Otago Weekly Fishing Report - 19 December 2024

Merry Fish-mas and a reely happy New Year!

Lowell Smyth recently found lots of fish out and about taking dry flies in the Otago backcountry. Credit: Quentin Kenning.

C’mon Santa. How about more sunshine?

The early forecast suggests a wet lead-up to Christmas Day across most of Otago with rain and showers expected in many areas. The upside? Inland, minimal wind and warm temperatures should make conditions relatively pleasant despite the showers.

The rainfall will boost rivers where flows have started to drop and water temperatures have been creeping up. The fresh conditions should offer excellent opportunities for trout fishing as rivers are replenished.

As rivers rise, adapt your fishing to suit conditions. Fish will be sheltering under banks, behind structure and in eddies out of heavy current. Look for clearer tributaries entering main stems, or fish stillwaters.

Just wait until the sun comes out again and waters clear! Dry fly season has been in full swing. It just comes down to which fly decisions. Credit: Quentin Kenning.

Southern Lakes

Cameron Stobie with his personal best rainbow trout, just over 4lb caught trolling on Lake Hāwea. He says it made fantastic eating. Credit: Leighton Hulena.

The large lakes are producing some superbly conditioned fish, with anglers reporting success using traffic light and black-and-gold Tobys as well as Tasmanian Devils for trolling.

Mark, from Southern Wild Wānaka, says pink spinners such as the Daiwa Chinook have been especially effective for salmon on Lake Hāwea.

In windy conditions, Mark recommends heading to sheltered spots such as The Neck on Lake Hāwea and the Stevenson Arm on Lake Wānaka, both of which offer excellent fishing opportunities even when the rest of the lake is choppy.

Mark also notes the occasional post-spawning, skinny trout among the catch. Handle these fish carefully and prioritise keeping the fat, silver-coloured ones, which taste much better anyway.

Get jiggy with it

For boat anglers wanting a change from trolling, jigging offers another way to target trout and salmon in the deep lakes, says Tim, from Hunting & Fishing Central Otago.

Target trout suspended in the water column, often near thermoclines or structure. A basic spinning rod can be used or a small baitcasting set-up is ideal. A typical tackle includes a series of flies with a weight at the bottom or soft plastic lure, dropped vertically and worked with a rhythmic motion to entice strikes.

Jigging is especially effective during the summer months when trout move to cooler, deeper waters. Prime locations for jigging include areas where lakes drop off rapidly near the mouths of tributaries. Good examples are the Rees and Dart River mouths in Lake Wakatipu, where trout and salmon often congregate in large numbers.

Grubbing around

Willow grubs emerge from the blisters in willow leaves to pupate in the soil. Those over water, however, often find themselves on the menu for trout. Right a range of willow grub patterns. Credit: Ben Sowry.

The time of year most loved by some anglers — and dreaded by many — is upon us: the annual willow grub fall.

Willow grubs, the larvae of the willow sawfly, drop from the foliage to pupate in the soil. For branches hanging over water, these grubs land in the water, where trout eagerly wait. During this period, trout become laser-focused on these tiny morsels, often ignoring flies, lures, baits, and even the most determined anglers as they feast on this windfall.

Using the smallest imitations, such as size 18 or 20 willow grub patterns, can sometimes fool these selective trout. Alternatively, trying a wildcard fly, like an unweighted nymph or a Humpy Blowfly, may provoke a strike.

For those who find this level of selectivity frustrating, there’s always another option: move on and find a less picky fish!

Looking after your catch

Chilly bins with ice are also handy to keep the snacks and drink cool in the Otago heat while out fishing. Credit: Mason Court.

With temperatures pushing into the high-20s and lakes and rivers with well-conditioned trout and salmon, many anglers are taking the opportunity to stock up on fish for the festive season.

To ensure your catch is as delicious as possible, follow these simple steps:

Fight fast, land smart
Land fish quickly using a net to minimize stress and lactic acid buildup, which can compromise the flesh’s quality. Shorter fight times also significantly boost the survival rate of fish you intend to release.

Dispatch and bleed immediately
Quickly and humanely dispatch the fish with a spike to the brain or a sharp blow to the head. Then, bleed it by cutting the throat just behind the gills. This step ensures cleaner, tastier flesh.

Cool the catch
Once bled, place the fish on ice in a chilly bin or insulated bag. Frozen water bottles are a cheap and reusable alternative to buying ice. The difference between iced and non-iced fish is drastic: one hour without ice equals the same breakdown as a day on ice.

Agents out and about

One of Otago Fish & Game’s licence agents, Mark, from Southern Wild Wānaka, with a brown trout caught in Lake Wānaka.

Our licence agents talk to licence holders about fishing and hunting daily, sharing a wealth of information from behind counters across the region.

Most agents are fishers and hunters, too, so we chat to them for our weekly reports from every corner of Otago, so we can share the latest tips with you.

Thanks agents, you are much appreciated.

Go further

Bexley, from Hunting & Fishing Central Otago, stalking a rising trout in Lake Dunstan. Photo: Tim Johnson

Looking for ideas where to go fishing this summer? Wanting to explore? You can view the Otago Fish & Game online access map by clicking here.

You can also find more access information at our website here. Get planning your summer fishing missions. 

Taking a break

The Otago Weekly Fishing Report will take a break over the holiday period and return on Thursday, January 9.

To stay updated with news and events during the break, be sure to follow the Otago Fish & Game Council Facebook page.

Have a great Christmas and New Year on the water!

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 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.

Pack your raincoat. Here’s the weekend outlook:

Dunedin

Rain and showers are forecast up to and including Christmas Day. On Friday, rain will be possibly heavy in the morning, persistent early on Saturday, occasional on Sunday, and returning on Monday. Oh joy! As rivers rise, fish with larger flies and lures in eddies behind structure, try smaller tributaries, or head to stillwaters.

The Taieri River at Outram was flowing at 4.4 cumecs. The water temperature was 17.1 degrees C.

Click here for live weather updates.

Wānaka

On Friday, the forecast is mostly cloudy with a few showers in the morning and evening. Expect rain on Saturday morning, then showers on Sunday, but the wind should be light for the weekend. Grab your wet-weather gear; there’ll still be plenty of good fishing on offer.

Click here for live weather updates.

Alexandra

Light wind over the next few days shouldn’t be a problem for casting. Cloudy with showers on Friday, most frequent early. Rain develops on Saturday, and occasionally on Sunday. This will freshen up rivers and cool the water temperature. Fish on!

Click here for live weather updates.

Clutha Regional Forecast

Rivers and streams will likely rise over the next few days. Occasional rain and fresh easterlies, easing in the evening, are forecast on Friday. Saturday sees rain becoming persistent in the morning with southwesterlies. More occasional rain on Sunday, and showers, possibly heavy, on Monday. Go bigger and heavy with lures and streamers that get down to the fish.

The Pomahaka River was flowing at 5.6 cumecs

The lower Clutha River at Balclutha was flowing at 754 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 [email protected] for consideration in the weekly report.

Tight lines, 

Otago Fish & Game