Otago Weekly Fishing Report - 27 March 2025
- Otago
- 27/03/2025
Making the most of day off school
It was great to see several junior anglers out and about on the Taieri River during a day off school for the Otago Anniversary holiday this week.
Pictured above: Cohen and Jack Boyd had a successful day’s fishing on the lower Taieri River. Credit: Bruce Quirey.
A Fish & Game ranger met brothers Cohen (14) and Jack (12), who were flicking paddle tail soft baits around the river.
Cohen says they could spot trout cruising in the shallows and caught the one pictured at a drop-off. A nice pan-sized fish for eating!
The lower Taieri River from Outram to Taieri Mouth can offer surprisingly good results. In addition to resident brown trout, at this time of year large sea-run trout make their way upriver for spawning.
The lower Taieri River has several angler access points, which you can check out by selecting here.
Local options after dam emptied
Victoria Dam and Greys Dam remain stillwater fishing spots handy to Lawrence following the closure of Phoenix Dam. Photos: Steve Dixon
Phoenix Dam near Lawrence is now empty but the good news is Victoria Dam and Greys Dam, which are close by, are full.
Although Victoria and Greys dams are small in comparison, they have good populations of small to medium-sized brown trout. There is plenty of room to picnic or camp down at the water’s edge at Greys Dam, near Gabriel’s Gully. Victoria Dam is on a loop trail off Glendhu Forest Rd.
Victoria Dam (1 Oct – 30 Apr, fly, spin and bait, 2 fish daily bag limit) is specified in the Otago fishing regulations. Greys is not specified. Regulations for lakes, rivers and streams not specified can be found at the top of Clause 3 in your guide. So, for Greys Dam, the season is 1 Oct-30 April, permitted methods FSB, and 2 fish. Select here for Otago fishing regulations.
Phoenix Dam was dewatered last year by its owners Port Blakely Ltd due to flood protection concerns for the town of Lawrence. Fish & Game helped local rūnanga to safely remove eels from the dam.
Give these small dams a try.
Clutha on crackers
This recipe was so easy to follow and very tasty, so much so that the guests couldn’t resist sampling some of the baked rainbow trout caught in Clutha River before the photo was taken. Credit: Mason Court.
"Basic is best" is a saying that rings true with this simple yet delicious recipe for oven-baked trout (or salmon). The key to a great dish begins with selecting the right fish. Look for silver, football-shaped fish, and avoid skinny fish with spawning coloration. For more information on how best to enjoy your catch, as well as methods for prepping, gutting, cooking your fish, click here.
Ingredients:
- Trout fillet (or salmon)
- 5 tablespoons olive oil
- Salt and cracked black pepper
- Minced garlic
- Lemon slices
Method:
- Preheat the oven to 200°C.
- Line a small rimmed baking sheet (I used a half sheet) with parchment paper.
- Place the trout fillet skin-side down in the centre of the baking sheet. Brush 1.5 tablespoons of olive oil over the top of the trout.
- Sprinkle salt and cracked black pepper over the trout.
- Spread minced garlic over the trout fillet.
- Top with lemon slices.
- Bake in the preheated oven for about 15 minutes at 200°C, or until the trout is cooked through.
- Serve with crackers, bread, or simply enjoy on its own.
Big river calls
The Clutha River/Mata-Au near Clydevale. Photo: Steve Dixon
Give the Clutha River/Mata-Au a go between Beaumont and Balclutha.
There are a number of good angler access points along this stretch of river.
Insect activity this time of year will give the fly angler some good morning and evening fishing, and don’t forget sea-run trout will be moving up in preparation to spawn.
Last chance - Greenstone Controlled Fishery
The top of the Greenstone River Controlled Fishery beat system with small crystal-clear water. Photo: Mason Court
The controlled fishery period for the Greenstone River ends on Tuesday, April 1, offering anglers a final opportunity to book a beat with the guarantee that their party will have exclusive access to that section.
This eliminates the risk and stress of arriving to find someone else fishing your intended section. From Tuesday onwards, the upper river will return to its standard Designated Waters status, where normal angler etiquette applies.
Click here for more info or to book a beat
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
Want to know conditions at Lake Wānaka? Check this live webcam from the Wānaka Watersports Facility.
Here’s the weekend outlook:
Dunedin
Light showers on Thursday and Friday are expected to set the stage for excellent fishing conditions around Dunedin this weekend. Saturday is the standout day, with clear skies and light winds creating ideal conditions for spotting and casting to rising fish in the afternoon. Sunday also has light winds in the forecast, but cloud cover may make sight fishing a bit more challenging. Low-light polarised sunglasses can be invaluable in these conditions.
The Taieri River at Outram was flowing at 8 cumecs this morning. The water temperature was 14.3 degrees C.
Click here for live weather updates.
Wānaka
Another excellent fishing forecast is on the horizon for Wānaka, with light winds predicted from Friday afternoon through the weekend. Saturday looks particularly ideal, with warm temperatures, clear skies, and calm conditions perfect for all types of fishing whether you’re planning to head out on the boat to troll along drop-offs and river mouths, or venture up one of the many rivers that will have received a welcome refresh from Thursday’s rain.
Click here for live weather updates.
Alexandra
Light winds, warm air temperatures, and overcast conditions are the main themes for the weather around Alexandra this weekend. The calm conditions will benefit anglers stalking fish around the edges of the reservoirs, making it easier to spot rises or disturbances as fish feed in the shallows.
Click here for live weather updates.
Clutha Regional Forecast
A favourable forecast is expected for the Lower Clutha region this weekend, with Saturday standing out as ideal for fishing. Clear skies, light winds, and warm temperatures, combined with a fresh flow from Thursday's rain, make it a prime spot. The rivers should be dropping nicely, offering excellent fishing opportunities. Brisk south-westerly winds are forecast to develop throughout Sunday.
The Pomahaka River was flowing at 5 cumecs
The lower Clutha River at Balclutha was flowing at 351 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.