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Central South Island Fishing Reports
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this page are to fishing reports from Fish & Game New Zealand
and from The Timaru Herald. |
| Central South
Island Fish & Game |
Fishing
news: Latest news - April 2008
Fishing
reports: Latest report - March 2008 |
 |
| Weekly Report: Friday
25th April 2008 |
|
Graeme Hughes, Fish & Game
It’s ANZAC day and while we remember those
that never made it home, I wonder how many of those brave souls
like you and me were just “ordinary blokes” who enjoyed
the simple pleasures of catching a trout. I also wonder what they
would think about the trout and salmon fishery of today.
This is the last report for the season and a
long weekend as well.
Conditions remain as they were last week, no
rain no change. Possibly the driest autumn in my time here and rivers
at their lowest when in fact they should be increasing in flow.
Spawning salmon and trout encouraged by this influence should be
migrating into these valuable spawning and nursery waters, but locally
they’re not. If not a record drought, and it’s not,
where’s the water gone? Why am I looking at severely depleted
flows and in several no flow at all? When you ask this question
you will be told “Oh they are often this low” or “Historically
these streams have always dried”. No one disputes low flows
or occasional dry sections but this low and this dry for so long?
I don’t think so.
Anglers will already be out and about so nothing
printed here will be of great assistance. I was talked into heading
out for some night fishing on Wednesday. The Norwester had dropped
away and according to my mate he had already began his lake fishing
near river mouths at this time last year and his diary entry claimed
he had caught 18 on his first outing. I hadn’t spent much
time with him this season however I do remember I did accompany
him on a similar nocturnal outing last year when I completely ruined
his average of 8 per night. He managed to land 2. I on the other
hand couldn’t keep fish from leaping onto my line after hooking
and landing a fish on my first cast. Each time I landed or lost
a fish I do recall his comments which were repeated throughout the
evening.” You’re a bloody Jonah Hughes!”
Time heals and as his invited guest I enjoyed
a yarn and the drive as the outside air temperature climbed from
9 degrees to 11, which was an unexpected bonus. Togged up for the
cold and wearing chest waders we had worked up quite a lather by
the time we reached the river mouth. It was 8.45pm ,the almost full
moon was climbing above the ridgelines which I thought at the time
wouldn’t help the cause. I had tied on a small “lumo”
Doll Fly on a short
dropper, and on the point a size #6 black Rabbit
Lure which has always been a good provider. Not at all ostentatious,
black rabbit pelt wing, black body with a silver rib and a sparse
tag or tail of a dyed red feather. The first cast was a shocker
as I discovered that in the dark I had put the wrong reel and line
on probably a 5/6 when it should have been a 7/8. When you’re
pushing two wet lures through the air you need some weight. The
second cast was better and I hooked a lively fish which cavorted
across the surface in a series of evenly spaced leaps. There was
a comment form my companion a few meters away which was not complimentary,
and after some determined runs I beached a brown trout of about
3.5 lbs in its prime, “heavy in the shoulder and firm of flesh”.
On the black lure of course. A few minutes later I managed another
a little smaller, on the rabbit lure, I missed two “takes”
then hooked and lost another after a long and spirited run. Fish
were leaping steadily around us ducks were feeding and scaup were
diving, it was very pleasant. The contacts with fish ceased after
about 90 minutes casting perhaps due to the moon then at its zenith
and with those familiar accusations of being a Jonah from one who
had not landed a fish we tromped back to the vehicle. I bet he’s
searching for a black feathered lure already. I wonder if I get
invited back.
The Waitaki
will be at about 300 cumecs for today and may drop back a little
during the weekend. The Ahuriri
River is at a remarkable low of 8 cumecs, the Hakataramea
and Maerewhenua
Rivers still dropping are each at 500 litres per second and the
Waihao River is down to 40 cumecs and the Opihi
at the SH 1 is running at 6.6 cumecs.
Thanks for the many contacts, comments and compliments
from anglers far and wide throughout the season, its good to know
that the fisheries of the region are in good hands. Hands and minds
that will keep us, the fisheries managers “on the case”.
We can’t do it alone. Until next season. |
| Weekly Report: Friday
18th April 2008 |
Graeme
Hughes, Fish & Game
River conditions
Although the temperature has crashed and sunshine
is scarce no significant rain has fallen and river conditions remain
as in previous weeks, low and clear. The news paper report which
stated the Waitaki
River weekend flows will closely mirror those of the previous
weekend are incorrect and the source of the erroneous information
unknown. Today it is flowing at just above 300 cumecs and expected
to rise but should not exceed 420 cumecs over the next 2 days.
The Hakataramea
and Maerewhenua
Rivers are hovering at about 600 litres per second and the Ahuriri
River at just under 9 cumecs. To the north the Opihi
is running at 8 cumecs and the Rangitata
River at a low 50 cumecs.
Didymo could be on the way out
Didymo has been detected in the lower Otematata
River which is probably not surprising located in the same catchment
as other infected waters. It is noticeable however that in the Waitaki
River along with the Haka
and the Maerewhenua
Rivers didymo appears to be dying off in places. I had an interesting
email from a friend who is a local fishing guide who passed on the
following observations.
“During the past few weeks I have managed
to get out and about on the river and have seen some surprising
'things' regarding that damn didymo. I know I have mentioned some
time ago that I believed that the didymo appeared to be dying with
some areas of river bed now completely clear, just typical river
bottom as one would expect prior to this invasion.
Last Saturday afternoon, I had the opportunity
to go for a flick down the river and the biggest (one of the biggest)
changes I noticed was the fact that the area just below the old
Haka
mouth (where the stop bank is), used to be well covered (understatement)
in didymo. The length of the didymo seemed to be 'quite long' but
was hard to actually determine due to the depth of water. However,
on this recent outing, the same area has changed quite dramatically
in my opinion. There are of course obvious patches in this area
covered with didymo (alive or dead?) but generally, there has been
a massive 'clean out'.
Further down the river in one area, I came across
a patch of what I would describe as 'budding didymo', small dark
areas where it usually first becomes noticeable when alive and doing
well. When in this stage, I have the opinion that it was bloody
hard to remove from the rocks. Again, here was a difference. This
apparently 'budding didymo' which would normally be hard to remove,
just scraped away with ease with a wipe of my boot.
I state this VERY cautiously but I am almost
convinced that this crap is 'on the way out'. Of course, there are
plenty of areas where the stuff is still quite obvious but again,
it all seems to be disappearing, dying and certainly not increasing.
Water temperatures have been 'warm' but I have
not done any actual temperature readings/recordings but I do wonder,
would the water temperature over recent months, have played a part
in the reduction (my opinion) of the didymo ?”.
Any bad news for didymo is good news to me and
only time will tell. While it is early days yet there are plans
to study, in depth, no pun intended, a spring fed groundwater stream
which didymo has failed to colonise. It will be very interesting.
With Pukaki water colouring the upper lakes, which should filter
down through the valley, didymo in the Waitaki River could be in
for a rough winter. As didymo prefers maximum light the glacial
sediment in the water may reduce sunlight penetration and didymo
does not enjoy a shaded substrate. Glacial till in the Waitaki
River was always an annual event however over the last few years
the river has remained clear throughout the winter. While I have
not worked out why this occurs, it could be ice and snow conditions
on the main divide, climatic or power generation, or a mix of these;
if it it’s bad for didymo then long may it last.
With a cold southerly blast expected tonight
and snow to down 600 meters amsl the weekend should be cool but
clear inland once the front has moved on.
Tight lines. |
| Weekly Report: Friday
11th April 2008 |
| Graeme
Hughes, Fish & Game
With very little to report and only one 3 day
weekend left on the fishing calendar, Anzac Day weekend, I guess
many have put their gear away until the spring arrives later in
the year. Of course there are those hardy souls who have the enthusiasm
(and the insulated waders) to persist throughout the winter. To
coin an old phrase winter fishing leaves me cold, and I’m
not referring to water and air temperature, but quite probably a
result of my piscatorial upbringing. My father insisted that the
winter was a time for the trout, (he was never a chaser of “quinnats”
unless they were Lake Coleridge land locked variety, and that it
was also a time for anglers to attend to the many chores that were
neglected during the summer season. Whatever they may have been.
I have been talked into the odd foray on a still
winters eve but it is always great to arrive home, walk indoors
to be enveloped by warmth and ambience of the glowing log fire.
