North Canterbury Fish & Game News and Reports

Latest fishing news: Latest news: April 2008

Latest fishing reports: Latest report March 2008

Download angler diaries: July 2007

Fish & Game river report: Phone 03-366 2986 between 1 October and 30 April.

Weekly email report: Register with Fish & Game Canterbury to have a report emailed to you each week between December and March (or see below).

Steve Terry, Fish & Game Officer

As the salmon season draws to an end, many anglers believe this years salmon run was the best seen in more than ten years. Many anglers have packed their fishing gear away until next season, however one of the few spots still worth a look this late in the season is the lower Waimakariri River around McIntosh’s Rocks and the mouth, where anglers are still catching a few salmon each day, however nowhere near as many as they were getting a couple of weeks ago where 30 to 40 were being caught some days in these lower reaches. The salmon run in the Waimakariri River is later than the other rivers and anglers still have a week or two left before things quieten off in the Waimak.

All the North Canterbury rivers have been very low and clear for much of the last two months and salmon fishing has slowed right off in most of the rivers. The main rivers had a small fresh last weekend following rain in the alps but flows have quickly receded back to low flow levels. With nor-west rain forecast in the Southern Alps over the weekend, hopefully the rivers come down in another fresh later in the weekend and trigger salmon movement.

Reports I have heard indicate that there are still reasonable numbers of salmon in the upper reaches of the rivers below the white posts and fishing in both the Rakaia and Waimakariri Gorges has been yielding a few salmon for keen anglers in recent weeks, although these are becoming increasingly harder to catch as the season comes to an end. The Waiau and Hurunui Rivers have quietened right off now with only the odd salmon caught in recent weeks.

Salmon fishing in the Groynes fishing lakes has slowed off also but anglers are still catching the odd salmon in the lake closest to the Clearwater golf course. The best bet for parents wishing to take their kids for a fish is at first and last light using any of the authorised methods.

Steve Terry, Fish & Game Officer

North Canterbury Rivers have not seen a fresh for over a month now. All the rivers have been very low and clear for much of this time and salmon fishing has slowed right off in all of the main rivers. Anglers fishing McIntosh’s Rocks, the Banana Hole and the mouth of the Waimakariri River are still catching a few salmon each day, however nowhere near as many as they were getting each day a couple of weeks ago, with up to 40 caught each day in these lower reaches.

Reports I have heard, indicate that there are good numbers of salmon throughout all the main rivers at present and upriver fishing in both the Rakaia and Waimakariri Rivers around the gorges is still yielding a few salmon from the deep pools where they are waiting for the next fresh. The best time to target these salmon while the rivers are low and clear is the first half hour of daylight, as salmon fishing tends to go relatively quiet after this in these conditions. With nor-west rain forecast in the Southern Alps over the next 48 hours, hopefully the rivers come down in a fresh and trigger salmon movement. There should still be plenty of great fishing in the Waimak over the next few weeks but angling in the lower reaches of the other rivers has tapered off for the season.

The Groynes fishing lakes are continuing to fish well for salmon, but please remember these lakes are restricted to anglers 17 years and under. The best bet for parents wishing to take their kids for a fish is again at first and last light using any authorised method.

Trout fishing upriver can be quite rewarding during these low clear flows and both the upper Rakaia and Waimak rivers have been producing some nice trout in the side braids and holes in recent weeks. Please remember that there is no fishing for salmon in the Western Zones of the main rivers.

Good luck over the weekend.

Steve Terry, Fish & Game Officer

North Canterbury Rivers have not seen a fresh for over two weeks now. However salmon fishing has taken off recently in the Waimakariri River as it seems to each year around this time. There have been 30 to 40 salmon taken each day in the lower reaches lately between the Mouth, McIntosh’s Rocks and the Banana Hole which all seem to be fishing well. There were 20 odd salmon taken at the Mouth this morning weighing between 12 and 25 pounds. The Waimakariri River is likely to continue to be the standout river over the next few weeks, including the Kaiapoi River as salmon make there way back to the Silverstream Hatchery where around 60,000 smolt are released each year to help boost returning numbers of adults three years later.

