| Fish type |
Landlocked
chinook salmon, brown trout, rainbow trout . Mostly around 0.75-1.5kg.
|
| Situation |
Lake Coleridge
lies between the Torlesse and Mt Hutt ranges near Rakaia,
at the foot of the Southern Alps.
From Christchurch, take SH73 to Darfield,
turn onto SH77 and drive towards the Rakaia Gorge Bridge.
At Windwhistle, turn onto Coleridge Road, then into Homestead
Road at Acheron Cutting. |
| Maps |
Access
map
Access
map with topography
LINZ
topographic maps: 1:50,000 (260
series)
|
| Check conditions |
View the MetService
weather forecast for Christchurch. |
| F&G pamphlet |
The
High Country Lakes access pamphlet |
| Fishing competitions |
- The Lake Coleridge Brass Monkey Fishing
Competition is held in August each year. Email John
Haggitt (Ferrymead Fishing Club Inc) for details.
- Ryton Bay, Lake Coleridge is the location
for a fishing
competition which is held on high country opening day
each year (the first, Saturday in November). The competition
is organised by North Canterbury Fish & Game and sponsored
by Hamills Christchurch and Composite Developments.
|
| Description |
Lake Coleridge,
one of the Rakaia group of 10 lakes, is the largest and most
heavily fished lake in North Canterbury, despite being exposed
to both nor’ and sou’westers. It is 18km long
and covers just over 3,500ha.
The most common catch is the rare chinook
salmon. Trout are hard to spot so blind fishing is necessary,
usually along the eastern shoreline. In calm, bright conditions
you might spot trout in some of the smaller lakes just to
the east of Lake Coleridge.
The lower reaches of the tributaries all
hold trout but they’re shingly and unstable, so stick
to the lake.
The season runs from November to the end
of April. |
| Access |
The
best access points are:
- at the Intake which is off Mt Algidus
Road
- Ryton Bay on the eastern shore. Turn
left off Harper Road before Ryton River bridge.
- Harper Bay After crossing the Harper
River, continue up Harper Road, through the Harper village
and turn left after crossing the Harper River.
|
| Methods |
Deep troll
a spinner from a motor boat.
Spin from the shore on a blustery day
at the downwind end and into the wind.
Bait fishing is not permitted. |
| Recommended trout lures |
Nymphs:
Muddler Minnow,
Yellow Rabbit
Dry flies:
Blowflies,
Coch-y-Bondhu,
Manuka Beetle,
Black Gnat
Wet flies:
Twilight
Beauty, March
Brown and emerger
patterns
Spinners: Rapalas,
Tasmanian
Devils, Ticers |
| Tributaries |
Tributaries to Lake Coleridge
include:
- Wilberforce River
- Ryton River
- Harper River
|
| Regulations |
| Applicable to |
Lake Coleridge. Within 100 metres
of any inflowing tributary is closed during the winter period
(1 May - 30 September). |
| Region |
North
Canterbury regulations |
| Season |
From the
first Saturday in November to 30 April
1 Jun-31 Aug. |
| Methods |
Artificial fly, spinner
Fishing from boats not being mechanically propelled is permitted.
Fishing from boats being mechanically propelled is also permitted. |
| Bag limit |
Total sportsfish: 4
Trout: 2
Salmon: 4 |
| Size limit (cm) |
None |
