Fishing report for the North Canterbury Region Friday 30th November 2018

Hello and welcome to the North Canterbury region fishing report.

The weather this weekend will continue to be dominated by North Easterlies. 

This will keep the temperature reasonable cool but the continual wet weather we are getting is meant to improve. 

The high country is meant to be cloudy with light winds.

There has been considerable rain falling on the plains and foot hills this week. 

As a result, rivers like the Ashley and Selwyn are high and dirty. 

They are unlikely to be fishable by the weekend. 

In fact, the Selwyn has 30 cumecs flowing at Coes Ford.  Very unusual for late November. 

This may upset a few fishing plans now, but it does mean that these rivers will fish better as the season progresses and temperature increases.

There was more rain falling in the north part of the region. 

So, it is unlikely that the lower reaches of the Hurunui or Wairau will be fishable. 

Mainly due to flows from rivers like the Mandamus, Pahau and Stanton which had significant amounts of water in them. 

The Waimakariri is also dirty at the time of writing (Wednesday) so it will be marginal by the weekend as well. 

The Rakaia didn’t receive as much rainfall and doesn’t have the foot hill tributaries, so out of all the rivers it may be the most fishable over the weekend.

There have been the odd reports of salmon being caught on the Rakaia. 

There is usually a run of salmon in the Rakaia at this time of year, so I would not be surprised to see some caught this weekend after the freshes. 

With the Selwyn being so high it is highly likely that lake Ellesmere will be opened again in the next couple of weeks.

This will likely improve the fishing in the Ellesmere tributaries which have some reasonable numbers of fish already.

Back country rivers will be clearing by the weekend. 

Flows will still be big and hard to manage in some cases. 

Excellent conditions for spin fishing, the trout will be active after the freshes have subsided.

High country lakes continue to fish well this season. 

No problems at all with temperature unlike this time last year. 

There will be sunny spells in the high country this weekend. 

At those moments when the sun hits there will probably be enough heat to activate a green beetle hatch. 

Staff were in the Hurunui Lakes last week and observed that green beetles were just starting to emerge, but the easterly winds kept killing the hatch. 

This weekend should be ideal if there are some bursts of warm sunlight. 

Please also see attached below a notice regarding fin clipping at Montrose next weekend.

Tight lines. 

Tony Hawker Fish and Game Officer, North Canterbury Fish and Game Council

Fin Clipping Weekend at Montrose

Club Funds Raising Event, 2 days.

Saturday 8th and Sunday 9th   December 2018

Volunteer Assistance Needed

Hatchery staff are anticipating depleted diluted oxygen levels before xmas.

In an effort to avoid releasing non marked smolt we will be attempting to fin clip half a third of the release stocks this December, and the other half in February 2019.

The Annual Chinook Salmon Smolt fin clipping program will commence at the Montrose hatchery at 8.30am Saturday 8th and Sunday 9^th of December and will probably involve 2 partial days clipping finishing around 2pm with a good team both days. 

This important task of marking Chinook salmon for the purpose of identification within the fishery is one of the most essential fisheries management tools we have.  

North Canterbury Fish and Game are inviting members of the New Zealand Salmon Anglers Association and the Canterbury Lurefishing Association, and members of the public to assist with the task of adipose fin clipping approximately 130.000 Salmon Smolt at the site.

These smolt stocks are destined for release into the Waimak, Rakaia, Coleridge, Kaikoura, and the West Coast in July.

Numbers of club members advised to complete this task on this weekend are 40 volunteers on both days.

Members of the public are also very welcome on the day, so invite your friends and their families to enjoy the comraderie of anglers on this social and educational event.

Fish and Game Rangers and Council members are also invited to take part over the weekend.  

The car pool meeting point will be at the Yaldhurst Hotel car park, at 7.30am both days. Volunteers whom have not been to the Montrose hatchery before and are making their own way up, should head for Blackford Road which is the first Road on the right after crossing the Rakaia Gorge bridge, it is on the South side of the river.

The entrance to the property is 6 kms up the road from the turn off and it will be marked by an angler access sign. 

If the road turns to shingle, you have gone past the entrance by a couple of kms!

Fish and Game will also be providing a barbeque lunch on the day.

Warm clothes and wet weather gear is advised. Gumboots or waders are also advised. 

An indication of numbers from the clubs, or members of the public prior to the weekend would be appreciated. Please contact below.

Thanks All!

Dirk Barr. NCF&G, Hatchery Manager Phone 021 221 8378.