Reports I have heard, indicate that there are good numbers of salmon throughout all the main rivers at present however all the rivers are very low and clear and successful fishing upriver is becoming limited to the twilight hours. Fishing at the river mouths of the other salmon rivers appears to have gone quiet recently so anglers fishing the first hour of light upriver should have the best chance of success.

The Groynes Fishing lakes have continued to fish well and please remember these lakes are restricted to anglers 17 and under.

Trout fishing upriver can be quite rewarding during these low clear flows and the upper Rakaia would be worth a look over the weekend. Please remember that there is no fishing for salmon in the Western Zones of the main rivers.

Good luck over the long weekend.

Brian Ross, Fish & Game Officer

A large high is moving across the country, with light NE winds Saturday, followed by drizzle and a southerly change Sunday.

For salmon fishers, conditions should be good, with the main East Coast salmon river flows at 130 cumecs for the Rakaia, 40 for the Waimak, and the Rangitata has dropped to 60.

Of these rivers, the lower Waimak is the hot spot at the moment for salmon.
While talking about the Waimak, the long running “Ranger’s Trophy” salmon fishing contest is planned for next Thursday, the 20th , starting at 7.30am. This low key event is all about camaraderie and sportsmanship, rather than competing for prizes. All you have to do is register before you start fishing. There is no entry fee.

“Reliable sources” indicate that there are plenty of salmon in the Rakaia between the highway bridge and the gorge.

Fish & Game are seeking assistance from volunteers to finish fin clipping salmon at the Montrose hatchery this Saturday. If you would like to help put something back into your sport, with this essential task, then either meet at the Yaldhurst Hotel carpark at 8.00am, or if you know the way to Montrose, be there by 9.15am. You do not need your waders, and a BBQ lunch and refreshments will be provided.

Fishing at the high country lakes can be a bit erratic, however light winds should make fly fishing the method of choice. High floating dries like the Black Gnat or an attractor such as a Royal Wulff are effective when no visible hatch is taking place.

Steve Terry, Fish & Game Officer

Rivers in North Canterbury have been unfishable for much of the last week after heavy rain in the alps. However the rivers were an ideal salmon fishing colour last weekend which resulted in some great catches in the Rakaia in the Rakaia Salmon Fishing Competition. Regular freshes as we have seen in the main rivers recently are just what the salmon fishery needs to ensure regular salmon passage to the headwaters and favourable salmon fishing conditions for anglers. Reports I have heard, indicate that there are good numbers of salmon throughout all the main rivers following these recent freshes.

The Waimakariri River is likely to be the standout river over the next few weeks, and good numbers of salmon have been seen throughout this river. The Waimak usually fishes better later in the season than the other rivers and should continue to fish well for the next month. McIntosh’s Rocks has been the favoured spot in recent weeks and should continue to yield salmon this weekend with the river clearing after the last fresh. The river mouth has also stared to see a few more salmon caught.
Sea run trout fishing has quietened off as has fishing in the high country lakes with water and air temperatures staring to cool down a little.

Fish & Game and NIWA have recently released close to 1,000 salmon into fisheries around Christchurch for children. 250 of these were released into the Courtenay Pond in Kaiapoi and another 750 were released into the Groynes Fishing lakes. These fisheries are all restricted to anglers 17 and under and all fishing methods should work for these salmon which weigh up to 12 pounds.

Fish & Game are looking for volunteers this weekend to help fin clip 60,000 salmon at the Montrose Hatchery located just above the Rakaia Gorge. If you are able to help on either Saturday or Sunday, please meet at the Yaldhurst Pub at 8am or at Montrose at 9:15am. A BBQ lunch will be provided.

Good luck over the weekend.

Steve Terry, Fish & Game Officer

Over the last week things have started to improve again for Canterbury salmon anglers.

