Reel Life January 2023

This summer has been the fishing summer in North Canterbury; our Rangers have been out and about and seen anglers all over the region.

We’ve seen anglers out in places, and at times when we didn’t think we’d see anglers, it’s been great to talk to them and get their feedback on the fishery.

Some anglers have been having a great time with our rivers and lakes here in North Canterbury, but others have found it challenging at times.

The Fish & Game YouTube channel has lots of short videos offering helpful tips and advice to help anglers increase their chance of success, so don’t be afraid to check it out.

We’ve been getting a great number of pictures sent in by anglers that are being published in our Weekly Fishing reports; check them out, and if you are keen to get the latest intel, feel free to sign up for the report here.

Paul Bridgeman (Above right) caught this beautiful but super selective brown trout in a high-country lake

He said it turned down two nymphs and two dry fly’s before Paul put the right dry fly in front of it.

The outlook for February is looking perfect for fishing too; the weather and long Waitangi weekend will mean plenty of opportunity to get in some more fishing.

Salmon

Traditionally this time of year is when many Canterbury anglers focus their attention on the silver bullets racing up our big rivers.

Rakaia salmon anglers so far this summer have been seeing good numbers of fish in all parts of the rivers.

It has been a common occurrence for sea-run salmon anglers to be catching and keeping their two fish for the season in a very short period of a couple of days.

Remember you are required to have a sea-run salmon endorsement to be fishing for salmon in our rivers, and you must have the Harvest card on you when fishing -don’t forget to have a pen to fill it out immediately after keeping a fish.

If you haven’t tried salmon fishing before, we are kicking off a new series of how-to videos on YouTube and Facebook to help novice salmon anglers out how to fish for these fantastic fish.

Click here for the first of five episodes.

Each video will be released through the Weekly Fishing Report and on our North Canterbury Fish & Game Facebook page.

High Country lakes

The North Canterbury region has many high-country lakes that offer some excellent fishing.

In both the Waimakariri, Rakaia and upper Hurunui catchments, these lakes offer plenty of fishing opportunities, especially for anglers who are time-poor and may only have a short chance to get some fishing in.

The lakes enable you to fish with the weather conditions and will allow you to move to the fish.

The anglers pictured didn’t let the strong easterly deter them from having an enjoyable day’s fishing on Lake Hawdon.

They made the most of the conditions and had a great day out in the high country.

Tight lines

Richie Cosgrove, North Canterbury Fish & Game Officer.