Reel Life November 2024 - Central South Island

‘Young angler Harvey Metcalf and his eight-pound brown trout he caught while bait fishing the Twizel Canals’

Hook, Line, and Huhu

At 12 years young, Harvey Metcalf is finding his stride as a skilled young angler.

He recently sent in a story about how he caught this beautiful seven and a half pound brown trout in the Ōhau A Canal.

He tells me he wasn’t expecting to catch much as he had landed an 11lb rainbow the week before and thought that might be the end of his luck, but he headed out anyway as he just loves to be out there doing it.

Harvey writes:

“I have been having trouble fishing the canals for a while now, only catching small fish or if I ever do hook into something decent it comes off because of a snag or tangles with other anglers but today was different.

I had been fishing with a huhu grub for a few hours with little success but then I switched to one that was turning into a beetle.

On the first drift I remember thinking ‘is that the bottom?’, so I lifted my rod up and to my surprise the fish started pulling back.

I quickly found a place I thought would be good to land it and took off my shoes and socks as I only had a small net with me.

I got Mum and Dad on the way in case I needed a hand and focused on fighting the fish. Mum and Dad arrived as I was getting ready to bring it to the bank.

After another ten minutes I had it in the net.

I checked its condition before making the call to keep it. I gutted and scaled the fish myself and organised to get it smoked. We got the smoked fish back recently; it is absolutely delicious.

It goes to show that if you put in the time and effort, it pays off.

Tight lines and good luck other anglers.”

Thanks for sharing Harvey and reminding us all that adjusting your approach and making a small, strategic change in bait or lure can lead to success.

Quick fishing ideas for December

1. December is a great month for targeting sea-run brown trout at river mouths and lagoons – use life-like ‘smelt’ soft baits.
2. Target perch at  Clearwater using small bright lures. 
3. Fish the evening/night-time caddis rise on the Waitaki River near Kurow.
4. Target tench at a designated coarse fishing water like Island Stream.
5. Troll for sockeye salmon in the depths of Lake Benmore – see the video here for tips.
6. Bait fish with worms, shrimps or huhu grubs at lakes Tekapo / Takapō, Pūkaki or Ōhau.
7. Check out a new spot this December – find some inspiration from our access map by clicking here.

Do be aware, it’s bird nesting season so please stick to formed tracks when four wheel driving on riverbeds.

Summer reminder: Handle with care

Angler Paul’s picture perfect catch and release example from Opening Day last month, the fish remaining in the water for the photo.

As summer kicks in and water temperatures rise anglers need to be extra mindful of the way that any fish intended to be released are handled.

Here’s our ‘Quick 5’ tips for handling fish with care: 

• Cool your hands and landing net by wetting them before touching the fish.
• Keep the fish in the water while removing the hook.
• Do not squeeze the fish and never touch the gills.
• Photograph the fish in or over the water, and make it quick - the fish should not be out of the water for more than 5 seconds.
• Revive the fish facing into the current long enough for it to regain its swimming strength.

In the unfortunate instance that a fish you intended to release does end up bleeding from the gills, or does not recover completely, so long as you can legally take that fish, you should keep it as part of your bag limit and utilise it. 

Fish on! Kids Salmon Fishing Day

Five-year-old Bennett Brunton is proud of his catch at the 2024 Kids Salmon Fishing Day.

Thanks to Mt Cook Alpine Salmon the 2024 Kids Salmon Fishing Day made a big splash on Saturday the 2nd of November.

We got off to a windy start but the kids didn’t mind! Fish were on straight away, and catch rates were good.

Seventy-one children and their families attended and landed about 75 salmon by lunchtime.

Each kid went home with a Kilwell lure and some lucky anglers won spot prizes donated by Shaws Hardware and Southern Alps Outdoors.

Donations of sausages and bread for the BBQ by Chopped Butchery, Twizel Four Square and Meridian Energy meant that everybody got lunch.

We’d like to acknowledge the volunteer helpers CSI Councillor Linn Koevoet and his wife Sue, Vicki McKnight, Harvey Metcalf and volunteer ranger Ben Jones.

Their generosity with their time freed up staff to head out into the high country and check on anglers for High Country Opening.

Anglers Tested at wind-swept High Country Opening

Ranger Blake Harper spent Saturday of High Country Opening in Ashburton/Hakatere Lakes and checked on 32 anglers in the area.

Most anglers had managed to land a fish or two by the time he spoke to them.

He ran into Tracy and Kevin Clemins (pictured) and reports that despite facing ocean-like conditions at Ōtūroto/Lake Heron they had caught and released about 20 fish between them that morning.

Ranger Jase Van Beers was out and about in Mackenzie and interviewed 20 anglers, some finding success on the Whakatipu/Twizel River.

Ranger Allan Gillespie had a slower-than-usual Opening Weekend at Takamana/Lake Alexandrina with the South Canterbury Anglers Club.

Allan noted that the weather was challenging for those in a row-boat. By Sunday afternoon, nine fish were entered in the club's weigh-in, all caught from the shore.

Tracey and Kevin Clemens embrace the waves at Lake Heron, celebrating the beginning of the high-country season.

Upper Ahuriri River and lagoons remain closed

The Ahuriri River and tributaries upstream of and including Longslip Creek remains closed until the first Saturday in December. This includes the lagoons and tarns.

The regulations for the Ahuriri River are listed in the 2024/2025 sports fishing regulation guide. 

Sea-Run Salmon Season Bag Limit Card required for Central South Island and North Canterbury Regions

As the salmon season creeps into gear this is a timely reminder to familiarise yourself with the sea-run salmon regulations.

If fishing for sea-run salmon in the Central South Island or North Canterbury Fish & Game Regions you must have purchased a sea-run salmon licence to go along with your eligible full season licence

The season bag limit card must be carried, along with a pen, while fishing in sea-run salmon waters if you have any intention to catch a sea-run salmon or keep one incidentally caught while targeting other species like trout or kahawai.

All the information you need to know can be found at our website here including how to purchase your sea-run salmon endorsement and to receive your season bag limit card.

For clarification contact our Temuka Office: phone 03 6158400, email [email protected]

Message from Meridian

Fences and barriers are erected near power stations to keep you safe from emergency discharges as pictured here

Summer is nearly here and there are a few things to remember when you’re out and about near our canals and hydro assets.

• Remember to park safely, well clear of the roadway and in designated parking areas.
• The rocks on the edge of the canal are super slippery and the canals quickly reach a 10m depth. Please be careful.
• Don’t climb fences around our structures – the fences are there to keep you safe. 
• Take it easy when walking down the side of the canals - it’s easy to slip, fall and break something.
• Our hydro station’s water intake and discharge areas have fast flowing aerated water, undercurrents and unpredictable water releases. Please follow the safety information on our safety signs.

Enjoy the canals and hydro assets safely over the summer!

Happy fishing!

The Meridian team

 

 

Tight Lines,

Nikki Dellaway
CSI Fish and Game Officer