The large brown trout at the edge of town is both a roadside oddity and a statement of intent. Gore's reputation rests on the Mataura River, one of New Zealand's best-known dry-fly fisheries, and the statue makes sure no one misses the point.
It is a quick photo stop rather than a deep sight. The real reason it matters is the river behind it: anglers come for wild brown trout and long, clear Southland water.