Central South Island Reel Life October 2018

Off to a great start

It’s been a excellent start to the new season, low country river flows have been kind for those who like to spot and stalk brown trout in our small to medium sized low country rivers.

Spring rain events have been minor and rather than cause floods and discolour water, they have just improved conditions.

The take home message here is get out and enjoy the great spring conditions while they last!

Above right: Finn Stevens with his Opihi River brown trout, October 2018.

Head for high water   

The high country season opens on Saturday, November the 3rd.

High country Opening Day will practically double the amount of fishing options available in the CSI Region, especially in the Mackenzie basin and Ashburton Lakes areas.

We anticipate a good start to the high country season and hope to see you on the water.

Our team of rangers will be out an about on opening weekend, so a friendly reminder - please carry your licence with you. 

If you haven’t bought yours yet, then grab one online here.

It will make it super easy if you have last year's licence number on hand too.

Otherwise, pop down to your local fishing store and grab a licence and some new gear.

Before heading out on Saturday the 3rd it will pay to check your 2018-2019 regulation guide by clicking here to ensure you’re up to date with the rules & regs.

Remember, the upper Ahuriri River remains closed until December.

Harrison Bight access

At Lake Heron, four wheel drive access can be gained to Harrisons Bight under a permit system managed by DOC.

The department has modernised the permitting system and it can now be done online in minutes.

Click here to visit the permitting web page.  

Twizel Kids Salmon Fishing Day

The Davis Family had a successful 2017 Kids Salmon Fishing Day.

Our Kids Salmon Fishing Day is fast approaching and once again we'll be holding the event at Loch Cameron near Twizel.

Anglers aged 3-11 will have the opportunity to fish for hundreds of salmon that we will be releasing into the pond for the event.

The event will be held on Saturday, November 17^th .

Click here to visit our website and find all the details.

Waitaki River trout tagging

a tagged rainbow with the yellow tag shown in the red circle

Fish & Game staff have tagged 180 brown and 390 rainbow trout in the lower Waitaki River fishery with yellow, numbered tags.

Tags are found near the dorsal fin. See video here.

The tagging project used the Waitaki voluntary salmon hatchery’s fish trap on the Hakataramea.

Trout running from the Waitaki River up the Hakataramea River on their annual spawning run were caught, tagged and released.

Hatchery volunteers have helped to maintain the trap and check on fish numbers.

Many of these tagged trout will have dropped back into the Waitaki River by November, but we are expecting many to be caught in the Hakataramea River on opening weekend.

Please report any capture of tagged trout in the lower Waitaki this season, and the Hakataramea and Maerewhenua rivers once they open on the first Saturday in November.

Information to report:

Tag number, catch date and location, kept or released.

Please report to:

Central South Island Fish & Game. Phone: 03-615 8400, Email: csi@fishandgame.org.nz

Sign up for the Weekly Fishing Report

If you enjoy reading this Reel Life email newsletter and would like more frequent updates and reports on fishing topics and Fish & Game operations, we encourage you to sign up to the Central South Island and North Canterbury Weekly report.

Click here to link to the weekly report sign-up form.

Happy fishing!

Rhys Adams, Central South Island Fish & Game Officer