Lake Coleridge Fishing Competition Success

A last minute rush to be the last angler eligible to enter paid off for angler Nick Moody.

Moody’s dash to the line netted him the win in the brown trout category of the annual Lake Coleridge Fishing Competition held by North Canterbury Fish and Game.

The 3.78 kilogram brown trout (or 8.3 pounds in the old measure) was also the heaviest fish entered on the day.

Moody ( pictured right) had to race the clock to be the last person in the queue before the 3pm cut-off time.

The competition heralded the opening of the Back Country fishery to anglers, with most of the high country lakes and rivers now open for fishing.

Left: Carlos Ferigo and his son Jhan try to catch a fish in the picturesque Lake Selfe near Lake Coleridge. Jhan went on to win one of the spot prizes later on Saturday afternoon as over $10,000 in prizes were shared among anglers.

Over a thousand anglers hit the area with many camping out the night before to be ready for the 9am start time.

Families and anglers from New Zealand and overseas spent a fine but slightly windy day trying their hardest to catch a monster like Moody’s fish.

The popular competition attracts many from overseas with one couple from Australia travelling here every year for the last four years to take part.

During the nine hours of the competition 209 brown trout, rainbow trout and salmon were caught and entered the competition.

Right: Fish & Game Officer Steve Terry weighs in Kath Henderson's rainbow trout she caught during the competition held on Saturday.

Lake Coleridge is one of the few places in New Zealand where you can catch all three species of sports fish at the same location.

Prizes were awarded for the heaviest three fish of each type in both adult and youth age groups.

Over $10,000 in prizes were handed out from sponsors Hunting & Fishing NZ (Christchurch City & Tower Junction stores).

A crowd of over 300 attended the prize giving as not only did the winning fish earn prizes but dozens of spot prizes were drawn which only required a fishing licence to enter.