Fishing near Ashburton, Canterbury

Ashburton sits on the Canterbury Plains between two of the South Island's most celebrated salmon rivers — the Rakaia to the north and the Rangitata to the south. The Ashburton River/Hakatere and its two main branches flow through town, giving local anglers easy access to brown trout water and a minor salmon run. The Ashburton Lakes in the upper basin add a further dimension, drawing anglers from across the region.