Recent freshes in the main rivers are just what the salmon fishery needed and reports I have heard indicate there are good numbers of salmon throughout all the main rivers now. The Waimakariri River has been the standout river over the last week and good numbers of salmon have been caught throughout the river especially in the lower reaches. McIntosh’s Rocks has been the favoured spot with up to 40 salmon caught there one day earlier this week. The river mouth has also started to see a few more caught with up to a dozen or so being caught each day.

The Waimakariri River usually fishes better later in the season than the other rivers and should continue to fish well for the next month. The Rakaia Salmon Fishing Competition. is on this weekend and I have heard reports of reasonable numbers of salmon throughout the river so hopefully there are some happy anglers about after the weekend. Salmon anglers have not experienced the same outstanding fishing as we have seen this season for close to a decade and hopefully this is a sign that environmental conditions at sea are again favouring salmon survival.

Over the last week Fish & Game have been gifted close to 1,000 salmon by NIWA to release into fisheries around Christchurch for children. 250 of these were released into the Courtenay Pond in Kaiapoi and another 750 were released into the Groynes Fishing lakes. These fisheries are all restricted to anglers 17 and under and parents should make the most of this opportunity and take their kids out fishing over the next week or so where there is a good chance of success. The salmon are in great condition and range from 2 pounds to over 10 pounds. This is the highest number salmon that we have released into the Groynes at any one time for a number of years and any fishing method should be successful.

by Brian Ross, Fish and Game

The La Nina weather pattern continues to dish up North/North East winds, which will be gusty tomorrow, dying out Sunday. Heavy rain is expected in the high country, but dry in the east.

Inland lake levels have benefited from recent rain. Fish seen, actively feeding the margins, where they can fall victim to a Black Gnat or similar, presented by fly rod or attached by a leader to a bubble on a spinning outfit.

Foothill streams with elevated flows, such as the Ashley, should produce well conditioned trout, with the possibility of a fresh salmon an added bonus for spin fishers at the Ashley.

The Waimakariri River flow has dropped, and the river is expected to be a good colour for upriver salmon fishers this weekend. Anglers reported seeing good numbers of fish heading upstream in the recent dirty water. The salmon rivers to the north will also be in a similar fishing condition.

The Rakaia River will also have salmon well upstream by now. Fishing in the gorge has been quite productive of late by all accounts, to those with jet boats.

Anglers are reminded to observe the voluntary ban on salmon fishing near the Montrose salmon farm outlet stream.

200 1 kg salmon, donated by the NIWA Silverstream Hatchery, have been released into the Courtenay Lake at Kaiapoi for junior anglers – that is 17 years and under.
Fishing tuition is being offered by a group of well skilled local anglers this Saturday morning, from 9.00 am.

Rangers will be patrolling the lake to enforce the regulations.

This is Brian Ross for Fish and Game, hoping you take advantage of the fishing available this weekend.

by Steve Terry, Fish & Game

Over the last week there has been very little activity for salmon anglers in Canterbury. All the main salmon rivers are rising again this morning and they have been high and dirty for much of the last week. With rain forecast for much of the weekend these rivers are likely to remain that way until early next week, so anglers should catch up on jobs around home and earn brownie points so they can do some serious fishing once the rivers clear.

These high flows are just what the salmon fishery needed after a prolonged period of low flows and there should be good numbers of salmon throughout the rivers again when they clear. The Waimak River is due to fire up as it usually does this time of year and it should fish well for the next couple of months. The Rangitata has seen a few salmon caught recently, with around 14 salmon caught on the south side of the mouth in the surf yesterday and a few each day up until the rivers came down dirty and it continues to fish better than the other main rivers. The salmon are apparently still feeding at sea and there is likely to be many more salmon yet to arrive at the river mouths. Rakaia anglers have not experienced the same outstanding fishing as the Rangitata anglers, but upriver anglers had been catching the odd salmon each day until the river became un-fishable.

Further north it has been difficult to extract success stories from anglers at the Hurunui and Waiau River mouths, however it appears that these anglers have had mixed success recently with the odd report of only a few anglers catching as many salmon as there are anglers some days at the mouth. Recent low flows have restricted salmon passage up these rivers in recent weeks but hopefully the rivers should have plenty of salmon throughout them once they clear.