Winter nights are dead quiet, all the fluffy animals are keeping
warm somewhere and the bird life are all perched with heads under
wings waiting out the cold and the darkness. There’s not a
lot happening in the dark, in the middle of winter, in many degrees
below zero.
Not that I’m scared of the dark or the
cold, I probably have the best cold weather garments you can buy.
I work in the cold, I hunt in the cold, I have often fished in the
cold, however I expect cold when I hunt, and if a there’s
work to be done you just work in the cold, but fishing, I don’t
think so.
I will always remember my last unwilling fishing
adventure, a night spent winter fishing. My bride wishing to make
our Japanese guest’s stay a memorable one asked him, and I
couldn’t believe what I was hearing, if he would like to go
fishing one evening as “Graeme would love to take you out
to catch a fish”. It was the middle of June for Pete’s
sake! Junji was very excited about the proposed fishing trip. We
had no days to do it, he was at the Kurow Area School, every day
his schedule was tight, which only left the evenings. Evenings turn
to night very quickly here in June. Still reeling in disbelief at
the suggestion of night fishing in the middle of the winter, the
next day after work I hastily readied the “runabout”
and fuelled the outboard tank. I didn’t want to go. A licence
was filled out and gear stashed aboard. As soon as Junji arrived
from school after a quick “bite” we were off to Lake
Aviemore, Why Aviemore? Lake
Waitaki wasn’t open to winter fishing then and it was
the closest water to home. I wanted this escapade to be over and
done with as quickly as possible. Junji kept turning round to peer
out the rear window to look at the boat being towed behind. This
obviously amused him as he would look at me with a large grin. I
wasn’t sure if it was actually towing a boat at speed behind
a motor vehicle or the anticipation of a boat ride which created
his enjoyment, but our language difficulties prevented me asking
and I didn’t want to be there any way so I was not in a very
communicative mood. It was just on dark when we idled out of Parsons
Rock boat ramp and the temperature was plunging, it was going to
be another “humdinger” of a frost, just like every other
night of the week. I tied on a couple of Rapalas and Junji in his
woollen gloves was having considerable difficulty in detaching two
sticky sharp trebles from one of his gloves. While he apologised
and removed the hooks from the left glove the hooks promptly became
imbedded in the right glove. More apologies. Freed from hooks his
first cast disappeared somewhere in the dark but was eventually
found hooked to the interior of the boat “Sorry sorry”.
Finally fishing, inevitably weed fouled his gear and on removing
the offending plants the hooks became firmly affixed in his fluffy
woollen gloves once more. While he apologised profusely I removed
the hooks with difficulty, as it was now very dark. I didn’t
want to be there. It was several degrees below zero and any water
dripped or splashed immediately turned to ice. Junji’s casts
were shockers. Again with many apologies the line would cross mine
and the tangle of two lines would occur. This was not going well.
“If he says sorry once more…..!” After an age,
an ice age, we reached the mouth of the Otematata River where I
hoped we would catch a fish. Big, small, didn’t matter. Lets
just catch a fish and go home. On retrieving his Rapala to check
and clear any foreign matter, you guessed it, those fluffy gloves
were hooked again. I’m a patient man but there is a limit
“Lose the gloves Junji!”
My rod bent as a fish, species and dimensions
unknown, briefly made contact with my lure. Bugger! And on the wrong
rod! We circled around the river mouth, the cold starting to affect
Junji as I could see him start to shiver, despite being rugged up
in some of my cold weather gear. Perhaps its too cold for him, he
may want to go home? No he said he was quite comfortable. Yeah right!
We completed another orbit and to help pass the time I tried to
dream up a system of getting heat from the motor up front for the
comfort of the operator. After a lengthy duration, about another
30 cold minutes, which seemed more like 60, whoopee, a fish attached
itself to Junji’s line. “Please God don’t let
this fish get away”. After a short and uneventful tussle I
thankfully netted the unfortunate trout, the whole half kilo of
it, and gave it the obligatory smack with the priest. A camera magically
appeared from somewhere within my guest’s many layers of clothing
and I kid you not, lying on the icy floor of the boat, that fish
was cooked to a medium rare with camera flash, there were so many
pictures taken of it. Now we can go home I thought! “You really
want to fish some more?” Despite his uncontrollable shivering
he suggested that we should fish some more. We trolled back toward
the ramp for another cold half hour but not another fish indicated
an interest. As we motored quietly past the truck and trailer I
lied. I claimed that at 10.00 pm the lady of the house would be
worried about us not being home. That did the trick and mercifully
he agreed we should not concern my wife and that we should proceed
back to the ramp. I think that experience finished me for winter
fishing. When the ice builds up in the rod rings, the pinkies are
painfully cold, and your heads full of “how to keep warm”
ideas, that’s not fishing, that’s an ordeal!
If you’re fishing this weekend all waters are clear and fishable
but you can expect some frosts if you’re into early morning
outings. Fishing lake inflows should be rewarding as the spawning
periods draws closer.
On a sunny day in the tussock country, fishing
a cicada imitation should provide results as there are still a few
chirping on those warmer afternoons, however cicada days are almost
over.
Any known salmon spawning activity in the Waitaki
River should be investigated and fished with a “Glow bug”,
the irresistible salmon egg imitation. When salmon numbers were
high in the Hakataramea
River the glow bug was unbeatable for taking trout especially
rainbow trout. As the salmon season is now closed any salmon hooked
must be released unharmed.
Flows in the Waitaki
River will be reduced this weekend during low flow trials which
involves NIWA fisheries scientists. Today the river should be at
300 to 350 cumecs, Saturday,250 cumecs between 0800 and 1600 hours
and down to 140 cumecs on Sunday between 0800 and 1600 hours. Normal
generation flows on will resume on Monday. Until it rains all other
waters are at a low flow.
And yes the deer hunting was very successful
however I noticed the hills are a little higher and the slopes a
little steeper this year.
Tight lines |
| Weekly Report: Friday
4th April 2008 |
| Graeme
Hughes, Fish & Game
Low temperatures, falling leaves, the close
of the salmon season and bellowing Red stags signal that summer
has passed and the fishing season for many winds down. Hunters begin
to think seriously of the coming waterfowl season however the extremely
dry conditions will have an effect on them and their quarry as it
has for anglers. The drought conditions have returned and the smaller
fisheries are in very poor condition. The Hakataramea
River has dried over the same areas as earlier in the year.
Any salmon migration here will be on hold unless a significant rain
event occurs.
In 1985, very similar conditions in the Haka
saw a dry mid section of 7 kilometres coinciding with the annual
Chinook salmon run. I recall building a barrier trap below the State
Highway 83 bridge near the Hakataramea village, and then employing
the neighbours tractor and blade to divert water through it by “scratching”
a channel in the river gravels. Obviously there were many salmon
in the river that year as the ‘85 annual report reminds me
that the trap “fished” for 31 days and in that time
captured 451 salmon and an unrecorded number of brown trout. 359
of the total salmon catch was transported by our fish tanker upstream
of the dry area and released at Rocky Point. 24 were transported
to the Awakino River a tributary of the Waitaki
River between Kurow and the Waitaki Dam, and the remainder,
68 were released above the fish trap. Because the salmon were usually
large and our tanker was built primarily for much smaller species,
we could only carry about 10 or 12 a trip, requiring about 40 salmon
transportation journeys which we dubbed “Operation Oncorynchus”.
In future years spawning salmon counts revealed
redds excavated throughout the river from the confluence with the
Waitaki River up to about the most upstream bridge located near
“The Hays” and “Hakataramea Downs” on the
opposite side, an overall distance in excess of 38 kilometres. Acclimatisation
Society reports written by my predecessor, prior to me taking over
the position here in 1976, indicate that salmon spawning was mainly
confined to the lower Haka River from the Waitaki River to Wrights
Crossing a distance of about 13 kilometres. It appears that “Operation
Oncorhynchus” increased the length of spawning migration,
increased the costs of the annual counts but decreased the superimposition
of redds in the lower river.
Yesterday (3.4.08) assisted by Fish and Game Officer Hamish Stevens
I walked (stumbled and staggered) through the network of small spring
fed streams associated with Stockyard Stream near the confluence
of the Hopkins River with the Dobson River. Hidden amongst the shoulder
high Red Tussock and associated swamps, the gravels of the streams
and seeps are now incubating the spawning effort of over 1103 Sockeye
salmon. I guess the peak of the run occurred about 10 days ago.
