North Canterbury Fishing Report Friday 7th December 2018

Prospects for North Canterbury anglers look average in most places this weekend.

The main rivers in the region are unfishable following heavy rain in the alps this week and are likely to remain this way into next week.

Above right: The view looking down towards the Rakaia River vallley from the Wilberforce River early on Thursday.

I have heard of one salmon caught from the Rakaia that weighed 6.5kg, and I expect more similar reports leading up to Christmas.

The high country lakes are likely to be anglers best bet for the weekend, however even here, moderate winds are forecast for the alps this weekend.

The Selwyn, Ashley and most other lowland rivers are also high and discoloured at present and will likely remain so over the weekend.

Leading up to Christmas, anglers should make the most of any drop in river flows before the next Nor-west fresh arrives. 

The regions high country lakes opened just over a month ago, with anglers reporting good fishing on days when the weather has been calm, seemingly rare this season!

These lakes should continue to fish well for the next few weeks with the warming weather and surface insect activity should pick up, including the widely enjoyed green beetle hatch.

On the plains we have started to see brown beetle hatches, which is a good sign that trout will be starting to rise to flies rather than feed on aquatic life. 

Although off to a slow start, we should start to see a few sea-run trout being caught in the lower reaches of the main rivers, and this should improve right up until Christmas as the trout follow whitebait and silveries into the rivers.

Dear Anglers

Christmas is just around the corner! We wanted to let you know about a really cool way for you to get your Christmas presents sorted and support our project to restore a tributary of the Selwyn/Waikirikiri River at the same time!

Check out our fundraising page on the Million Metres website to read more about Water & Wildlife Habitat Trust’s plans to restore 875 metres of the Silverstream tributary through restoration of the rivers banks and planting of native plants and trees. 

We’re really excited about the project and the positive impact it will have on local waterways. Thanks so much to everyone who has supported us through donations – we’ve already raised over $13,000 toward the project!

Another cool way you can support us is to buy your Christmas presents from Million Metres. 

Check out the Million Metres Christmas page here

Here's how it works: 

1) You buy a bundle of native trees - between 4 and 200 trees - and pick which project you want them planted at - pick Selwyn/Waikirikiri River!! 

2) You receive a nice e-card to gift to your loved one

3) Your trees get planted next winter as part of our Silverstream project and get to work restoring our precious local waterways :)

It's a great way to give a 'green' gift that will have a positive impact for our local area. Give trees!!

Thanks so much for your ongoing support and best wishes for a very happy summer.

We'll look forward to updating you on progress on the project in the new year.

Please contact Emily Arthur – Moore for further details, 021 221 8332.

Fin Clipping this weekend

Volunteer assistance needed for a club fund raising event on this Saturday 8th and Sunday 9th December 2018

Hatchery staff are anticipating depleted diluted oxygen levels before christmas.

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 9th 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 Dirk Barr, North Canterbury Fish & Game Hatchery Manager on 021 221 8378.

Thanks All! 

Steve Terry, North Canterbury Fish & Game Officer