Otago Weekly Fishing Report - 20 March 2025
- Otago
- 20/03/2025
Fresh approach to long weekend
Heavy rain early this week caused upper lake tributaries to rise dramatically, with the Matukituki peaking at 600 cumecs, the Dart at 800 cumecs, and the Wilkin at 300 cumecs. Many of these rivers have dropped back to their median flows and cleared, setting the stage for exciting fishing opportunities.
The rain also provided a much-needed flush to coastal rivers. With sea-run brown trout beginning to push into these rivers ahead of spawning, now is an excellent time to target the lower reaches.
Before heading out, make sure to grab your sport fishing licence or a Designated Waters licence if you're planning a backcountry trip. Remember to carry your licence this weekend, as rangers will be out over the long weekend.
If you're planning a short trip, the three-day short break licence is a great option.
Buy or add to your licence here.
Pictured above: Tim Johnson casts to a rainbow trout feeding at the bottom of a gravel bar. Before this week’s rain, conditions on many of the smaller rivers and tributaries were low and clear, making for easy spotting but also spooky fish. Credit: Larry Dougherty.
Tactfully blind
Sam Fisher with a big, old brown trout caught blind fishing among willows on one of Otago’s Designated Waters. Credit: Sam Fisher.
The lack of terrestrial insects and wind didn’t stop Sam, from Hunting & Fishing Queenstown, from having an excellent time on one of Otago’s Designated Waters last week.
After noticing no insect activity on the surface, Sam switched to nymphing and found success blind fishing with a small size 14 Pheasant Tail Nymph in likely-looking water. This resulted in three excellent fish landed, while one larger trout, hooked off a deep drop-off, managed to earn its freedom after tearing off downstream.
Blind fishing can be an effective tactic, particularly after rain leads to discoloured water, making sight fishing difficult. Methodically working through a pool or run — targeting likely holding spots such as eddies, near structure, under banks, or at the head of a pool — can produce great results.
Don’t be afraid to run a streamer through a pool after blind fishing, as it can often provoke an aggressive response from lurking trout.
Spot the brookie
A brook char caught on a midge nymph pattern at Sullivans Dam yesterday. Credit: Craig Didham.
Craig Didham got a surprise fly fishing at Sullivans Dam in Dunedin yesterday when he caught this brook char.
Craig says the “wee fella” took a midge nymph on a dry dropper. He didn’t weigh it but estimates it was about 20cm long.
“It was certainly a big surprise once I got it in the net! Guess I can tick that species off the list now.”
Craig released his catch. While pockets of self-sustaining populations of small brook char live in some headwaters in Central Otago, this was an unusual catch for the Dunedin area.
Brook char were last reared at the now-closed Bullock Creek Springs Hatchery in Wānaka several decades ago.
Local reservoirs
The local reservoirs around Dunedin – Southern Reservoir, Sullivans Dam and Tomahawk Lagoon - continue to offer great fishing opportunities for anglers of all skill levels and ages.
Bexley, from Hunting & Fishing Dunedin, says the Southern Reservoir has been the most productive, with anglers having success using small nymphs either under a dry fly or on a bubble float.
Dark-coloured soft baits and black-and-gold Tobys are often go-to lures at the Southern Reservoir. Be sure to allow enough time for your lure to sink into the bottom third of the water column where fish often hold.
Click below to learn more about fishing in Dunedin reservoirs in this three-part video:
Hunter River jetboat uplift
The Hunter River has a jetboat uplift period from the March 19 to April 30. Expect there to be significant increase in river traffic as other recreational users head up the valley.
Please note anglers are not permitted to fish from a boat, canoe, pontoon or floatation device on the Hunter River.
But if you’re looking for a backcountry fishing experience without the interruptions this long weekend, pick a waterway where you won’t be affected by a jetboat this weekend.
For more information on uplifting periods for Otago waterways please click here.
Makarora drift-dive
Fish & Game officer Ben Sowry drift-diving the Makarora River last week. Photo: Mason Court
Low flows and clear water greeted staff conducting a drift-dive survey of the Makarora River last Thursday.
While the conditions were excellent for counting salmonids, they made for a challenging drift, with many shallow sections requiring staff to walk. The Makarora is the third river surveyed this season as Otago Fish & Game expands its drift dive programme to establish long-term monitoring baselines for key fisheries.
Staff observed large rainbow and brown trout throughout the river, but the most interesting finding was where the fish were holding.
Some rainbows were found in extremely shallow, fast riffles, only moving when face-to-face with a diver. In contrast, the larger brown trout preferred slower, deeper pools and runs, often where cover was present — whether from in-stream structures or overhanging banks and branches.
The Makarora River is a popular fishing spot, with two of its tributaries, the Young and Wilkin, being Designated Waters.
If you're heading out, be sure to leave your intentions clearly visible in your vehicle to help fellow anglers understand where you plan to fish.
Council gathers at Ōtakou Marae
It was a privilege for Otago Fish and Game Council to be hosted at Ōtakou Marae for our regular Council meeting on Tuesday.
Paulette Tamati-Elliffe, Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu adviser to the Council, performed a karanga (call) to greet the manuhiri (visitors) onto the marae during the powhiri. Council members and staff spent time with our hosts, learning more about the Te Ao Māori world view while enjoying the kai and hospitality before our formal Council meeting.
In thanking the hosts, Otago Fish and Game Council chair Adrian McIntyre said the visit was a step towards strengthening the relationship between the Council and mana whenua.
The Treaty of Waitangi / te Tiriti o Waitangi is a founding document for New Zealand and is embedded into many pieces of legislation, including the Conservation Act 1987. As such, the Otago Fish and Game Council must administer itself so as to give effect to the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi.
Kia ora, Te Rūnanga o Ōtakou.
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 Watersports Facility.
Here’s the weekend outlook:
Dunedin
Fishing conditions are looking good for Dunedin waters for the long weekend as temperatures continue to cool. Fine weather, partly cloudy with light winds are forecast for Friday and Saturday. On Sunday there is a chance of shower and southerlies. Cloud and north-easterlies are predicted for the Otago Anniversary Holiday on Monday.
The Taieri River at Outram was flowing at 6 cumecs this morning. The water temperature was 13.9 degrees C.
Click here for live weather updates.
Wānaka
Afternoon north-westerlies are forecast to lift the mercury to 27 degrees in Wānaka on Friday. Then make the most of calm conditions as northerlies and light winds are expected for the following three days – ideal for getting outdoors. With cloud expected on Saturday and Monday, the pick of the sunny weather looks to be on Sunday if you’re planning to sight fish.
Click here for live weather updates.
Alexandra
Pack drinking water, a good hat and sunblock if fishing in Central Otago on a hot Friday. Then from Saturday to Monday, milder conditions are forecast with some cloud and light winds. Fish should be active and feeding. Daytime temperatures will hover in the low 20s over the long weekend with overnight lows dipping into single digits to cool the rivers.
Click here for live weather updates.
Clutha Regional Forecast
If you’re planning to wet a line over the next few days, the rivers are looking good and the weather should be fine to moderate. Friday should be fine with light winds apart from areas of morning fog. Saturday is expected to be cloudy with westerlies developing. A few showers could develop on Sunday and it will be mostly cloudy. Good news for the Monday holiday as fine weather is forecast. Get out there and enjoy it!
The Pomahaka River was flowing at 11.8 cumecs today after spiking up to 34.6 early yesterday.
The lower Clutha River at Balclutha was flowing at 322 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.