A large number of dead fish in the streams, many areas of disturbed
substrate, redds, but fewer fish on or near the spawning beds indicates
to me that many more “Sockeyes” had spawned and drifted
off downstream. The total count of dead and live fish could only
be a conservative count, however it is exciting to find these fish
in this location, and as far as we know, perhaps the first big run
here for at least 20 years. Long may they prosper.
With salmon off the menu, end of season trout
fishing waters are all clear and fishable however this may be only
temporary in high country waters due to a strong norwest influence
across the South Island.
Presently the Ahuriri
is a low 9.0 cumecs, the Haka
at 0.5, the Maerewhenua
at 0.6, Opihi
8.0 and the Rangitata
at 50.0 cumecs. The Waitaki
River at 400 cumecs will not change too much over the weekend
due to low lake levels in the south, a situation which the heavy
rain warning should soon rectify.
With “the roar” at full volume and
a long weekend planned in the high tussock tops, a traditional hunting
event, angling will not feature for me, and I suspect a number of
anglers this weekend. Be careful out there!
Tight lines and straight shooting. |
| Weekly Report: Friday
28th March 2008 |
Hamish
Stevens, Fish & Game
Salmon season draws to a close
The Easter break saw a large influx of anglers
to all the major salmon rivers in the region. The
Waitaki River was the place to be and at times had over 200
anglers lining the gut. Fish were being caught fairly regularly
with one angler observing 8 fish being played at once. The Waitaki
salmon run is traditionally later and would be worth fishing this
weekend. Flows around 400 cumecs have been experienced over the
last few days but it is expected to drop to between 300-350 cumecs
for the weekend. The Rangitata
and Opihi
Rivers have still been producing salmon but upriver fishermen have
been finding hooking fish difficult. The Rangitata
is low and clear meaning that salmon have everything in their favour
and fishing is best first thing or late in the evening. It looks
like we will get some Nor West rain early in the weekend so salmon
anglers will be hoping that the river drops quickly so they can
have another go before the season finishes on the 31st of March.
Trout fishing has been slow with feeding fish
hard to find however if one is on the go odds are that it will take
your offering. A recent trip to a local stream showed just how hard
the fishing can be with only 4 feeding trout out of the 20 spotted.
Often I take my young Labrador on fishing trips and have never had
a problem however this trip I had a friend along with his 15 month
old GSP. Well Labrador plus GSP equals one broken rod! As my friend
was tying a small beadhead on the two dogs came roaring past taking
four feet off the tip. Needless to say the language was fairly colourful
and the dogs soon had their tails between their legs. As a kind
gesture I returned home and loaned my old rod so as he could continue
the day. Returning to the stream the dogs jumped out of the truck
as though nothing had happened and continued playing. On pulling
the loaned rod out I noticed that the tip was broken and found chewed
remnants on the floor. Moral of the story don’t take two young
dogs out fishing!
Tight lines. |
| Weekly Report: Friday
20th March 2008 |
Graeme
Hughes, Fish & Game
I expect with the long weekend ahead the salmonid
populations will take a beating, none more so than the fish in the
Waitaki
River. Chinook salmon will be the most sought after species
with only 11 days remaining of the shortened season.
Information from a popular weigh in site (Glenavy
Hotel) indicates that the seasons catch will exceed the number taken
last year.
One trout angler commented that already lake
Brown trout are beginning to colour up and targeting river mouths
produced some good results for him and his fishing companions this
week.
A walk down Larch Stream today (19.3.08), brought
back memories of the 70’s and early 80’s. I counted
5730 Sockeye salmon in this small stream which is only 3km in length
and remember now why I prefer to fly it, the Huxley swamp has not
got any easier to walk through. Surprisingly there is little size
difference between these fish and the Lake
Benmore fish which makes me think that a large proportion of
the run are not Lake Ohau inhabitants, perhaps these fish are Lake
Ruataniwha residents, or, Lake Ohau has become more enriched and
now provides increased plankton, sufficient to support the current
salmon population. Perhaps not but there is considerable change
in landscape over the last 20 years, I’m just guessing of
course. Huxley Gorge and Glen Lyon Station managers have seen “hundreds”
of “sockeyes” in two other spring fed tributaries further
upstream. What ever the reason for the resurgence it is great to
see!
Reports from the Ahuriri
River indicate that although the fish are there they are “hard
work”. Possibly due to the high temperatures, most are not
interested in anything cast to them. It is unusual to find a fish
actively feeding, if you do, then there’s a good chance you
will hook it. Perhaps the inactive fish are nocturnal feeders? One
angler fishing the Ahuriri River reported the biggest eel he’s
seen since he was a schoolboy. The eel of his youth weighed 20lb
but this one was much bigger. While electro fishing in the lower
Ahuriri River a large eel succumbed to the electrode. Fish of this
size are ancient and may be older than you and I. Female Longfinned
eels migrate to see to spawn at 24 to 47 years of age and large
fish such as the Ahuriri specimens may be slow maturing older fish.
There is a perception amongst many that the
only good eel is a dead one. I take a different view, as do many
others, they have a place in fishery, predation is a fact of life.
A study on a small North Island trout fishery showed that when all
the eels were removed the trout population increased but the fish
size decreased. No predation, more fish, too many fish for the stream
to support, a stunted population remained, of minimal interest to
anglers I would think. We know they are very good at keeping the
rivers “rubbish” free being capable scavengers. I respect
their longevity, I am impressed by their tenacity of life and their
life cycle is quite astounding. The New Zealand Longfinned eel is
one of the largest of the freshwater eels. There are instances of
“longfins” attaining a length of almost 2 metres and
weighing more than 50 kg. Now that’s an eel! Fish this size
demand respect. I have found eels can be very inquisitive , often
when drift diving , looking for trout amongst willow roots or in
deep holes an eel will suddenly appear. However it will retreat
just as fast when it discovers the disturbance is not a food item.
Still, there are many who have a fear of any eel, large or small,
and when drift diving it can be quite humorous, for me, when a diver
known for his revulsion of eels comes face to face with one. A terrified
scream confined to the diameter of a snorkel is indescribable unless
you have heard the “bugle” of a bull Wapiti in full
rut.
As a young field officer I recall my senior
officer at that time who had a fear of eels and any eel he saw usually
ended up dead. He would go to great lengths to catch and kill any
eel he saw. It was quite a phobia. I’ve seen people like that
with spiders. One day he told me why he had such a dislike and fear
of the species. As a schoolboy he was “tickling” trout
from the undercut banks of a small stream, well you can guess the
rest. A “largish” eel grabbed his hand.. Eels have many
fine sharp teeth along their jaws and in the roof of the mouth.
The mouth is large and the jaws are powerful. In his effort to extract
his hand he wrenched it away but in doing so tore the flesh “to
the bone” on his young fingers. The fingers became infected
and I was told he came close to losing the entire hand. Well perhaps
he has good reason to dislike eels however the eel was not a “man
eater” and only grabbed the hand as it moved along feeling
for a trout either as a possible food item or perhaps in a defensive
strike. Yep he sure hated eels.
When annoyed they will retaliate just like your
dog or cat might. While walking around Lake
Pearson many years ago, a sizeable eel, perhaps 3 or 4 kg, was
observed in half meter of water, motionless amongst the aquatic
plants. One of our party, who disliked eels immensely, attempted
to give it a good poke with tip of his split cane fly rod. A bad
decision. In a flash the eel, supposedly sleeping, had the rod tip
between its jaws. A swirl and a cloud of suspended silt and it was
gone, but so was a considerable amount of varnish from off the mans
prized and immaculate English fishing pole.
Electric fishing machines are particularly hard on eels especially
long ones. My attempts to keep the Ahuriri eel alive in an oxygenated
tank failed and after 2 days it died. I weighed it, it was an impressive
29lbs (13.1kg).
On school camps and during stream studies I have always made a point
of educating school children about eels. And while most scream and
run when I produce an eel from the fish tanker, by the end of the
class they are all, well 99% of them, stroking and handling the
fish marvelling at the smooth and velvet skin and usually surprised
that the fish is not trying to tear them apart. Their teachers and
parents are never so keen and very few of the mothers or fathers
will touch them. I wonder where the kids get their fear of eels?
The eels do get stressed and will bite but if handled carefully
they can remain docile for an amazing length of time. When they
become agitated and active however it’s time to return them
to the stream and use another specimen from the tanker.
