Last updated October 2026
Lake Argyle, also called Argyle Pond, is a small hydro storage pond off State Highway 63 beside the Branch River in the Wairau Valley. Fish & Game runs it as a focus fishery with regular releases of rainbow trout, many of them 1 to 2 kg, and it also releases trophy fish of 10 lb and more.
Numbers are high in the lake and its canals, and the pond and lower canals are open all year to fly, spinner and bait. There is self-contained camping and boat launching at the south-eastern end.
At a Glance
- Location
- Off State Highway 63 beside the Branch River, Wairau Valley
- Type
- Hydro storage pond about 1300 m long, 220 m wide and 3.5 m deep, with canals above and below it
- Main species
- Stocked rainbow trout, many 1 to 2 kg, with released trophy fish over 10 lb
- Methods
- Fly, spinner and bait
- Season
- Pond and lower canals all year; headrace canal 1 October to 31 May
- Access
- Gravel road along most of the shoreline
- Facilities
- Self-contained camping and boat launching at the south-eastern end
- Licence
- Fish & Game licence; free for children under 12, but they still need one
- Rules
- Fish & Game Nelson/Marlborough
No tides. The pond is fed from the Branch River and discolours after rain, so check the Branch River flow and go once it has settled and cleared.
Setting and Background
Lake Argyle is part of the Branch River hydro scheme, which has two power stations, Wairau and Argyle, and is listed among Contact Energy’s power stations. Water comes from the Branch River hydro intake down a headrace canal into the pond, and leaves at the southern end down a canal toward the power station beside the braided Branch River.
The pond is long and narrow. A straight embankment forms the western shore beside farmland, and pine forest covers the hillside to the east, with a gravel road following most of the shoreline. Much of the water looks shallow from above.
Fish & Game runs Lake Argyle as one of the region’s two put and take fisheries, alongside the Waimea River Park ponds near Nelson. Regular releases keep numbers high, with fish mostly 1 to 3 lb in the lake and canals, and big trophy rainbows go in from time to time.
Fish & Game notes rainbows are often caught here and in the Branch and Leatham rivers, and more now turn up in the Wairau itself.
The canals fish differently from the pond. Their faster water suits bigger, bushier flies, and the canal near the power station at the lake outlet has steep banks that make it hard to fish.
How to Fish Lake Argyle
The pond
You can fish the lake from the shore or from a boat. The gravel road along the shore gives easy access to most of the bank, so you can walk and cast along it. Fly, spinner and bait are all allowed all year. The boat launching area is at the south-eastern end.
The canals
The canals around the pond are fished with fly or spinner as well as the lake. The canal near the power station at the outlet has steep banks, so landing a fish there is awkward: a long-handled landing net helps.
Reading the water
The Branch River feeds the pond, and in floods it brings dirty water into the lake. Check the Branch River flow before you go and pick a settled spell. For recent releases, check Fish & Game Nelson/Marlborough’s news.
Flies and lures
- Nymphs: heavy weighted nymphs such as Gold Bead, Hare’s Ear or Hare and Copper, sizes 12 to 14.
- Dry flies: larger bushy flies for the faster canal water: Royal Wulff, Humpy or Kakahi Queen.
- Wet flies: larger patterns such as Mrs Simpson, Hamill’s Killer or Red Setter.
- Spinners: bright red and gold Veltic or Mepps spinners in the lake or the canals.
- Tagged fish: if you catch a tagged or fin-clipped trout, report it to Nelson/Marlborough Fish & Game.
Getting There and Facilities
- Getting there: turn off State Highway 63 onto the roads that run alongside the canals and lake.
- Around the pond: a gravel road follows most of the shoreline.
- Camping: self-contained camping is available at the south-eastern end of the pond.
- Boats: boat launching facilities at the south-eastern end.
- Supplies: buy your licence, food and bait in Blenheim before you leave. Licences are also sold online by Fish & Game.
- Nearby: the Branch River above the scheme is open 1 October to 31 May, fly and spinner only. Logging has brought mid-week access restrictions on the Branch River, so check before you go.
Rules and Safety
- Licence: you need a Fish & Game licence. Children under 12 need one too, but it is free.
- Pond and lower canals: from where the powerlines cross at the head of the lake down to the Wairau River confluence, open all year for fly, spinner and bait under the 2026/27 Nelson/Marlborough regulations.
- Headrace canal: from the Branch River hydro intake to the powerlines at the head of the lake, open 1 October to 31 May for fly, spinner and bait.
- Branch River: open 1 October to 31 May, fly and spinner only.
- Limits: bag limits are set in the Fish & Game Nelson/Marlborough regulations. There is no minimum size for trout. Fishing for coarse fish is not allowed anywhere in the region.
- Canals: the canals carry fast water and have steep banks in places. Keep children well back from the edge, do not wade or swim in them, and stay out of any area the power company has fenced or signposted.
- Toxic algae: in warm, settled weather look for dark mats on the bed or scum at the edges, 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 for Lake Argyle
Fish & Game: Lake Argyle stocked fishery: the lake, its releases, access and camping.
Fish & Game Nelson/Marlborough regulations 2026/27: the seasons, methods and bag limits for Argyle Pond, its canals and the Branch River.
Marlborough District Council environmental data: live flows for the Branch River, which feeds the lake.
Common Questions
Do I need a licence to fish Lake Argyle?
Yes, a Fish & Game licence. Children under 12 need one too, but it is free.
Is Lake Argyle the same as Argyle Pond?
Yes. Fish & Game uses both names for the hydro pond beside the Branch River.
Can I fish Lake Argyle all year?
Yes, the pond and lower canals are open all year. The headrace canal above the lake is open 1 October to 31 May.
Can I use bait at Lake Argyle?
Yes. Fly, spinner and bait are all allowed on the pond and its canals.
What fish are in Lake Argyle?
Stocked rainbow trout, many of them 1 to 2 kg, plus trophy fish of 10 lb or more that Fish & Game releases from time to time.
Can I fish from a boat on Lake Argyle?
Yes. There are boat launching facilities at the south-eastern end, and the lake can be fished from the shore or a boat.
Can I camp at Lake Argyle?
Yes, self-contained camping is available at the south-eastern end, beside the boat launching area.
Why is Lake Argyle dirty after rain?
The Branch River feeds the lake, and in floods it brings dirty water in. Check the Branch River flow before you go.
Spotted something incorrect on this page? Let us know.