Otago Weekly Fishing Report - 13 March 2025

Autumn has arrived

With cooler air temperatures dropping into the single digits and scattered rain in the forecast, autumn has truly arrived.

But don’t pack away your fishing gear just yet—there are still plenty of great fishing opportunities this season.

Pictured above: William Horsley with a rainbow trout caught mere metres from his feet on the Upper Clutha River/ Mata-Au. Credit: William Horsley.

Autumn in Otago is prime time for trout fishing, thanks to abundant mayfly and caddis hatches. As temperatures cool and daylight hours shorten, mayflies hatch steadily throughout the day, while caddisflies emerge in the evenings. On calm days, anglers can experience fantastic surface action, with trout eagerly rising to feed on drifting insects.

This season also marks the lead-up to brown trout and salmon spawning, with fish beginning to congregate at the drop offs near river mouths before making their journey into smaller tributaries. This makes them accessible to a range of anglers, whether fishing from shore or a boat.

 

Slow and steady

Jordan Mace with a solid brown trout caught from around Pisa Moorings on Lake Dunstan. Credit: Jordan Mace.

The fishing around Lake Dunstan has cooled somewhat with the drop in air temperature, says local angler Jordan Mace. However, he reports still managing to pick up cruising brown and rainbow trout using soft baits.

Jordan emphasizes the importance of slowing down your retrieval speed, as many anglers retrieve too fast. Grub-tailed soft baits are ideal for slow retrieves, as their tails create enticing movement even at low speeds.

As usual, anglers should focus their efforts around the weed edges and drop-offs, as these areas are the most productive. However, fish can often be seen cruising anywhere along the lake edge.

Another popular option is bait fishing with prawns or worms, typically rigged with a small ball sinker. This allows the angler to cast past the weed edge and reduce the risk of snagging. Fishing at Lake Dunstan also offers the added bonus of encountering the occasional large perch. These fish have firm, white flesh and make excellent table fare.

Don’t forget the technology

The Upper Clutha River above the Albert Town bridge was flowing low and clear on Tuesday. Credit: Ben Sowry.

As we move into autumn, heavy rainfall events become more frequent, often causing rivers to rise and discolour, making them unfishable.

Checking flow rates and rainfall amounts in these catchments before heading out can save anglers a long and potentially wasted trip.

The Otago Regional Council Data Portal is a valuable tool that Otago Fish & Game staff frequently use for fieldwork planning, and we highly recommend it to anglers.

This resource helps identify when rivers are dropping and clearing—often an excellent time to target trout! Another useful tip is to compare the current flow rate to the median flow, providing a standard reference for river speed, as conditions can vary greatly between waterways.

Click here to view the ORC Data Portal

Under the cover of darkness

Angus Clareburt with a brown trout caught on a large streamer fished along the edges of one of Queenstown’s smaller lakes. Credit: Dylan Shine.

Fishing for trout at night in Otago can be incredibly rewarding, as Angus from Hunting & Fishing Queenstown recently had success in one of the smaller lakes of the Wakatipu Basin.

Trout tend to be more active after dark, moving into shallower waters to hunt, making them prime targets for anglers.

For spinning, try using spinners like toby’s, veltics, soft plastics, and Rapalas. The key is to focus on the silhouettes and vibrations your lures or flies create, black is often a successful colour choice.

When fly fishing, black Woolly Buggers, large streamers, and mouse patterns are particularly effective for targeting big trout. In moving water, large soft hackles work well, while glow-in-the-dark flies such as doll flies and booby flies can be effective at river mouths and deep pools.

If possible, try familiarising yourself with the area you intend to fish both to avoid hazards and find the best spots. Avoid spooking the fish with a bright light shined on the water, a red-light headlamp can assist with this and maintain your night-vision.

Always take extra care when fishing at night, be sure to let someone know your plans and when you expect to return.

Job vacancy: Fish & Game Officer – Cromwell

Could this be you? Otago Fish & Game Officer Ben Sowry undertaking angler surveys on one of Otago’s large lakes. Credit: Richard Cosgrove.

Are you passionate and knowledgeable about freshwater angling, gamebird hunting, and conservation?

