Battling the weather

Last week’s weather forecast was unfortunately accurate, bringing significant rainfall across the region. Dunedin faced serious flooding conditions, and many coastal rivers were on the verge of bursting their banks, severely limiting fishing opportunities.

This week’s calmer weather has allowed many coastal rivers to clear somewhat, although most are still flowing high. More showers are forecast for this weekend, so expect those rivers to rise and discolour again, though not to last week’s levels. Be sure to pack a raincoat and keep an eye on conditions using the ORC data portal.

Honorary Otago Fish & Game rangers Santillan De Pinto and Jakub Kanok made the most of the calm before the storm by fishing the Manuherikia River. Despite the water levels, they found success by targeting the clear edges where trout are likely to sit. Using large stonefly patterns with trailing nymphs under a small indicator, they managed to catch fish even in the challenging conditions. They also met a group of junior anglers who were having even more success using soft baits, slowly retrieved through the pools and runs.

Stillwater success

Angus Borrell with a stunning brown trout caught on a home tied Koura pattern up at Poolburn Dam. Credit: Jason Cochrane.

Last week’s heavy rain rendered many of the open rivers unfishable for a significant part of the week, prompting anglers to seek opportunities in still waters.

Reports indicate that Poolburn Dam has been particularly fruitful, with anglers catching well-conditioned fish using both fly and spin tackle. Spin and trolling anglers have found success with the reliable “traffic light” or “black and gold” Tasmanian devil lures, while bait anglers using worms under a small bubble float have also been catching fish.

Anglers heading to Poolburn Dam should take care on the access track, which has become very greasy due to the recent rains.

For more angling information on Poolburn Dam click here.

The Kyeburn River high and discoloured after last week’s rain. Credit: Steve Dixon.

Dunedin and coastal anglers eager for a nearby fishing trip but unable to fish their local river should consider visiting one of the recently stocked reservoirs, such as Tomahawk Lagoon or Sullivans Dam. These spots offer great opportunities close to home.

For those willing to travel a bit further, heading up towards the Maniototo could be rewarding. Many of the irrigation dams and reservoirs there are less affected by the recent rains compared to the rivers, providing excellent fishing opportunities.

For more angling information on Dunedin Fishing Spots click here
For more angling information on waters of the Maniototo click here

Spring storms

A stunning rainbow trout caught by Michael Rohland spinning from the shore on Lake Hāwea. Credit: Michael Rohland. 

The old saying, “fish don’t mind the rain, they are already wet” proved true for angler Michael Rohland.

Mike had a successful day fishing at the mouth of the Timaru River on Lake Hāwea, during one of the many rain showers last week. He found success using brightly coloured lures in the discoloured water, with the Black Magic Spinmax attracting some aggressive and well-conditioned rainbow trout.

Stormy weather and overcast conditions can be advantageous for anglers targeting cruising fish around the lake edge. The lower light levels during gloomy conditions often make trout feel more secure, encouraging them to move closer to the shore and into shallower waters to feed on recently disturbed insects or small fish. Additionally, the disturbance on the water from rain reduces the risk of fish spooking when your lure hits the surface. Fish can be harder to spot in these conditions, so using lowlight lenses in your polarized sunglasses can be a massive help.

Angler access closed for renovations

Due to ongoing renovations, the angler access point at the Luggate Boulder on the Upper Clutha/Mata-Au River is temporarily closed for approximately 10 weeks. The upgrades will include a safer entrance from the highway into the angler access area, two new carparks, a bike track connecting the river to the main road, and an upgrade of the current track to a sealed driveway.

For other access points along the Upper Clutha River, click here

Important Notice: Correction to Brightwater Spring Opening Date - Southland

Southland Fish & Game have been made aware of a mistake in the regulation’s pamphlet regarding the opening date for Brightwater Spring.

Please note that the Brightwater Spring does not open until the 1st of November. The river flows across private land, which is a working sheep farm, and is currently closed for lambing. They understand that in the search for clear water, this may be a tempting option, and they apologize for any confusion or hopes raised by the typo.

Clyde Dam live webcam

A screengrab of the Clyde Dam webcam taken at the time of writing.

Want to know conditions at Clyde Dam? Check this live webcam, sponsored by Contact Energy and updated every 15 minutes.

Lake Wānaka live webcam

A screengrab of the Lake Wānaka webcam taken at the time of writing.

Want to know conditions at Lake Wānaka? Check this live webcam from the Wānaka water sports facility.

Here’s the weekend outlook:

Dunedin

Another wet weekend is forecast for Dunedin, with showers and westerly winds expected throughout. If you’re planning to brave the rain, remember to bundle up, as the wind is forecast to shift to cold southerlies. Friday afternoon may offer a brief respite for keen anglers, with clear skies and light northerlies before the weather moves in. At the time of writing the Taieri River at Outram was flowing at 95.4 cumecs and the water temperature was 9.8 degrees C.

Click here for live weather updates.

Wānaka

Showers are forecast around Wānaka this weekend, with the heaviest rainfall expected on Saturday afternoon. Scattered showers are also predicted throughout Sunday; however, the calm conditions offer a good opportunity to get out on the lakes. Be aware that local open rivers are likely to remain high and discoloured.

Click here for live weather updates.

Alexandra

Alexandra is the top pick in the region this week, with only light showers and northerly winds expected to develop by Saturday afternoon. Isolated showers are forecast for Sunday, and anglers should be prepared for a drop in air temperatures as a stiff southerly breeze moves in. Packing an extra layer is recommended.

Click here for live weather updates.

Clutha Regional Forecast

Rivers in the lower Clutha region remain high, and the forecasted showers this weekend are unlikely to help. However, bush catchment rivers, such as those in the Catlins, may provide a slight reprieve as they tend to clear faster. The heaviest showers are expected on Saturday afternoon, with conditions forecast to clear by Sunday evening.

The Pomahaka River was flowing at 114 cumecs

The lower Clutha River at Balclutha was flowing at 1140 cumecs.

Click here for live weather updates.

For more ORC water monitoring and alerts information click here.

Grab your licence online and let the angling adventures begin.

Got any Otago fishing news?

Send your fishing news and photos (with anglers’ names) to otago@fishandgame.org.nz for consideration in the weekly report.