All rivers and lakes are clear and fishable,
albeit at a lesser flow than at this time last week. Salmon anglers
can expect flows in the Waitaki
to be in the 250 to 300 cumec range. If heading north to the Rangitata,
it is flowing at a low 55 cumecs. The Ahuriri
11cumecs, Hakataramea
River .72, Maerewhenua
River .83, Opihi
River 7.5 cumecs.
On a flight to count Canada geese I flew along and over several
rivers and lakes.
What was noticeable was the lack of anglers and
on the lakes, anglers and boats. The few river anglers I did see
appeared to be guides with clients fishing the Tekapo
and the Ahuriri
Rivers. A calm before the storm. From about this Thursday to next
Tuesday the situation will be quite different.
Tight lines. |
| Weekly Report: Friday
14th March 2008 |
Graeme
Hughes, Fish & Game
Salmon fishing news dominates with increased
runs and angler success throughout the Central South Island Region.
This year the fish are larger and in exceptional condition, however
a later run of small fish in the 4 to 5 kg range is now appearing
in the anglers’ bag.
Inland, an aerial count of Sockeye salmon spawning
waters on the 13th March, financed by Meridian Energy, showed salmon
spawning in the Lower Ohau, Tekapo,
and Twizel Rivers. In the enhanced Ohau tributary, now cleared a
further kilometre upstream by Environment Canterbury, numbers are
significantly increased.
Didymo growth in the Ohau River has not deterred
the “sockeyes” and they have cleared hundreds of square
metres of river bed during redd excavation. Brown trout although
still in low numbers have increased in the lower Ohau River. In
the surveyed lower Tekapo
River, brown trout were quite numerous. The lower Twizel River
holds some good trout, however there is considerable distance between
fish.
Sockeye Salmon Counts, 13.3.08
| Location |
2007 |
2008 |
| Lower Ohau |
7400 |
6840 |
| Enhanced Ohau tributary |
300+ |
790+ |
| Tekapo River |
Lake to Forks River:
1600
|
Lake to Steel Bridge 4.5km:
150 |
| Twizel River |
Ohau River to SH1:
570 |
Ohau River to ford, 3 km:
350 |
As a cost saving, Twizel and Tekapo counts were significantly shortened.
The manager of Glen Lyon Station located on the lower Dobson River
near its confluence with Lake Ohau reports that in one of the Dobson
River’s spring fed tributaries near Stoney Stream, large numbers
of small fish have appeared and they are thought to be Sockeye Salmon.
Larch Stream, a historical “sockeye” spawning stream
on the opposite side of the Dobson River will be checked on foot
by the writer in the next few days. The Glen Lyon manager , Nigel
Freeman has indicated he will check Stockyard Stream for spawning
salmon while working there next week. This water was last used by
spawning salmon in the1970’s.
The drying norwesters are having their effect
and river flows are down accordingly. The Waitaki
River has been lower and the increased catch rate can be attributed
to the improved fishing conditions and access.
After last weeks reminiscence of fishing close
to home I received correspondence from angler who also spent time
at Lake Bryndwr. Apparently bread or cheese successfully caught
the goldfish in the lake, I wonder what happened to the poor goldfish,
and did they end up in the frypan? I’d like to tell my brother
who never got to eat his.
On the southern side of the main lake there
were several smaller, shallower ponds and a larger deep one. I recall
building a raft which equipped with sail and paddles came to an
ignominious end in the disused pit as the combined weight of the
crew overcame the buoyancy of the scrap timber and other materials
employed in its construction.
While “mucking around doing stuff”
in the small ponds we caught a large and ferocious looking dragon-fly
larvae. Someone decided that this could be good bait for trout.
The unfortunate insect was kept in a jar of water for a trial. The
larvae was carefully hooked through the top of the thorax and suspended
from a plastic bubble on a short trace. I thought the impaled insect
with its legs constantly moving would be irresistible to a cruising
trout . I was right!, To ensure the new bait would stay attached
the bubble and trace were gently lobbed, not cast onto the lake.
The float stabbed downwards and out of sight. A Brown trout was
guided into my landing net; not many kids had a landing net. My
father arrived home from an anglers club auction with it and he
gave to me. A folding “Y” shaped frame with the leading
edge formed by a heavy leather thong. A rather long, well varnished
“Greenheart” handle incorporated a reversible tang at
the butt end which I guess was for poking into the river bank while
waiting for a fish. If one looked carefully, you could read the
engraving around the alloy fitting, “Made by Hardy Bros Ltd
England”. While it meant little to me then, today it would
be of considerable value. I wonder what became of it?
The new bait had promise but we would need to
find a lot more “ugly bugs”. The smaller safer ponds
became a most valuable resource. We discovered, by accident I suspect,
if we disturbed the substrate of the pond, “shuffling”
through the stones with a stout stick, the dragon-fly larvae would
emerge and jet propelled, vacate the area of disturbance. Catching
these in your bare hands was not easy but with small nets made from
mothers discarded nylon stockings we soon had it down to a fine
art. One would “shuffle” the other would catch.
I could not guess at how many trout we took
with the suspended dragon-fly rig. Catch and release was never a
consideration in the 60’s. Suffice to say we did our bit to
successfully annihilate both Brown and Rainbow trout populations
of Lake Bryndwr.
Despite all rivers and lakes being clear and
fishable the weekend ahead is usually a quiet one with many anglers
preparing for the last long weekend of the recognised fishing season,
Easter weekend. The Waitaki
River should remain in the 250 to 300 cumec range and with the
salmon fishing rapidly coming to an end there will be some urgency
to land a salmon before the end of the month. The season for salmon
ends midnight on Monday 31st March.
Tight lines. |
| Weekly Report: Friday
7th March 2008 |
| Graeme
Hughes, Fish & Game
A good rain fell in most places but as is often
the case, where it was most needed nothing happened. The flow of
the Hakataramea
lifted a mere 200 litres per second and is now showing a downward
trendrunning at 1.2 cumecs. There are still some fish available,
my last report midweek from an area mid river was that they were
all small, both brown and rainbow, with the heaviest specimen weighing
in at about 500 gm. This is not normal, perhaps the angler was fishing
in the nursery. The
Maerewhenua River too received a flush of 26 cumecs but dropped
rapidly to 1.6. The Ahuriri
River produced a good fresh rising to just under 60 cumecs.
On the way down it is now at 17 and will be clear and fishable by
the weekend. These minor floods are so important now that didymo
has a firm hold on a large percentage of our trout streams. Controlled
rivers such as the lower Ohau, Tekapo
and Waitaki
Rivers suit didymo and in these waters it thrives well. The high
flows in the Waitaki are dropping back and while the 400 plus cumecs
disadvantaged anglers it has given the didymo a beating. The flow
over the last few days has been down in the low 300’s. Today
and for the weekend it is predicted to remain in the mid 300 cumec
range.
An inspection on Wednesday of the enhanced tributary
of the lower Ohau with engineers from Environment Canterbury showed
Sockeye salmon still immigrating out of the Ohau River. Ecan staff
were impressed with the results of their good work in stream clearance.
The stream is a hive of activity with redds being excavated and
feisty salmon battling it out for suitors and prime redd sites.
Completed redds are well protected by one of the parent fish and
woe betide any intruder that ventures too close. My guess is there
are more salmon in the tributary stream than there were last year
however in the Lower Ohau there appears to be a lower number. On
the 9th of March last year I counted 7400 sockeye in the Lower Ohau.
This year the aerial count is scheduled for about the 13th, weather
permitting.
In the Waitaki
River, their bigger cousins, Chinooks, have yet to make headline
news. While rumours abound about an increase in catch rate, now
that the North Island is getting its act together and flows have
lowered by 100 cumecs, or thereabouts, the catch rate in the Waitaki
River should pick up, providing the fish are there to be caught.
Tight lines |
| Weekly Report: Friday
29th February 2008 |
by
Graeme Hughes, Fish & Game.
High river flows in the Waitaki
River continue and while this is having a beneficial effect
on didymo it is disadvantageous to salmon anglers as many of the
known “salmon holes” are inaccessible at 400 cumecs.
Despite the flow there is still a steady catch rate although numbers
are not high. On average however, the salmon appear to be larger
than in the last few seasons with high 20, low 30 “pounders”
being weighed in at local camps and at the Glenavy Hotel. The proprietors
have been weighing and keeping records of salmon catches for as
long as I can remember. As many Waitaki anglers know, “the
Glenavy” is a well known gathering place for salmon fishers.
It’s also a great place to find out what’s happening
and where, a place to reflect on salmon fishing days over a cold
one and admire the collection of salmon mounts, some of the Waitaki’s
largest, which adorn the walls of the bar.