Do you have strong outdoor skills, fitness, and practical experience? Can you confidently engage with a diverse range of people? And do you want to live in the adventure playground of Central Otago? If so, we’re looking for a Fish & Game Officer based in Cromwell.

This opportunity comes as Cromwell-based Field Officer Ben Sowry moves on to an exciting new role as Compliance Officer for Eastern Fish & Game. Over the past four years, Ben has made a very positive contribution to our region using his extensive knowledge of freshwater fishing, gamebird hunting and conservation. One of his lasting legacies is the restoration work at the Bendigo Wildlife Management Reserve, where he dedicated numerous hours to controlling willows and planting native species to enhance waterfowl habitat.

As a Fish & Game Officer, you’ll be involved in a diverse range of field and office-based activities. Key responsibilities include species and habitat management and restoration, recreational enhancement, access facilitation, regulatory compliance, education, and stakeholder engagement.

For more information or to apply, click here.

Across the border: Monowai boat ramp and jetty completed

New freshly laid concrete boat ramp and jetty at Lake Monowai. Credit: Southland Fish & Game.

Southland Fish & Game is thrilled to celebrate the completion of a major infrastructure upgrade at Lake Monowai – ensuring this special place will be accessible for generations to come!

 

New Jetty Installed: While the jetty is now in place, a few finishing touches are still required to bring it up to code and improve user-friendliness. Additional work is also planned to enhance wheelchair accessibility, with final adjustments to the approach expected in the coming weeks.

Boat Ramp Repaired: The previously crumbling boat ramp has been restored, making launching safer and easier for all users.

After receiving repeated feedback from anglers about inadequate facilities, the Southland Fish & Game Council took the initiative to address these concerns. This project would not have been possible without the incredible support of local businesses, farmers, and the angling community.

This has truly been a community-driven effort, and Southland Fish & Game extends its sincere thanks to everyone who contributed their time, equipment, expertise, and generosity.

Vote for the next licence photo

It's time for you to judge the ReWild Snap & Share: The Fish & Game Licence Photo Competition. The images from left to right are:

• December Winner - "Taranaki ring plain gold". Credit: Craig McEwen.
• November Winner - "Me and my son Ryker flyfishing". Credit: Sharna Parker.
• January Winner - "My good mate Tom landed his first trout on the fly rod, while his son Elliot cheered with joy." Credit: Radek Baus.
• February Winner - "Early morning on the Rotorua Lake flats chasing rainbows." Credit: Damon Mathfield.

Each monthly winner has won a $250 Voucher from Kilwell Sports, and the overall winner will receive an additional $1000 voucher from Kilwell Sports. Have your say on these stunning images by casting your vote here.

 

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 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

An excellent weekend of fishing is on the cards for Dunedin, with last week’s rain and cool temperatures helping to lower water temperatures and increase flows. This sets the stage for prime fishing conditions, especially with a clear and calm forecast ahead. Northwesterly winds are expected to ease throughout Saturday, while northerlies will begin to build on Sunday afternoon. With stable conditions and improving water levels, anglers can look forward to a great weekend on the water.

The Taieri River at Outram was flowing at 5.9 cumecs at the time of writing. The water temperature was 13.1 degrees C.

Click here for live weather updates.

 

Wānaka

Overcast conditions and developing northerly winds dominate Wanaka’s weather forecast this weekend. Northerlies are expected to strengthen throughout the day on both Saturday and Sunday, so anglers should head out early to take advantage of the calmer conditions. If you’re planning to sight fish, be sure to pack your polarized sunglasses as the flat light may make spotting fish more challenging.

Click here for live weather updates.

Alexandra

Saturday morning is the best window for anglers in Alexandra this weekend, with calm winds, warm temperatures, and clear skies. Westerly winds are expected to develop in the evening, followed by a shift to northerlies on Sunday, bringing overcast conditions.

Click here for live weather updates.

Clutha Regional Forecast

Saturday is forecast to be mainly fine, with isolated showers clearing in the afternoon. Calm winds and warm temperatures make for ideal fishing conditions. Westerly winds are forecast to develop in the evening. Sunday is forecast for Westerlies to ease throughout the day, with partly cloudy skies and Northerlies developing later in the day.

The Pomahaka River was flowing at 5.4 cumecs.

The lower Clutha River at Balclutha was flowing at 302 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.