops and clears.
Rai River at Rai Falls flow (Marlborough District Council) ›
Getting to Know The Rai River
The Rai rises near Kenepuru Sound and runs inland to meet the Pelorus River just below the Pelorus Bridge reserve. Above Rai Valley township it splits into three tributaries, the Ronga, Tunakino and Opouri.
In the lower valley, paddocks run down to the river on the eastern side, with forestry and native bush on the hills, and the highway follows it closely on the west.
Rai Falls, a low falls right beside State Highway 6 about 1.5 km from Pelorus Bridge, is the river’s best-known landmark. Fish numbers are high in the main river, especially above the falls.
The Rai is part of the Pelorus system, which Fish & Game describes as about 70% brown trout and 30% rainbows. Fish & Game calls the Rai a great river for less experienced anglers and for winter angling. The headwaters and smaller tributaries hold fewer fish, but they average a bigger 3 to 4 lb.
With the highway beside it and vegetation that seldom gets in the way of a cast, it is one of the easiest rivers in the region to fish on a stop between Nelson and Blenheim.
How to Fish the Rai River
Where and when
The main river holds the most fish, especially above Rai Falls, at an average of 2 to 3 lb. The headwaters and tributaries hold fewer, larger fish of 3 to 4 lb, but they cross farmland, so ask the landowner first; permission is usually given readily.
In the warmer months the evening rise can be spectacular, and that is when the dry fly comes into its own.
Winter fishing
Below Carluke Bridge the Rai stays open all year. In Fish & Game’s Pelorus access guide, the Rai Falls, Bulford Bridge, State Highway 6 and Brown Stream Reserve access points all come below Carluke Bridge, so the lower river along the highway is the winter water. Above the bridge it closes from 1 May to 30 September.
Flies and lures
- Nymphs: Hare and Copper, Pheasant Tail and caddis imitations, size 14 or smaller.
- Dry flies: Black Gnat, Adams, Dad’s Favourite and March Brown; bushier patterns such as Coch-y-Bondhu over faster water.
- Wet flies: Greenwell’s Glory, March Brown and sedge emergers such as the Invicta.
- Spinners: small bladed spinners such as Mepps or Veltic, in flashier colours for the rainbows.
- Bait: allowed only below Carluke Bridge.
Getting There and Facilities
- Rai Falls: good parking opposite the falls, 1.5 km from Pelorus Bridge. A walking track for upstream access starts by the parking area.
- Other access: Fish & Game’s Pelorus access guide lists Bulford Bridge (park over the bridge, off the gravel road), a State Highway 6 point with a track to the river over the road, Brown Stream Reserve (parking and camping area) and Carluke Bridge (park over the bridge on the downstream side). The tributaries have access points in the Tunakino and Opouri valleys.
- Parking on SH6: pull well off the highway and take care getting in and out of your car.
- Tributaries: these run beside secondary roads, mostly across farmland. Ask the landowner before you go in.
- The Pelorus: for the main river below the confluence, see our Pelorus River fishing guide.
- Supplies: buy your licence, tackle and food in Blenheim or Nelson before you leave. Licences are also sold online by Fish & Game.
Rules and Safety
- Licence: you need a Fish & Game licence. Children under 12 need one too, but it is free.
- Above Carluke Bridge: open 1 October to 30 April, fly and spinner only, under the 2026/27 Nelson/Marlborough regulations.
- Below Carluke Bridge: open all year, with fly, spinner and bait allowed.
- Pelorus River: below the Rai confluence it is open all year for fly, spinner and bait; above the confluence it is 1 October to 30 April, fly and spinner only.
- Limits: bag limits are set in the Fish & Game Nelson/Marlborough regulations. There is no minimum size for trout.
- Private land: ask before crossing farmland, and leave stock and gates alone.
- Rising water: after heavy rain, check the council’s Rai River at Rai Falls flow before you go, and do not wade or cross when the water is high or discoloured.
- Toxic algae: in low, warm summer flows look for dark slime or mats on the rocks, and keep dogs out of the water if you see them.
- Biosecurity: Check, Clean, Dry all gear before you fish another river or lake.
Official Sources
Fish & Game Nelson/Marlborough regulations 2026/27: the Rai River and Pelorus River seasons, methods and bag limits.
Fish & Game: Pelorus catchment: the trout fishery in the Pelorus and its tributaries, including the Rai.
Fish & Game Pelorus River access guide: numbered access points on the Rai, its tributaries and the Pelorus.
Common Questions
Do I need a licence to fish the Rai River?
Yes, a Fish & Game licence. Children under 12 need one too, but it is free.
Can I fish the Rai River in winter?
Yes, below Carluke Bridge, which takes in the lower river along State Highway 6. Above the bridge the season is 1 October to 30 April.
Can I use bait on the Rai?
Only below Carluke Bridge. Above the bridge it is fly and spinner only.
What trout are in the Rai River?
Brown and rainbow trout, averaging 2 to 3 lb in the main river. The headwaters and tributaries hold fewer, larger fish.
Where is the best fishing on the Rai?
Fish are most numerous in the main river, especially above Rai Falls. The Rai Falls car park, 1.5 km from Pelorus Bridge, is an easy start.
When is the evening rise on the Rai?
On warm evenings in the warmer months, when the river is best known for dry fly fishing.
What flies work on the Rai River?
Hare and Copper, Pheasant Tail and caddis nymphs in size 14 or smaller, and Black Gnat, Adams, Dad’s Favourite or March Brown dries.
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