Good luck once the rivers clear.

by Brian Ross, Fish and Game

Water levels in the main east coast rivers in the region continue to fall, with no respite likely in the foreseeable future. Rain predicted in the alps appears unlikely now before early next week.

The Waiau and Hurunui Rivers to the north are at such low flows that it is unlikely that salmon will venture far upstream in such conditions.

The Waimakariri River with its long estuary has been enticing salmon up as far as the Kaiapoi River, and while fish have often been seen, only modest numbers have been hooked of late.

The Rakaia River, while low at around 119 cumecs, is still a good “fishy” colour owing to the contribution of melting glaciers in the headwaters.

North easterly winds are set to continue, being quite strong at the coast, making things a bit unpleasant for river mouth fishermen. Wind and wave action have combined to make surf casting impossible, with very dirty seas.

The north easterly winds have also been making the larger inland lakes like Coleridge quite rough. Far too rough for safe and enjoyable trolling in smaller craft. A better choice would be land based angling at one of the smaller, sheltered lakes nearby.

On a more sombre note, is the infestation of didymo in the Hurunui River.
Sadly, a report by one of our rangers recently, showed that the area downstream from the Jolliesbrook to South Branch confluence, could best be described as “ugly”!

If you fish this area please ensure that you Check Clean and Dry all of your fishing gear to help prevent the spread of didymo here and elsewhere.

Steve Terry, Fish & Game Officer

This season we have seen the best salmon fishing in Canterbury we have had for many years now and over the last week salmon fishing in Canterbury has continued to reward anglers. Salmon have finally started to show up in reasonable numbers in the Waimakariri River after a prolonged period where only a few were being caught each day. There were 13 or 14 caught at the mouth on Tuesday and another 10 or so on Wednesday. This is an encouraging start for what is hopefully a great season in the Waimakariri which usually fishes best in February and March.

Salmon fishing in the other rivers has been steady with good numbers caught during flood recessions and a few caught each day once the rivers clear. The Rangitata continues to be the standout fishery, with good numbers caught last weekend in the surf on the south side of the mouth and another 20 before 10am yesterday. Boat anglers heading out the river mouth have also been picking up good numbers of salmon so there seems to be plenty about.

Further north, the Rakaia has been a bit slow at the mouth with a few caught each day but anglers have reported seeing good numbers further up river. The salmon have entered the mouth while it is dirty and fishing above SH1 will probably be anglers best bet over the weekend.

Most of the high country lakes have warmed in recent weeks causing fish to head for cooler water in the lake centres. Boat anglers at Lake Coleridge are reporting reduced catches which is to be expected at this time of year as the salmon school up and move into deeper water, however shore anglers at Coleridge have started to pick up a few more trout in recent weeks.

Sea-run trout fishing in the lower reaches of the main rivers has also quietened off which is to be expected this late in the season, although many of the trout that remain are reasonably big and in great condition.

Good luck this weekend.

by Ross Millichamp, Fish & Game

Salmon fishing has continued to be productive over the last week, although river and weather conditions have caused a few hiccups.

Over the weekend good numbers of salmon were caught throughout the length of the Rakaia. River mouth fishing continues to be most productive on the north side where deeper water appears to be attracting the salmon. Some fish are also being caught half way along the lagoon by anglers fishing from boats and the shore. The best fishing in the Rakaia over the weekend was in the middle reaches where anglers managed to catch up with the salmon which ran through the rivermouth over Christmas.

The Rangitata Mouth has slowed a little with sea conditions being a bit rough and dirty. There have been no more big days at the Rangi since our last report but there were about 10 salmon caught in the north side surf on Saturday. Upriver anglers continue to do well in the Rangitata.

The Opihi River is producing the odd excellent day when sea conditions allow. Although there may only be 5 to 10 fish caught, there are so few anglers present that on the good days the chances of getting a fish are pretty good.