Sockeye salmon were first observed in the enhanced
lower Ohau River tributary on the 27th of February last year. On
the 25th of February this year, last Monday, I walked the lower
sections of the stream saw no fish but by pure chance observed the
first 4 Sockeye enter the spawning stream, 3 males and a single
female. They were soon followed by 2 more and I suppose if I had
had the time I could have sat there all day and watched the spawning
migration in progress. Local Ecan engineer Ray Newman called to
say that the spawning ground was filling with salmon but a dam board
set in place to assist accurate measurement of flows was causing
a bottle neck. Despite the centre of the board having a large slot
sawn in it to assist upstream migration the “Sockeyes”
are ignoring the most obvious route and attempting to migrate up
either side where there is the least over-topping of the weir. The
board has been lifted temporarily.
The lower Ohau River is a disgusting sight choked
with didymo where last year there was none. However at this stage
it is not thought to be too much of a problem as last year the sockeye
excavated redds through growths of didymo. How the didymo affects
water movement through the gravels of the redd is not known. Nor
is it known if the minuscule food items sockeye fry require is affected
by the didymo infestation. The situation would make an interesting
project for a budding fisheries scientist.
I have travelled past 3 of the valley lakes
on 3 occasions this week and despite the excellent weather there
has been minimal trout fishing activity, almost nil. Weekends are
much busier, however as a wet few days is predicted, there could
be a “safe” weekend ahead for trout.
All rivers are on a steady downward trend, the
Rangitata
River has been high and discoloured due to norwest conditions
and at present is flowing at about 78 cumecs down from 250 earlier
in the week, the Opihi
River is down from 10 cumecs to 3.6 , Ahuriri
River from 28 down to14 cumecs, Haka
down from 1.5 to .9, Maerewhenua
down from 2.1 to 1.1 and the Kakanui down from 1.5 to .65 cumecs.
The Waitaki
River is expected to remain high in the range of 350 to 425
cumecs for the weekend.
Tight lines. |
| Weekly Report: Friday
22nd February 2008 |
by Graeme
Hughes, Fish & Game
Another very warm week most of which I spent
at one of my favourite locations, Lake
Ohau. The days were clear and calm until the arrival of the
afternoon CPB, (Canterbury Plains Breeze). I’m unsure as to
why it’s called a Canterbury phenomenon as it crosses the
boundary into Otago on a regular basis, nor why it’s called
a “breeze” The air movement could better be described
as rather brisk wind. Boat fishing becomes hard work and there is
always a struggle to keep the vessel on course and trolling in fish
catching depths, especially along the extremely convoluted shoreline
at the head of the lake. If the fish aren’t cooperating however,
the rough conditions provide a perfect excuse to head for shore,
retire to camp and discuss the mornings results, or lack of them,
and what we will do when the wind drops. What better way to do this
than with drinks and “nibbles”? Some of fishing experiences
had by the occupants of the two boats we use on our annual family
get- together become legend others are totally untrue. It is not
important if one crew catches more or bigger fish, it’s not
a competition, (yeah right), however it is always good fun and a
great way to “catch-up” with family members domiciled
in distant parts of the island.
Lake
Ohau and its tributaries provides many opportunities for anglers
if you strike the weather right, this is not always possible due
to the prevalent “Norwesters” which only blow strong
to gale force. As I said it’s a family get together which
rules out me sneaking off with a fly rod somewhere, and Tuesday
and Wednesday mornings were ideal for polaroiding the lake edge.
From an elevated position in my boat I saw many trout cruising the
rippled sands of the lake bed as we idled on by. The Dobson River
mouth and shoreline on both sides for a considerable distance is
clean, firm sand and any trout moving are quite easy to see.
The lake was not over generous with its offerings
on this trip, four rods on four outings, mornings and evenings,
caught about 16 fish and lost about 4 or 5, it‘s not a competition
so who’s counting. (We got 4 more than they did!)
The catch was mostly “browns” usually
the catch is predominately “rainbows”. Condition factors
of the “browns” and smaller Rainbow trout were high
but 2 larger “rainbows” were marginally leaner. The
fish were not weighed but my "guestimate" is the smallest
at 500 gm up to 1500 gm. Of course the ones that got away were monstrous.
What did we catch them on? I have to admit that
I buy a couple of new lures prior to this annual event. Every year.
This years creation which I paid too much for is called a “Poltergeist”,
it comes with two diving bibs, the short one will take your lure
to 3 metres, the long bib “dives to an amazing 8 metres whilst
maintaining a tight shuffling action”. Well that’s what’s
printed on the box. (Changing the bib is tricky as there are no
instructions , but after 3 or 4 minutes I discovered how. The secret
is having a very small screw driver handy to push a key from a keyway
which locks it in place). While my sounder didn’t quite agree
with makers claims, of course the “Hummingbird” could
be at fault, after some testing and many collisions with the substrate
the Australian gear was replaced with the old “tried and true”.
In an attempt to find the magic colour combination. I tied many
clinch knots during our fishing periods however at the risk of giving
away family secrets, green and green and gold did the trick. I’ve
said it before, those Rapalas
can catch fish!
The low point of the trip was while scaling
a fish on semi submerged herbage along the lake edge I became the
victim of a “being”, which I guess was rather small
but with a king size punch. Having seen the occasional bee floating
along I guessed I had been stung by a bee. I had a knife in my hand
and immediately scraped clean the highly sensitive area of my fourth
finger. Now I haven’t come in contact with the sharp end of
a honey bee since my school days but I do remember mother applying
the “blue bag” from off the twin concrete tubs in the
wash house and that’s about all. Within minutes and after
unsuccessfully trying to gain some sympathy, ( “Do you realise
that by letting the bee sting you, you have deprived it of life?”
was all I got), the stinging had subsided and I guessed the cold
water in which I was cleaning the catch was doing a good job. By
the time camp was reached the affected area had turned a brilliant
scarlet and the finger a little larger than I remember it. An hour
or two later the colouration was spreading around the fingernail
and up the finger. With a “concerned” brother talking
of amputation before the infection reached my elbow, we all agreed
that this affliction was not caused by an insect of the nectar collecting
kind. On closer examination, double puncture marks indicated it
may have been something with 8 legs. All anglers would have seen
some impressive spiders on, in and around water when fishing. So
I’m now thinking these “harmless” spiders which
I have handled with ease in the past I will now leave well alone.
The species may well be wrongly accused, but I am unaware of any
other creature capable of inflicting such an injury. I resorted
to some bush surgery with a sterilized needle the colour remains
and a very annoying itch has begun. A good sign I hope.
Having been out of circulation for most of the
week information on salmon fishing has been limited excepting that
in the lower Waitaki
River the catch rate has been slow. “Scuttlebutt”
indicates that a couple of fish lost were huge. One fish observed
by several anglers, after a lengthy battle, was about to be tailed
up the beach when the hook “fell out”. This salmon was
rumoured to be in the high 30’s (pounds) and may have been
a 40 pounder!
Despite a rosy dawn this morning, “Red
sky in the morning , etc, etc”, the Met’ office forecasts
fine and settled weather to remain for a few days yet and all waters
are clear and fishable. The last rain event was of great benefit
and the Haka and Maerewhenua Rivers are still flowing above 1.5
cumecs. The Ahuriri
River is low and clear at 11 cumecs and an Omarama angler informs
me that while the fish are easy to find they are not feeding and
refuse anything cast to them. The Waitaki
River at 419 cumecs will remain at flows close to this during
the weekend.
Tight lines. |
| Weekly Report: Friday
15th February 2008 |
by Graeme
Hughes, Fish & Game.
Changeable weather conditions and cooling of air temperatures has
been refreshing. Mondays deluge accompanied by a noisy electrical
storm was of short duration but low flows steadied in affected areas.
With a good rain of 12.0 mm at Kurow overnight , the Hakataramea
and Maerewhenua
Rivers are on the increase. The Haka is still rising and at present
is at 2.3 cumecs, the Maerewhenua peaked briefly at close to 40
but is receding and now at 11.0 cumecs. The
Ahuriri River is rising and with the rain still falling in the
high country (6.30 am on 15.2.08) my guess is it will exceed the
present flow of 14.5cumecs. Temuka staff report that South Canterbury
rivers to the north are rising and that they may be discoloured
for the whole weekend. With the Rangitata
River at 125 cumecs and rising it is expected to be similarly
affected. The weekend’s weather looks a bit scruffy and from
my office window I can see a generous dump of snow on the St Mary
Range. The southerly wind will have a bite to it.
