Fishing report for the North Canterbury Region Friday 5th April 2019

Hello and welcome to the North Canterbury region fishing report. 

The weather this weekend is going to be a lot cooler that what we have been accustomed to lately. 

A southerly on Friday will bring some rain to the plains. 

This will clear by Saturday to bring reasonably calm weather. 

The temperature is only going to be getting into the mid teens though.

These conditions are ideal for salmon fishing. 

The main salmon rivers have been flowing high recently due to some heavy rain in the Alps last week. 

They are dropping though and should be at an ideal flow this weekend. 

Salmon will be all through the rivers making a final run for their spawning grounds.

Fish & Game will be running the Annual Rangers Competition at the Waimakariri River mouth on Monday morning. 

There will be a free sausage sizzle all morning and spot prizes.

The trophy is for the heaviest salmon.

Fishing in the high country this weekend should be good. 

Calm conditions and clearing high flowing rivers should mean there is plenty of actively feeding trout to be seen.  Heavier flows will mean a return to some slightly heavier nymphs to get down to the fish.  Spin anglers will enjoy the elevated flows as well.

High country lakes are continuing to fish well as the season draws to an end. 

There will be calm conditions for stalking fish around the edges. 

Surface activity has been fairly good on the lakes this week. 

This may die off a little with a cooler start to the mornings this weekend. 

Look for surface activity to increase during the warmer part of the day. 

There will be great conditions for boating this weekend with very little wind forecast.

Lowland streams have been fishing really well in the last couple of weeks. 

I have noticed an increased number of fish in the Waimakariri tributaries recently. 

They have been active high in the water column as well making them easier to spot. 

I suspect trout enter these streams at this time of year from the Waimakariri as they start to think about spawning.

There is still plenty of opportunity for fooling them though as they do seem to be active.

There could be some run off in the lowland streams due to the rain on Friday. 

Please check the river flow site below to see if the rain as affected any of them. 

https://www.ecan.govt.nz/data/riverflow/

Notice to anglers-volunteers needed

Attention anglers! Fin Clipping Weekend at Montrose Club Funds Raising Event on Saturday 6th and Sunday 7th April, 2019.

The second part of the annual chinook salmon smolt fin clipping program will begin at the Montrose hatchery at 8.30 am, Saturday 6th and Sunday 7th of April.

It will probably involve two partial days clipping finishing around 2pm with a good team needed on 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 & Game is 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 around 140,000 salmon smolt at the site.

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

It's estimated that 40 volunteers are needed to complete the task on both days.

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

Fish & 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 who haven't 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 six kilometres 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 kilometres!

Fish & Game will provide a barbecue 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 use the contact below. 

Tell all your friends! A good crowd is needed for this one! Looking forward to catching up with you all, for what is not only a valuable part of fisheries enhancement process, but also a great social event for anglers. 

Report an environmental incident

 Anglers have asked us how do you report an environmental issue or incident to Environment Canterbury or your local council?

The best way is to use the Snap, Send, Solve app for your mobile phone.

You can find out how to use this app or other ways to report an environmental issue here.

However Nick Moody points out if anglers see an urgent incident in action - like a discharge to a waterway, then they should call the ECan Incident Reporting Line on  0800765588 as their primary reporting tool.

Submissions On Lake Rotu Kohatu 

Robbie Hewson from the Christchurch City Council has written to  Fish & Game asking for anglers input on proposed improvements Lake Roto Kohatu, he asks you all to make a submission on the project which will be presented to the Fendalton –Waimairi- Harewood community board in May.

Please follow this link to make a submission.

https://ccc.govt.nz/the-council/consultations-and-submissions/haveyoursay/show/229 

Please share this link with your club members and encourage discussion at your group meetings etc

Tight lines. 

Tony Hawker, North Canterbury Fish and Game Officer.