Salmon fishing at the Waimakariri is slowly picking up with 5-10 fish being caught at the mouth most days the river is clear. Both north and south sides are producing fish. This river does not normally fire up until mid February so anglers remain hopeful of an excellent season.

Most of the braided rivers came down in flood on Tuesday which put the fishing on hold, but are clearing fast and should be in good shape by the weekend. Most anglers were grateful for the flood as the rivers were starting to get a bit too clear and the runs of salmon at the rivermouths were starting to wane.

Anglers fishing the Waimakariri should take note that a number of locked gates have been installed in the new Waimakariri River Park, in an attempt to curb the dumping of cars and rubbish. Legitimate park users can obtain keys to the gates from Customer Services at Environment Canterbury, after paying a refundable $30 deposit.

by Brian Ross, Fish & Game

River levels in the main east coast rivers are either dropping after a small fresh of a couple of days ago, or remain unchanged at low flows.

This should mean that salmon fishers in particular, can reasonably expect continued good fishing at their favourite “pozzie” for the weekend ahead.

As a large high spreads across the South Island, we can also look forward to mainly light winds inland, with North Easterlies at coastal locations.

Salmon catches at the Rakaia and Rangitata River in particular, have been good of late, with the Rangitata having catches of up to 30 - 40 salmon per day.

This news has lured a number of North Canterbury anglers south of the border, rather like a modern day gold rush, to get amongst what have been top quality salmon, by all accounts.

Of course this exodus does relieve some of the pressure on the salmon rivers north of the Rangitata.

Survivors of earlier runs are being intermittently caught upriver in the Rakaia, but low clear conditions often encountered at this time of year are unhelpful. In these conditions, fishing small lures at the change of light is really your only chance.

Inland Canterbury lake should also be fishing well for the fly fisher, with insect hatches producing abundant trout food during irregular calm and hot conditions, often around midday. (See Rakaia lakes, Waimakariri lakes, Hurunui lakes and Ashburton lakes.)

Shore based and boat anglers at Lake Coleridge are still reporting reasonably good fishing.

by Steve Terry, Fish & Game

Over the last week salmon anglers in Canterbury have started to see an increase in activity in the main rivers. The Rangitata has been the standout river, with around 40 salmon caught on the south side of the mouth last Saturday and another 40 on Monday. The fishing has been better in the surf on the south side of the mouth on most days, but Wednesday saw a dozen salmon taken in a clear spot in the surf on the north side. The river has been high and dirty in recent days, but has dropped again and is looking great for this weekend and there should be plenty of salmon throughout this river now. Rakaia anglers have not experienced the same outstanding fishing as the Rangitata anglers, but the river still produced reasonable numbers of salmon last weekend and with this river also just becoming fishable again, there should be salmon throughout the river.

The Waimak River has seen the first bit of real action for the season with 10 salmon taken yesterday at the mouth and another couple at McIntosh’s. Salmon fishing on the Waimak traditionally picks up later than the other rivers and should improve over the next couple of months. Further north it has been difficult to extract success stories from anglers at the Hurunui and Waiau River mouths, however it appears that these anglers have had good catch rates recently, with reports of a few anglers catching as many salmon as there are anglers some days.

Trout fishing in the region should be reasonably productive at the moment, especially early morning as the warmer weather is producing good insect hatches in the high country and I have heard good reports coming from Lake Pearson. Sea run trout fishing has quietened off in the main rivers and although there are not the same numbers as there were before Christmas, it is fair to say that a good number of the trout that do remain are reasonably big.

by Steve Terry, Fish & Game

Dirty rivers have seen another week pass with very little activity on the salmon fishing front in North Canterbury’s rivers. Over the last couple of days lure anglers have picked up the odd salmon from the lower Rakaia, but with more rain falling in the alps over the last couple of days, the Waimak and Rakaia Rivers are likely to be on the rise again and will probably not be salmon fishable again until early next week. The sea-run trout fishery has however been outstanding in the lower reaches of all the rivers recently and the fish are in great condition having fattened up on silveries over the last couple of months.