There have been higher flows in the Waitaki
River again this week, up to 460 cumecs, and from all reports
this is having an effect on didymo with minimal fouling of fishing
gear. There are 407 cumecs trundling down at this time, however
it is predicted the flows will be in the 300 to 350 cumec area during
the weekend.
Salmon have been seen and hooked in the upper
stretches of the Waitaki
River indicating there has been some movement from the lower
river and that any likely “salmon hole” could be productive
through the remainder of the season.
With February “galloping along”, if anyone wanted to
target pre spawning Sockeye salmon, now would be the time to do
some exploratory fishing in the Haldon Arm of Lake
Benmore concentrating on the water around Ohau “C”
and across to the confluence of the Tekapo
and Ohau Rivers. Trolling trout lures has worked in the past, I
suspect smaller than larger patterns would work best. According
to last years diary, Sockeye salmon were migrating up the Ohau river
and unnamed tributary on the 27th February. From the numbers I saw
and the distance they had travelled my guess is they had been on
migration for several days. If their timetable is the same as in
2007, next week will be about the right time to catch schooling
“Sockeyes”.
I spent almost a day on the Haldon Arm of Lake
Benmore in a 6 metre boat crammed with batteries two computers,
several boxes filled with cables and fittings plus a large and interesting
apparatus covered in switches and dials. All this paraphernalia
was connected to two cables which led to a large transducer submerged
half a meter below the surface attached to a starboard gunwale fitting.
The apparatus belonged to NIWA and Stefan from Quebec Canada was
the very knowledgeable operator, Bill Jarvie from Fish and Game
Southland supplied and skippered the vessel. The object of the exercise
was to collect data from the sonar which was operated while the
boat was steered on a predetermined course . The course was a zig-zag
route from shore out to 30 metres and then turn and return to shore
and then back out to 30 meters and we did this for most of the day.
Now at planing speed this could have been fun but at a steady 1100
rpm on the big “Merc's” tacho', about 5 knots I guess,
this became rather tedious. The screen showed fish of all sizes
from miniscule dots to banana shapes indicating large fish however
without a fishing pole on board and after some 20 kilometres it
became rather tedious. No stops were permitted and speed had to
be constant. It was obvious however that the bulk of the fish population
was located at the very top of the lake and that the further one
travelled towards Benmore Dam fewer fish showed on the screen. That
of course was the most visible and obvious results, however much
of the information was locked up in the on board computer and would
not be available until deciphered back at NIWA headquarters. The
object of the exercise, as I understand it, is to find a reliable
method of assessing fish populations in lakes. The first lake surveyed
was Lake
Coleridge, then Lake
Benmore, Hawea
and then I assume waters further south. The following day the
survey was to be carried out on the Ahuriri Arm of Lake
Benmore and closer to home I was interested to see how the two
arms compared from a fish population perspective. Unfortunately
there were more important things to do than spend a day cruising
on the lake enjoying sun and scenery. How do you get these good
jobs? However I called Bill, who at the time was spending a second
day on Lake
Hawea stating they were having difficulty finding fish. I asked
how the fish numbers in the Ahuriri Arm compared. They were impressed
with the Haldon Arm numbers so the Ahuriri Arm would have them in
raptures.
Not so. Haldon Arm was by far the most prolific producer. I was
surprised. I started thinking about it. The Ahuriri Arm is not deep,
especially where most of the fish are taken, perhaps a large hull
at full displacement in these depths dispersed fish outside the
transducer’s arc and therefore less sonar contacts were made.
It will be interesting to read the full report at the end of the
mission, the information collected will show at what depth most
fish were located and there may be some truth in my shallow water
thinking.
While discussing my fish finding day with angling
and hunting friend Tom who had telephoned to see if I would go fishing
with him, he asked if there was anything he should know. I noticed,
as did Bill and Stefan, that wherever we located a drowned tree
on the screen, remnants of pre hydro days, without fail there was
always a large fish in close proximity. Although we were in a different
arm of the lake to where Tom was heading I passed on the information.
That evening I received a call from Tom saying he had picked up
two trees on his fish finder and had spent just a little more effort
casting around them to be rewarded with a good fish from each. Science,
sonar and skill equals fish!
Tight lines. |
| Weekly Report: Friday
8th February 2008 |
Graeme
Hughes, Fish & Game Officer
With a public holiday midweek and glorious weather,
it was inevitable some trout in the region would be caught. The
slowing of the trout catch rate in the valley’s lakes appears
to have been reversed, possibly due to the loss of many holiday
makers or the cooler spell with rain, probably a combination of
both. I have received some good reports especially from Lake
Benmore. I was informed of an angler who set out to catch a
2 to 3 pounder to put in his smoker. The angler went home without
his fish simply because he couldn’t catch one small enough!
Now that’s a fisherman’s story with a twist. Apparently
all the fish he landed were 5’s and 6’s, far too big
for the stainless steel “hot smoker” every angler seems
to own.
No salmon were caught in the Waitaki
River on Waitangi Day, or none that we’ve heard of, however
last Sunday there was some excitement with 6 salmon landed in the
lower river and on Tuesday there were 8. That’s almost a run!
Perhaps not, but as one angler reminded me, this is what happened
last year, with no big catches beginning until the last week in
February. Salmon then became more numerous as the season progressed
with the best week being the last week of the season. The season
for salmon is again a shortened one, it closes on the last day of
March, so there is some trepidation amongst anglers that the runs
may come too late.
In the Rangitata
River the last few days have been quiet, however Mark Webb from
our Temuka office tells me about 30 were landed earlier in the week.
I enjoy angler’s stories and hearing how
an ordinary day can take a “U” turn and become an extraordinary
day. I was talking to an acquaintance and friend of many years Richard
Hill a very keen and successful angler despite being confined to
a wheel chair. When ever I stop at the Oamaru sports store where
Richard works he most often relates his exploits or his observations
while fishing the Waitaki lakes. I think that you and I, as fully
mobile anglers may never experience or ever think twice about some
of Richards knotty little problems.
I don’t doubt that many of us in the process
of landing a fish have had the trout race between our legs. You
step over the line and the fish is able to run free. Simple. Not
for Richard. What do you do when fishing from lake side shallows
and the fish you are about to net races between the wheels? The
wheels you’re sitting on!
From talking with Richard I get the impression that in the waters
that he fishes he gets to know the local trout population very well
and to him they are all different individuals. He probably spends
more time in one spot than you and I and is able to do this. He
has intimate knowledge of which fish cruises where and has probably
caught and released a good number of them.
Anyway Richard, his usual chirpy self when I
called last week said “I caught my trophy fish on the weekend”
“How big?” I asked, naturally. “10.8lb on my digital
scales”. I was taken a bit by surprise. "Lake
Benmore?” I asked but thinking hydro canal. “Yep,
they put me in a kayak” “What did you catch him on,
spin or fly?” I inquired but thinking worm. “Nymph”
he replied’ “Brown or rainbow?” “Brown”.
“A fish that size would tow you a round a bit”. He laughed
“I was anchored but we did a few revolutions” I immediately
pictured Richard and kayak doing steady turns on the anchor rope,
like the hand of a stop watch, it would have been quite an experience.
Richard releases his fish but I guessed this was going to be a “wall
hanger”. “Did you get some pics?” I was keen to
see the monster “Bit of a sad story there, batteries were
flat”
So here was Richard, a fish of a lifetime at
his feet , no camera to record the event, what do you do? “I
let it go” Richard said nonchalantly. I was surprised. I’m
not so sure I would have had it been me. Where’s the proof,
who’d believe me? “I’m not worried” said
Richard when I mentioned the all important photograph. “ I
know I caught him”.
A lot of people, including me, would find that
easy to say but might struggle making the decision, a decision that
needs to made reasonably quickly. The more I thought about Richard’s
trophy fish, the better I thought of Richard and in fact it’s
quite extraordinary how his big moment in trout fishing made me,
and I suspect others I have told the story to, think a bit more
about catch and release and having the courage to return the “big
one” back to the water. I suppose you have to be in that situation
to know exactly what you would do at that crucial moment. Congratulations
Richard, a great achievement landing a double figure trophy fish,
an even greater feat, letting it go. (Richard informs me his camera
batteries are now fully charged).
