North Canterbury Weekly Fishing Report - 5th December 2024

Celebrating 150 Years of Trout in New Zealand

On Sunday, December 1st, New Zealand marked a special milestone: the 150th anniversary of trout in our waters. To celebrate, Fish & Game offered 150 free day licences in each of their regions across the country. The North Canterbury region, one of the few areas with no remaining free licences, saw eager anglers—both seasoned and new—taking full advantage of the opportunity to explore what the region has to offer.

Among those venturing out was 21-year-old Grace, who used her free licence to try her hand at trout fishing. While she had previously caught a salmon from the canals at a young age, Grace was new to the art of freshwater angling. Her adventure took her across several stunning high-country lakes, starting with Lake Lyndon, where she practised her casting technique. She then moved on to Lake Coleridge at Ryton Bay, where the wind was picking up. Not discouraged, she drove further down to Lake Selfe, where the calm conditions, scenic views, and soothing bird songs made for a peaceful fishing experience.

At Lake Selfe, Grace spotted some large brown trout cruising in the shallows, and she thought she might just land her first catch. Though her line eventually caught a large stick instead of a fish, Grace remained upbeat about the experience. “It’s very interesting,” she said. “I thought I would be bored, but I wasn’t at all.”

Her enthusiasm reflects the timeless appeal of angling, a pastime that can be enjoyed by people from all walks of life. Grace is already planning to purchase a full-season license and hopes to catch her first trout over the summer.

To get your full-season licence click this link: Get 24/25 Fishing Licence

2023/2024 Annual Performance Report

Our 2023/2024 Annual Performance Report is now available for all interested parties to view, check out the LINK BELOW.

This year, the document has been made more user-friendly with key information, graphics, and click links to videos and other web pages.

Use this link to view the interactive Performance Report: https://www.fishandgame.org.nz/.../Inter.../SSP-20232024.pdf

Weekly Fishing Tip

This week, Kieran Lee from Fisherman’s Loft shares his expert tips for looking after your gear throughout the summer season. Angling is a passion we all cherish, and by taking care of our equipment and the environment, we help ensure the sport remains enjoyable for generations to come.

 

For more information on protecting our waterways, check out the Check, Clean, Dry website here: Check, Clean, Dry.

 

Weather Update

As many over the region will have picked up on, summer has arrived. Much higher heat, along with sunny skies, have been seen across the region this past week. Sunday does offer a slight change to the conditions we are becoming accustomed to; this might be an opportunity to get some early Christmas shopping done so there is more time for angling closer to the holiday period. Saturday will offer lovely weather, so it’s a great opportunity to get out and into it.

Christchurch

Rakaia

Arthurs Pass

Waipara

Culverden

Hamner Springs

To help you plan your fishing adventures, be sure to check the following resources:

• E-Can River Flows: River Flow Data
• Outdoor Access Live Cameras: Live Cameras (subscription required)
• MetService Weather Warnings: Weather Warnings

Happy fishing! Stay safe out there!

Want to contribute to the weekly fishing reports?

Here at North Canterbury Fish & Game, we are extremely passionate about sharing YOUR angling stories. Whether you caught a massive fish or took your girls and boys out fishing for the first time, you want to hear and tell your stories.

When you’re out this season, don’t forget to take some photos or videos and send them to [email protected] with a little back story on your angling adventures.

Enjoy the weekend, and tight lines to everyone heading out to the water!

Jackson, Harry, Caleb & the rest of the North Canterbury Team