There are a few other options for Christchurch anglers wanting to get out for a fish. The Hurunui has a good flow at present and is not affected by rainfall in the alps as much as the other main rivers, as Lake Sumner helps buffer these short freshes we are seeing. Lake Coleridge is still producing fish for trolling anglers, especially early morning. Closer to Christchurch, the Lower Styx River is worth a look and anglers should use either a thread line and rapala fished deep, or sinking fly line with a Hope silvery to imitate whitebait. Similar methods should also work in the South Branch of the Waimak below Dickies Road.

Parents wishing to take the kids out over the next week, might like to try fishing for herrings at either the Kaiapoi wharf, or the Avon/Heathcote estuary mouth accessed through the sand dunes at the end of Rocking horse road on South Shore. Try fishing with some cheese on a hook above a small sinker an hour either side of high tide. Another option is the Groynes pond closest to the Clearwater Golf course as it has recently been stocked with a number of large brown trout. In the high country lakes, Lyndon and Georgina would have to be a good bet with both these lakes having recently been stocked and they appear to be fishing well.

Steve Terry, Fish & Game Officer

Salmon fishing in Canterbury has slowed up over the last week with floods affecting all the main rivers. There has however been the odd salmon taken from the Hurunui Mouth with one weighing 27 pounds. Sea run trout fishing in the lower Rangitata and Rakaia Rivers has also gone quiet with the dirty water.

Anglers fishing the high country have reported good fishing in Lake Georgina and Lake Coleridge, which has continued to yield good numbers of land locked salmon when the weather conditions have allowed. The salmon are not as big as previous years in the lake but there seems to be plenty of them about.

Prospects for the weekend are limited for salmon angling as the rivers are still dirty following the recent nor-wester and they will probably not be fishable again until after the weekend. The best bet for salmon anglers would have to the surf on the south side of the Rangitata mouth if it is clear, as there has been the odd salmon taken there over the last week.

The recent rain should however have helped rivers such as the Ashley and Selwyn and there should be a few nice sea-run trout in the lower Ashley. In the high country lakes, use a nymph or lure such as a Mrs Simpson as there will only be limited insect hatches with the cooler weather we have been experiencing and if the wind picks up, try spin fishing the downwind end of the lakes in the rough water using a toby, rapala or veltec spinner. Lake Pearson would be worth a look as it has recently been stocked with 1,200 brown trout averaging over 3 pounds. Most of the other high country lakes have also recently been stocked with thousands of small rainbow trout which should be a catchable size later in the season.

Anglers please be careful to clean all your gear, including boats and trailers this weekend even lake anglers as didymo is present around in and out-flowing streams in quite a few South Island Lakes.

Good luck with the fishing over the festive season.

by Ross Millichamp, Fish & Game

Heavy rain in the Alps in recent days has broken a spell of settled weather that had lasted for more than a month. Prior to the rain the back country rivers were in fantastic condition and plenty of trout were being caught by anglers who were prepared to get off the beaten track. Fishing in the backcountry lakes had also been excellent.
The low clear state of the rivers did slow down salmon fishing over the last week, with just a few fish being taken here and there. The Rakaia has continued to produce salmon at the mouth and in the lagoon but fishing upriver has been slow. The odd fish is also being taken from the surf on the South side. The Rangitata has been quiet but a few salmon were caught in the surf on the south side after the river came down in flood. The Hurunui River has also been producing salmon from the surf whenever the sea is calm and clear. The surprise on the salmon fishing front has been McIntosh’s Rocks on the lower Waimakariri, which has been producing salmon earlier than you would expect from this river. One angler has already had five salmon so far this season from McIntosh’s.

Salmon fishing prospects for the weekend are not great but should improve next week. The rivers are dirty from the recent flood and the sea is rough from yesterday’s southerly winds. However the sea swell is only one to two metres so it could calm down and become fishable for salmon at some point over the weekend. The Hurunui, Rakaia and Rangitata rivermouths are the best prospects.