With salmon appearing in the Waitaki
River at last, those heading out there will find the river flowing
in the 300 to 400 cumec range, the South Island doing its bit to
keep the North supplied with electricity. The good thing about the
higher flows we have been experiencing is the didymo is being pruned
back and I’m told salmon fishing is almost didymo free.
The smaller rivers are getting smaller however
the Hakataramea River is holding at about 650 litres per second.
The Ahuriri
River has dropped a further 2 cumecs flowing now at 11 cumecs.
To the north the Rangitata
is at 58 cumecs and the Opihi
at about 5 cumecs.
Tight lines. |
| Weekly Report: Friday
1st February 2008 |
Graeme
Hughes, Fish & Game Officer
The hot weather continues and the recent rain
as beneficial as it was to some has undone much of the fish salvage
work completed in previous weeks. Although there was not sufficient
rain to fill the Hakataramea
River there was enough to raise the level in isolated pools
so as to reconnect several of them. Those pools which had been netted
and electro fished of their stranded residents have now been repopulated
as fingerlings and smolts drift downstream from those deeper pools
still safe and populated with fish. As the levels fall they will
all require fish salvage once again.
Salmon news centres on the Rangitata
River catches however on Sunday I received a call from an Oamaru
angler Trevor Hill, who I’m constantly calling to find out
what’s happening in the Waitaki. Trevor caught two salmon
from his boat within several minutes in the lower Waitaki
River. They are the first to be on the board at the Glenavy
Hotel . If I remember correctly, they weighed 20 and 22 pounds.
I thought this would attract some anglers however
while flying the region on the annual shelduck and Black Swan trend
counts yesterday I did not see anyone fishing the lower river. There
were two parties fishing on the Ahuriri
River, 3 boats on Lake
Tekapo and one on Lake
Alexandrina. Not a lot of angling effort for the many trout
waters I over flew.
The Waitaki
River trout population appears to be in good health still. After
a mid week excursion by an angling friend he reported sighting many
good trout, all rising. He couldn’t establish what they were
taking but a small parachute “Adams”
fooled the fish he could get a line to. The catch rate was not good
but just seeing them “on the top” was a great experience.
He did say that while boating the river the bottom turned an unusual
grey colour. He thought “not another kind of weed!”
He stopped to check out one of these areas only to find he was looking
at a clean gravel bed. Large areas with not a strand of didymo to
be seen. Very unusual but probably nothing to get too excited about.
River flows continue to recede and all waters
are lower than at this time last week. The Haka
is now down to .630,
Maerewhenua at .558, the Waihao .240 and the Kakanui at .319,
Opihi
3.5cumecs. In the high country the Ahuriri
River is flowing at a low 12.8 cumecs and the Rangitata
at 61.0cumecs. The Waitaki
has been up in the low 400’s but should be around 300
cumecs for the weekend. Anglers who intend being in the lower Tekapo
River area should be aware that there will be a recreational
release of water down the Pukaki River, ( for the kayak and canoe
enthusiasts) beginning at 5.00am on Sunday 3rd February with 35
cumecs until 3.00pm in the afternoon when flows will have increased
to 140 cumecs.
Finally, it’s farewell to Richard Fitzpatrick
from Otago
Fish and Game Region, Richard and I converse on most Thursdays
regarding fishing in our respective regions, we swap information
for our Friday reports and generally keep in touch with what’s
happening around the two regions. This is Richard’s last week
working for Fish and Game. His resignation will be quite an inconvenience
for Otago as his knowledge and skills will be difficult to replace.
Richard tells me that the cicada season is in full swing in Otago’s
tussock country and that the Logan Burn Dam is fishing particularly
well. The lower Clutha
River is still full of cooperative trout and he said this was
an extraordinary event. My Otago information will now be sadly lacking.
Thanks for all your help.
Good luck and tight lines Richard! |
| Weekly Report: Friday
25th January 2008 |
Graeme
Hughes, Fish &Game Officer
The region received a welcome rain and although
it was heavy in places, where it was needed most, there is little
evidence of a change in river flows. The Ahuriri
River peaked at 54 cumecs, up 36 cumecs and the Maerewhenua
rose from 700 litres per second to 1.4cumecs. The Hakataramea
River remains at a low flow, 800 litres per second at the time
of writing this report.
With most holiday makers back at work there
are still many camped along riverbanks and lake shorelines. During
the last week I have had reports of mixed fishing success, however
it does appear that on the lakes at least, there has been a slowing
of the catch rate. This is probably not surprising when you consider
the exposure the trout population has had during the recognised
holiday period. The disturbance factor is greatly increased, boats
of all types jet, prop and paddle power. Hours of high speed orbits
by towed water toys, and of course an increase in the fishing effort.
I visited a spot with rod in hand knowing that there were always
fish visible and where there is minimal fishing pressure. I became
suspicious when I put three good fish down without making any obvious
mistakes. The wrong choice of nymph or fly will often be “perused
and refused” but to streak for escape cover at the sight of
an imitation was not what I expected. My suspicions were further
aroused when I noticed tracks through the parched grasses and the
empty bottles and food wrappers that the inconsiderate visitors
could not carry home. These fish were well educated and their memory
is obviously way beyond that of the common goldfish. I’ll
give them a couple of weeks and try again, by then they may be more
forgiving should I choose the wrong pattern again.
The netting and electro fishing in the Hakataramea
River continues however large numbers of fingerlings remain
in some pools which although not connected to any surface flow are
still too deep to effectively work but at risk from predation and
drying. Work will continue until there is a significant rain event.
The Brown
beetle flight is over, caddis
numbers have dwindled , however
cicadas have just started their chirping chorus providing high
country trout with a new diet. It is a time of big food items for
fish and big opportunities for fisherpersons. The delicate presentation
required for fishing a mayfly
imitation can be completely disregarded when the cicadas are flying.
In fact the “splat” of a large deer hair cicada pattern
on the surface is much like a dinner gong to trout which have “switched
on” to this annual feasting. The “takes” are usually
eruptions, often from some depth, with much splash and noise. There
is nothing tidy about a trout’s feeding habits when cicadas
are on the menu. Cicada fishing is poor training for a novice fly
fisher as you can break several golden rules of fly casting and
still catch your fish. If you miss-time the lift and fail to hook
a rising trout, you can put the fly back immediately and it will
be taken again, and again, but after about the third time even the
most uneducated trout will probably guess that something is not
quite right.
Salmon in the Rangitata
River are still providing exciting times for the angler.
The season started well at the Rangitata with good catches of spring
run fish in November/December and has continued on into January
with both the number and size of fish surprising anglers. Fish weighing
up to 13.6kg or 30 pound have been confirmed with reports of larger
fish landed as well. Anglers have also commented on the excellent
condition these fish seem to be in suggesting that conditions and
food supply have been favourable at sea for the past three years.
Around 380 salmon have been landed at the mouth with last week yielding
44 fish for one day! Mouth anglers have not been the only ones to
have increased catch rates with river fishermen regularly taking
limit bags as well. Salmon are well spread throughout the river
now, allowing anglers who prefer quieter waters to fish away from
the crowds. It has been about seven years since we have seen a run
of fish like this and with just over two months to the end of the
season it is likely that a few more will be added to the tally.
Salmon have also been taken in the Orari,
Opihi
and Ashburton
Rivers but in much lesser numbers.
It has taken a while but the local scuttlebutt
has it that “a few” salmon have been taken in the lower
Waitaki
River. Details are as usual sketchy however with the information
soon to become common knowledge it can be expected that the angling
effort on the river will increase and with more gear in the water
there should be more fish landed.
Trout fishing in the Waitaki
River is still productive however the catch rate is much greater
for jet boat owners who can move about exploring the many possibilities
available. A recent report from an experienced Waitaki angler suggests
that spinning is successful providing you are able to withstand
the annoyance of didymo. Casting a nymph is much less work and on
average provides a better catch rate.
Conditions for the weekend ahead are favourable, the cooler weather
is a welcome and refreshing respite from those grass crackling,
parched days recently endured. Most waters clear and fishable. The
Ahuriri
River is receding after reaching 70 cumecs and is presently
flowing at 20 cumecs . It was quite murky during the week so I would
expect it to be fishable but with a “smidgen” of colour.
All other trout waters are fishable. If the target is salmon this
weekend the Waitaki is clear and expected to be running at about
300 cumecs. The Rangitata
River peaked at about 330 cumecs, is receding and yesterday
it was at 125 cumecs, today down to 82.9 and clearing. Local opinion
suggests it should be clear enough for fishing on Saturday, definitely
by Sunday.
