Fishing report for the North Canterbury Region Friday 20th October 2017

Hello and welcome to the North Canterbury region fishing report. The wet weather has continued this week with a couple of southerlies flicking through and keeping the temperature down.  This weekend sees a return to a more westerly pattern in the backcountry and possibly a small southerly for the coast and plains on Saturday.  There is some rain forecast for the main divide on Saturday but it is not meant to be heavy , so the rivers should continue to drop into the weekend.

Right Six year old  Freya Askew with her nine pound rainbow she caught at Take A Kid Fishing day.

The main alpine rivers are continuing to run quite high due to snow melt.  They should be fishable for sea run trout by the weekend.  They have been running quite cold this year due to the extra snow and rain.  This has meant things are a bit slow for whitebait and sea run trout alike.  It is early in the season though and we shouldn’t complain about having cold rivers with lots of flow in them as that will change in the warmer months.

Foot hill streams such as the Ashley and Selwyn are still quite high but are clearing for the weekend.  Lake Ellesmere tributaries are running clear and the lake is still open to the sea.  Fish are starting to turn up in the lower Selwyn and they are the usual large fish feeding on bullies and smelt.  Lowland streams such as the Otukaikino and Cam will also be high but clear.

Back country rivers should remain clear during the weekend.  The main issue will be the wind which is forecast to be gale force in exposed places on both days.

Take a Kid Fishing took place at the Groynes last Sunday.  There is still a lot of fish left over in the ponds that were not caught during the event.  There is some weed present in the ponds so fishing with light spinning gear or bubble floats with short traces is best.  Fish are taking well this week.  Remember this is for juniors only.

Looking ahead to the high-country opening, Glenthorne Station will be allowing us to use the paddocks at Ryton Bay, Lake Coleridge, for camping during the Fish & Game competition on the 4^th of November. They will lock this paddock up again after the second weekend in November.  This is private property so please treat it with respect during your stay.

Next week registrations will open for Turning the Tide, Fish & Game’s salmon symposium that is being held at the Hotel Ashburton on November 11 & 12. We have some fantastic speakers coming and we need anglers to come so that together we can plan a way forward for the salmon. Keep a watch on the Fish & Game website for updates.

Tight lines.

Tony Hawker, Fish and Game Officer.

North Canterbury Fish and Game Council