With the festive season almost upon us many anglers will say that they have already had the best fishing and from here on it’s all hard work. In truth the easy fishing may be coming to an end however with due care and diligence successful trout angling is always available especially in the CSI region. Of course there is also the added attraction of salmon fishing  and  the spawning migration of Chinook salmon can’t be too far away. The salmon season in the Waitaki River last season was supposedly as good as the previous year, however the more anglers I speak to the more I’m being convinced that the runs of 2008 were better than the 2007. Migrations in species often are cyclical and always the optimist I’m thinking perhaps we’re ascending  the upside of the trough for Waitaki River salmon.

Low water levels in smaller rivers,  increased traffic along and on the regions waters ensure that fishing will require extra effort if the anglers are to be successful. The easiest of techniques to learn especially while fishing in busy areas such the hydro storage lakes is to fish early and to fish late. While it makes for a long day first light is an exhilarating time to be fishing on any water while in my opinion, and experience, night fishing will usually be the most rewarding.

Several unexpected but welcome rain events have provided a lift in levels of local low flow waters, albeit temporarily, it will give some relief to the instream inhabitants and provide improved fishing conditions for anglers.

The upper Ahuriri River which has a late opening the 1st of December has been high and discoloured for most of the month and is virtually unfished so far. It began to clear  during last weekend  but is on the rise again after norwest rain. The Rangitata River has also been high and discloured, it too is rising, however persistant rumours indicate there are salmon being seen and caught at the mouth.  The Haka is up by a cumec and the Maerewhenua had a smaller increase.

Despite a prolific bloom of didymo the Waitaki River continues to supply good conditioned fish for those who have adapted fishing methods to suit. The evening caddis “hatch” in the upper river has been promising however it is inconsistent. One night will be good and the next hardly a movement is seen. Strike it right however and the fishing is superb.

To date there has been no salmon news for the lower Waitaki River  but lake populations of released hatchery salmon are providing an increasing interest last years releases now measuring 300mm  to 350mm.

When all else fails.
Of course one could always fish to the solunar tables, “majors” and “minors”.  Charged with providing fishing for a guest during the last week and with limited times available I reverted to the solunar tables. As is often the case with visitors its difficult to get them moving at the appropriate times. Leaving the life jackets behind and having to return home, coupled with an obstinate outboard motor resulted in casting the first line 2 hours after the early morning  “major” had begun.  Although one fish was caught  in the first few meters of our trolling beat, we circumnavigated Lake Waitaki, about 3 hours boating, without making contact with another fish  Several fish were observed in the shallows, however we weren’t equipped for ambushing cruising “browns” and having experienced the futility of casting spinning gear at these in the past we motored on. The early afternoon “minor” did not produce however I optimistically promised my fishless vistor that the evening “major” would be successful. An hour before the predicted “major” we had boated some distance without a touch. I checked the time, 5 minutes to go and I confidently suggested that my guest steel herself for we were about to catch a fish. I tried not to look surprised as within 30 seconds of my suggestion the rod bowed  as a fish stripped off an impressive length of mono. Over the next 2 hours  5 fish were landed, 3 were lost and then it went quiet. It was just  on dark and a good time to return to the ramp. With a later “major” the following morning it was a leisurely breakfast and back on the water with plenty of time to spare.  Right on schedule we began to find fish , or they found us and another 5 fish were taken. Brief contact with others kept up the interest however by 10.00am we were running out of time and fish and my guest’s annual fishing trip was over.

I have to say that solunar tables are not fool poof and that fishing during a major will always produce fish, it won’t, however in my experience if climatic conditions are favourable and you’re  doing all the right things you will hook more fish during  that particular time of activity than you will at other times of the day. “Minors” are usually of a shorter duration but worth aiming for if you want to continue catching fish. 

If you have difficulty in grasping this concept, check out  www.solunartables.com and prepare to be a more successful angler.

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