Tight lines. |
| Weekly Report: Friday
18th January 2008 |
| Graeme
Hughes, Fish and Game Officer
The week has been warm and windy. Not good fishing
conditions. A brief shower mid week of about 2mm was refreshing
but that was about it. Today, Friday, light rain is falling but
this is expected to clear during the day. An Otago colleague told
me that it “belted down” in Dunedin and rivers of the
Otago
Fish & Game region were beginning to rise. If you’re
heading south for some trout fishing you should check with the OFG
office for river conditions. From my conversation with him the Clutha
River is currently fishing very well.
All smaller trout fisheries of the CSI region
are under stress with fish salvage from drying streams underway.
The Hakataramea
River is dry for about 2 km and several thousand fish, mainly
juveniles, have been moved downstream to permanent water. Unfortunately
as often happens in the wild, a disaster for one species is a wind
fall for another. It is “a time of plenty” for a large
number of white-faced herons. Several bands of these efficient fishers,
28 in one flock, is taking advantage of the situation and I suspect
eating more small fish than I can catch by electro fishing.
It is during these time of low flows one can
actually see how productive small trout streams can be. Under any
overhanging bank eels are numerous, and large trout, all “browns”
up to 3.0 kg, seek cover. In the main channel where water is reduced
to about shin deep the water moves with fingerlings in their thousands.
Without being too accurate the catch so far consists of about 80%
brown trout, 10% rainbow and 10% chinook salmon. Common and Upland
bullies are everywhere in the shallows and at the head of the pools
where water trickles through the cobbles, Common River Galaxids
seek out what little flow there is.
While the Waitaki
River has failed to give up its salmon in the Rangitata River
the catch rate has been quite astounding and it is being said that
it’s the best salmon catch since the year 2000.
On two separate days Rangitata
anglers took 44 and 30 salmon. The total catch this year at the
mouth has exceeded 200 with the south side being the most productive.
It would not be a Hughes report if I did not mention didymo. But
this is good news, sort of. I was wrong! But on this occasion it
was good to be wrong. The sample of algae I collected from the Aviemore
Spawning Race was Gomphoneis not Didymosphenia geminata. Although
it was in its early stages and was mixed up with filamentous algae
it sure looked like didymo to me. I put 2 and 2 together and got
5! With the long hot sunny days the didymo look alike had flourished
and this bloom of brown algae coupled with the knowledge that didymo
already exists in tributaries of lakes upstream, I assumed incorrectly
that at last and inevitably the horrible stuff had made it through
Lake
Benmore and Lake
Aviemore finding suitable substrate to cling to in the gravelled
spawning race.
The Waitaki
River has been running higher this week due to several “outages”
requiring more production from local hydro dams. In the high 300
up to 400 cumecs this has increased the amount of didymo drifting
downstream. Anglers claim that fishing in the lower river is frustrating
if the river runs above 300 cumecs.
Other news about didymo it is reported to be
dying off in the Maerewhenua
River. Below Wrights Crossing in the Hakataramea
River I have observed the same. The didymo while only in its
early stages here, is dying off and easily dislodged from the stones
with ones hand. Anyway this is interesting stuff and I have passed
on the information to ECAN as I believe someone with knowledge should
be looking into these unusual but very welcome occurrences.
Excepting for the Ahuriri
River which has risen 5 cumecs to 18.0cumecs, flows for the
weekend will remain low with all volumes down slightly from last
week. The Waitaki River presently at 251 cumecs should run between
200 and 300cumecs. The Rangitata River which I suspect will be a
busy place is recorded at 82 cumecs and clearing nicely for the
weekend salmon angler.
Tight lines. |
| Weekly Report: Friday
11th January 2008 |
Graeme
Hughes, Fish and Game Officer
The new year has provided the hot dry weather
much sought after by many holiday makers camping in the region,
the down side being trout streams are dangerously low and fish salvage
is imminent in several unless there is a significant rain event.
Since my last report on the 21st December there has been a steady
decline in flows: the Ahuriri River, 28 down to 13.3 cumecs, Maerewhenua
from1.1 to .75, Hakataramea from 1.9 to .87, Rangitata, from a flood
flow of 400 cumecs now at 82.7 and the Opihi, 11.5 down to 4.1.
Understandably, fishing in low, clear waters is hard work and can
be quite frustrating. Not forgetting that an increase in angler
visits, holiday makers, has every trout on “red alert”.
Long leaders, light tippets and pin point accurate casting are required.
Presentation is everything as fish will bolt for cover if anything
heavier than a thistle seed settles on the surface.
Although I have been out of the district recent fishing history
in the valley indicates that the Waitaki Lakes and the Waitaki River,
despite didymo, have been providing trout consistently over the
last 3 weeks, but salmon have been late to appear. Whereas the Rangitata
is in full swing with 111 fish weighed in over the last 10 days,
only 2 salmon have been reported, taken at the Waitaki mouth on
the south side. An acquaintance saw a salmon below Kurow but seeing
one is not quite the same.
There are still a few sea run “browns” being caught
and I saw a brace of silver beauties taken on natural smelt on Wednesday
with a combined weight of about 7 kg.
Arriving at the Aviemore Spawning Race on Wednesday to begin some
bank side maintenance I immediately saw the unmistakeable rusty
brown colouration on some areas of gravel. I retrieved several stones
covered in didymo and sent a sample of to Ecan to have it officially
identified. I last visited the race in October and at that time
everything looked normal. The race is the only permanent water where
Lake Waitaki trout can spawn. The Awahokomo Stream, a small tributary
near the Waitaki Dam, at times has sufficient flow to attract spawning
trout into it however the flows usually cease early summer and on
most years the hatch is lost. Each year from about May up until
October some 600 trout, rainbow and brown, migrate into the Aviemore
Spawning Race. While I have observed trout and salmon excavate redds
in didymo covered substrate, I guess it depends how fast the redd
is covered by the invasive algae as to how much the incubating eggs
or hatched juveniles will be affected. Water must percolate through
the pockets of ova contained within the redd to provide life giving
oxygen and remove waste. After hatching the alevins having absorbed
their yolk sacs become “swim up fry” and move up through
the gravels to become free swimming. If they can find their way
through the gravel of the redd I suspect the didymo should be no
problem for them. The newly emerged fry then need to find enough
food to exist in the nursery water. There have been researchers
look at the productivity of the spawning race in the early 90’s.
The race may provide opportunities to find out if didymo is affecting
reproduction of trout in affected waters.
If you are heading north to fish the Rakaia River please note that
the daily bag limit for trout is 2 not 4 as in the Waitaki River.
We have had a call from North Canterbury claiming that Central South
Island anglers have been unaware that there is a lesser daily bag
in the Rakaia River.
Tight lines. |
| Weekly Report: Friday
21st December 2007 |
Graeme
Hughes, Fish and Game Officer
Some very welcome rain in the region bumped up
flows and halted the steady downward trend in the smaller waters.
Fishing appears to be temporarily on hold as the population prepares
for Christmas and some holiday time. The week’s weather has
been a bit scruffy with overcast conditions with the wind brisk
at times from the west and the south. My time management has failed
miserably when I lost a day due to unexpected and unscheduled work
popping up out of nowhere. Prior to this I did have two mornings
on Lake
Waitaki where with limited time I fished minor solunar periods
and despite the grey days and spots of rain my guest took home several
lake limited salmon, brown and rainbow trout. With the tables I
was able to pick the best tines to fish, without the tables I could
be further behind than I am now. Along with Waitaki Valley fish
my guest also took home a “bundle of bunnies” I shot
on the Kurow rugby field and through the fence on the neighbours
property. The rabbit numbers have now got out of hand and both the
neighbour and I have been taking a dozen or so per night without
moving more than 500 meters from the house. You can’t see
where we’ve been and those that remain are become very suspicious.
The clever and elusve indivdual that has been continually digging
up my lawn came to a “sticky end”. His time was up.
His “sticky end” could have been worse on Saturday when
I almost took him out with the “ride on” while racing
around the shrubbery cutting what grass was left.
The Otiake River algae sample I sent off last
week received official identification, Didymosphenia geminata is
alive and well in this small tributary of Waitaki.
The sample from the Awakino River was, as suspected, a similar looking
native algae Gomphoneis, quite harmless. The question still remains
how did didymo get in to the Otaike. Anglers, their boats or vehicles
can’t be blamed for this outb | |