Sea run trout fishing should hot up as soon as the rivers clear to a grey-green colour, which could be as early as Saturday evening. There were plenty of fish about prior to the flood but they had become almost impossible to catch. The Waimakariri, Rakaia and Rangitata Rivers are likely to offer excellent fishing in the latter stages of the weekend and throughout next week.

by Steve Terry, Fish & Game Officer

So far this year’s salmon fishing season seems to be better than we have seen for a number of years. All the main rivers have produced salmon with a few busy days around the lower reaches of both the Rangitata and Rakaia Rivers over the last few weeks. The Waimakariri, Hurunui and Waiau Rivers have yet to really fire up but they still have been catching a few salmon.

Over the last week things have slowed down in the Rangitata and Rakaia Rivers with only the odd salmon caught each day and whether this is the end of the traditional early run, or simply a result of the low and clear rivers we have had is hard to tell. This is the nature of salmon fishing and tomorrow could just as easily see 30 caught at either river mouth. We are also overdue for a fresh in these rivers which should hopefully trigger another run of fish. The salmon that have been caught so far this season have been in great condition and I have heard of a number of salmon weighing over 20 pounds.

Sea-run trout have also started to show up in good numbers in the lower reaches of both the Rangitata and Rakaia Rivers and their condition appears to be improving with the plentiful number of silveries about. They are proving somewhat difficult to catch however, probably due to the plentiful food supply and the low clear rivers. Your best bet for these sea-run trout would be at night.

Streams flowing into the North Canterbury high country lakes opened a week ago and anglers should be experiencing some great fishing with all the warm, calm weather we have had. With many tributaries of high country lakes the first week or so of the season usually provides the best fishing. When the flows drop off and the temperature increases over the summer months the fish in these streams become very wary of anglers and often drop back into the cooler waters of the lakes or the main rivers.

Good luck for the weekend.

Steve Terry, Fish & Game Officer

The salmon have arrived! Last Friday saw 9 landed at the Rakaia Mouth one of which weighed 27lbs and most of them appear to be a good size and in great condition. Things appear to have gone quiet since. After a little rain earlier this week, there were 8 salmon landed at the Rangitata Mouth on Tuesday and 3 on Wednesday and I have not heard what happened yesterday or today yet. Wednesday also saw a couple landed at McIntosh’s Rocks in the Waimakariri River, one weighing 23lb and others have been seen heading up the Kaiapoi and it is good to see a few early salmon showing up here. I have yet to hear anything from the Hurunui or Waiau Rivers further north.

As far as sea-runs go, there seems to be good numbers in the lower Rangitata and Rakaia Rivers and although a majority of them are not large trout, with the number of silveries around at the moment, it won’t take that long for them to fatten up. The best fishing has been late evening.

In the high country the standout fishery over the weekend was once again Lake Coleridge. North Canterbury Fish and Game have been stocking the lake quite heavily for a number of years now and the results have been rewarding. This year the salmon are not as big as other years but there are plenty of them. They travel around in shoals so be patient and when they show up or you come across them trolling, almost any lure will entice a strike.

Good luck over the weekend.

by Steve Terry, Fish & Game Officer

I have heard very little for the fishing report over the last week except that there has been the odd salmon landed in Canterbury Rivers but not in big numbers yet. With a long weekend ahead I am sure we will get reports of a few more by Monday. Inland, Lake Coleridge has continued to fish well with plenty of salmon up to 2.5 pounds taken trolling. Thanks to all the volunteers that showed up to Montrose last Sunday to fin clip the rainbow trout we will be releasing into our high country lakes over the next few weeks.

by Steve Terry, Fish & Game Officer

Last weekend saw the opening of the regions High Country Lakes. The Canterbury nor-wester showed up as usual but anglers appeared to be reasonably happy. Boaties should beware of this nor-wester especially on Lake Coleridge, as a large messy chop can build quite quickly and catch smaller boats out. Lake Georgina fished very well over the weekend for rainbows after having been stocked with around 400 x 2 pounders around six months ago.

