Central South Island Weekly fishing report - 3 October 2024
- Central South Island
- 3/10/2024
Angling traditions kept and created this Opening Day
Last Tuesday, anglers celebrated the Opening Day of the 2024/25 fishing season by keeping to beloved whānau traditions and embracing new ones.
With favourable fishing conditions of calm winds and clear water, dedicated anglers were rewarded with the catch of healthy trout.
To join the fun this season please remember to first purchase your 2024/2025 fishing licence online through the Fish & Game NZ website, here, or from your local licence agent in-store.
Stay up to date with the latest CSI Sports Fishing Regulations 2024/25, here.
To find access to a new spot to fish throughout the season use the F&G Central South Island Region Access Map, here.
Opening Day Reports
David Saunders of Timaru, keeping with tradition on Lake Opuha having fished Opening Day there since the early 2000's. Credit: Jase Van Beers.
Lake Opuha / Ōpūaha
CSI Fish & Game rangers had their boat “Kokanee” out on Lake Opuha checking passionate boat anglers.
Last season’s low lake levels were a concern for anglers and irrigators alike. This may have been a reason for an out of character lower turnout, but that didn’t stop about 30 loyal anglers sticking to traditions and getting out on the water and shoreline.
The lake has re-filled over late winter and Opening Day water levels were at a relatively high level providing for a great opening and positive outlook for the coming season.
By all accounts the period of low water levels hasn’t affected the trout population with nearly every angler met by our rangers having had success catching a healthy 1.5 – 2 lbs. brown trout.
By mid-morning some anglers were already coming off the lake having caught their daily bag limit.
Conditions on the lake were beautifully calm with overcast skies making for great visibility and anglers reported spotting trout from the shore.
David Saunders of Timaru, in keeping with tradition on Lake Opuha, having fished Opening Day there since the early 2000's, caught two brown trout in the space of 10 minutes. His successful lure was a fluro yellow/green tassie devil.
Waitaki Valley
Oamaru angler club members take a break at the club’s hut after an opening morning spent on the Waitaki River. From left: Bill Powell, Mike Lea, Gordon Brown, Bill Harvey.
A team of Fish & Game Rangers were active in the Waitaki Valley on Opening Day checking 19 anglers fishing from the shoreline throughout the Waitaki River and Bell’s and Borton’s ponds. There were 10 jet boats seen out on the river as accessed from the Kurow boat ramp.
The river flow was relatively low at around 240 Flow m3/s (cumecs). Most anglers that were checked had hooked a brown or rainbow trout by lunchtime, typically 2 – 3.5 lbs in good ‘early season’ condition. Results were hit and miss for some anglers.
Bell’s and Borton’s ponds, irrigation offtake ponds of the Waitaki river, were popular spots owing to the relaxed park-like settings. Kids present were spin fishing with traditional lures, like a black and gold toby or bait fishing with worm.
Kurow local Graeme Hughes achieved his bag limit in two hours spin fishing with a brown trout Rapala lure.
Graeme was pleased to find their bellies full of green free living caddis larvae – a sure sign that there will be some great evening rise/ night fishing caddis hatches to look forward to this season.
An opening morning 2024 bag limit for Graeme Hughes on the Waitaki River, spin fishing a Rapala lure.
Rangitata/Rakitata
12 anglers checked – those fishing with worms had the most luck.
Ronelle Van Dongen and her sons, Archie and Thomas, had an exciting morning, as captured in our lead photo. By around 9:00 am Archie had landed two brown trout using worms - one weighing 2 lbs. and the other 1.5 lbs. Meanwhile, Thomas proudly showed off his grandad's catch, another solid 2 lb brown trout, also caught on a worm. The family made the trip from Rolleston for the school holidays, spending a few nights at their grandparents' batch at the Rangitata, enjoying some quality fishing time together.
Ōpihi
Anglers were spread throughout the catchment. Six anglers were checked on between SH1 and the sea. One fly angler did well to catch several trout up to 5 lbs. fishing with nymphs in the morning and was fortunate to time a hatch in the afternoon and have success on dry fly.
Fish & Game rangers also visited the Ōrāri, Temuka/ Te Umu Kaha, Pareora/Pureora, Ōpihi mid-reaches, Tengawai/ Te Ana-a-wai rivers checking anglers.
Graham Evans from Glenavy plays a brown trout on his home-made “black and green pea” fly at Bell's pond. Credit: Nikki Dellaway.
Weather outlook for the first weekend of the new season
Lake Opuha / Ōpūaha and Lake Benmore / Te Ao Mārama are looking to be reliable fishing options this weekend with possibly a few showers lingering around on Saturday from the big mid-week low pressure system.
- Click here for the YR.NO forecast for Lake Opuha / Ōpūaha
- Click here for the YR.NO forecast for Lake Benmore / Te Ao Mārama
Light winds are forecast with overcast skies and early to mid-teen temperatures over the weekend. We’re optimistic that Sunday will be a cracker day for lake fishing.
Since Wednesday morning the majority of the South Island has been getting a good soaking. This is set to raise river levels significantly into the weekend. Region-wide, rivers may even get a bit of a flush out.
Keep an eye on current river levels with the free ECan river flows and rainfall websites before committing to your fishing spot.
Checking weather and waterway conditions will ensure an enjoyable day on the water.
Jael Tafea and Addison Ioane from Christchurch bait fishing with their grandfather Robert Cannard at Lake Opuha / Ōpūaha on Opening Day. Credit: Rhys Adams.
Notice Board
Kids Salmon Fishing Day
Thanks to Mount Cook Alpine Salmon, the Kids Salmon Fishing Day is on for 2024! The event is being held at Loch Cameron, 5km from Twizel on the morning of Saturday the 2nd of November.
- The event is for kids between the ages of 4 and 11 only.
- Registration is on the day from 8:30am, fishing starts at 9am.
- For more info email: ndellaway@fishandgame.org.nz