With the main rivers salmon fishable now, there has been the odd salmon show up. Over the last few days a few have been caught in the Rangitata River and Wednesday saw a nice 22 pounder caught in the Rakaia gut and I image a few will have sneaked into the river and headed upstream below SH1. There have been good reports of sea-run trout in the lower Ashley River and a small silver spinner or lure late evening would be worth a try for these. Lake Ellesmere tributaries should also be fishing well especially for late evening anglers.

by Steve Terry, Fish & Game Officer

High Country Lakes open

This weekend sees the opening of the North Canterbury Regions High Country Lakes. The weather forecast for the high country over the weekend looks great with Saturday the best bet for all the lakes. Over the last few seasons, Lake Coleridge had been rewarding anglers with many nice salmon weighing up to 6 pounds as the lake has been intensively stocked with salmon in recent years and I am sure there will be some happy anglers about after this weekend. The lake is at a good height for launching and retrieving boats. With all the cool weather we have been experiencing in recent weeks there will be very little in the way of insect hatches in the high country with trout feeding largely on snails. The best techniques for anglers would be deep, sub surface methods such as spinners, lures and nymphs. A small rapala in the early morning or late evening should also produce results.

River fishing

With the main rivers clearing after recent floods, the conditions should be ideal for trout fishing the main rivers. Sea-run trout are due to show up any time now at the Rakaia Mouth. Anglers looking for opportunities close to Christchurch might like to try the South Branch of the Waimakariri River or the Lake Ellesmere tributaries in the late evening. The Selwyn River has yet to produce many fish but they are in good condition with some double figure trout sighted recently in the lower reaches. There are good numbers of trout present in the lower L2 and nymph fishing would be your best bet. Harts Creek and Little River from the Akaroa Highway down to Lake Forsythe would also be worth a look.

I have yet to hear of any salmon caught this season but by the end of the weekend I am sure this will change. We expect salmon to start showing up from now on and hopefully we are in for a great season.

Didymo cleaning reminder

A reminder to anglers to please also be careful to clean their fishing gear when moving from one river to another to avoid the risk of spreading Didymo.

Some rivers still closed

Anglers please also remember, all rivers flowing into high country lakes such as the Ryton, Harper and Hurunui River above Lake Sumner, do not open until the 1st of December. The main salmon spawning streams are also closed to angling so please check your regulation booklet before heading for the hills.

Good children's fishing at Groynes Lakes

Parents wishing to take the kids out this summer have a good chance of a salmon at the Groynes Lakes as these were recently stocked with salmon for the Take a Kid fishing day and there should be plenty left. Your best bet will be at first light. A shrimp or worm dangled from a float works well on these salmon.

Fin-clipping at Montrose Hatchery

Around 40,000+ rainbow trout are due to hatch at the Montrose hatchery shortly. These will be on grown for release into the high country lakes in November next year. We are planning on fin clipping approximately 10,000 rainbow trout yearlings on Sunday the 11th November 2007. This is a great opportunity to bring the family up for a look around the hatchery. Could those anglers that are keen to help please phone North Canterbury Fish & Game so we can organise food for the BBQ lunch we will provide. Volunteers can meet at the Yaldhurst Pub at 8am that day to organise transportation or meet at Montrose at 9:15am. To get to Montrose, drive south approximately 1.5 - 2km from the Rakaia Gorge and turn right into Blackford Rd. Head up Blackford road approximately 6km and you will see the Fish & Game banner on the gate. Head down the track and continue past the big pond and you will see the hatchery over to your left. Waders are not required and gumboots or waterproof footwear are ideal. Please also bring suitable wet weather clothing.

River flows

Anglers wishing to know river flows can ring the Fish & Game flow phone free on 366-2986 weekdays only, or the ECan flow phone which is automatically updated a number of times daily on (08) 322-5522 (only 12 cents per minute).

Annual General Meeting

Notice To All Licence Holders
Annual General Meeting
Wednesday 5th December 2007
at 7pm at the
North Canterbury Fish & Game Office
3 Horatio Street, Christchurch