Otago Weekly Fishing Report - 3 April 2025

Fish & Game to poacher: we have your spear

This is a great time of year for legal anglers to pursue trout in prime condition in lower reaches before spawning upriver.

But there is a darker side.

A wounded sea-run trout with a fishing spearhead lodged in its body was caught from the Water of Leith in Dunedin by Otago Fish & Game officers using electric-fishing equipment. The offending object was removed from the 4kg fish and it was released to continue its spawning journey upstream, while we are now seeking the perpetrator.

Pictured above: Otago Fish & Game officer Jayde Couper with the speared sea-run trout in the Water of Leith in Dunedin.  Credit: Bruce Quirey.

Under the Conservation Act, poaching trout congregated for spawning carries stiff penalties including imprisonment or fines up to $100,000. Sea-run trout are vital for maintaining the fishery due to their strong genetics and egg production capacity.

You can read the full story here.

 

No visibility, no problem

Paul Badger working his way up a pool and blind-fishing likely holding water. Credit: Mason Court.

Brisk winds and overcast conditions aren’t typically ideal for backcountry trout fishing, but as winter approaches, they become more common. Adapting to these conditions can be the difference between landing a fish or going home empty-handed.

Visiting angler Paul Badger made the most of exploring new waters last weekend by blind-fishing likely pools and holding water on one of Lake Wānaka’s tributaries, as the conditions weren’t conducive to spotting fish. He found success using a heavy caddis pattern to get down deep quickly through the deep pools and swift runs, though some fish also took a Royal Wulff dry fly. Several well-conditioned rainbow trout made it to the net.

A pair of low-light polarised sunglasses can be a great asset in these conditions, helping to pick up subtle shapes beneath the surface. If in doubt, don’t be afraid to cast at any shape. There is not much worse than a so-called “rock” swimming away from you.

With rain forecast before the weekend, blind-fishing in discoloured water can also be productive. Don’t hesitate to use large stonefly patterns, streamers, squirmy worms, or even an egg imitation as we approach the spawning season.

 

Girl Guides hook into fishing

Conditions couldn’t have been better for evening angling on the Kawarau River last Thursday. Photo: Mason Court

Otago Fish & Game staff assisted the Wakatipu Girl Guide Rangers with an evening of fishing on the Kawarau River last week, providing fishing gear and brief instruction. Staff were impressed with the girls’ fishing abilities and casting skills, as they quickly picked up techniques for using soft baits and spinners. As the light faded, multiple fish were hooked, though only one small rainbow was landed. Black and gold-coloured soft baits and Tobies proved to be the most effective, with fish becoming increasingly active and rising in the shallows as darkness set in.

 

Fly tying course

Mike Weddell’s flies have been tried and proven in Otago waters. Photo: Bruce Quirey

Learn the basics of how to tie flies with fly fishing expert Mike Weddell in this four-night course:

• May 5, 12, 19, 26, from 7-9pm
• Otago Fish and Game office, corner of Hanover and Harrow Streets, Dunedin
• For beginners and improvers, learn to tie flies that catch fish in Otago waters and the skills to tie many other patterns.
• Tools provided if you have none, and materials for the patterns tied in the class.  
• Also, tools and materials available for purchase.
• Contact Mike Weddell 027 577 2439 or mike@mikeweddellflyfishing.co.nz

 

Seeking salmon

Otago Fish & Game is on the lookout for spawning salmon, as anglers often encounter them while exploring backcountry rivers. We are asking for any sightings of salmon in the tributaries of Lake Wānaka or Lake Hawea. The information will assist in the timing of our spawning surveys and help us focus our efforts in key areas.

Additionally, Otago Fish & Game and the Clutha/Mata-Au Sportsfish and Habitat Trust are collecting salmon heads from the Clutha River below the Roxburgh Dam. If you catch a salmon or find a spawned-out carcass in this section of the river, please cut off the head, place it in a plastic bag, and freeze it with a label indicating the date and location where it was found.

To arrange a pick-up, call our office at 03 477 9076 or email otago@fishandgame.org.nz.

The information gained from analysing these fish heads will help guide efforts to restore the sea-run salmon population in the lower Clutha. Restoring salmon runs and improving sports fish habitat in the lower river and its tributaries are key objectives of the Trust. This work is being funded by Contact Energy as part of its mitigation measures under the consent conditions for the Roxburgh Dam.

 

Winter licences on sale

River mouths and lake edges offer some excellent winter fishing opportunities. Credit: Mason Court.

April 1 marks the release of winter fishing licences, offering excellent value for anglers looking to make the most of the remaining season in Otago. Many lowland streams close on April 30 for brown trout spawning, while high-country waters remain open until May 31. However, Otago boasts a variety of year-round fisheries, including many lakes, larger rivers, and some coastal reaches.

 

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

Fishing conditions around Dunedin will be fair this weekend with ideal water temperatures, though cloud will make sight-fishing tricky. Friday starts warm before fresh south-westerlies are forecast in the afternoon. Saturday looks to be cloudy with wind turning from south-west to easterly. Pack a coat for a few showers predicted on Sunday.

The Taieri River at Outram was flowing at 6.8 cumecs this morning. The water temperature was 14 degrees C.

Click here for live weather updates.

 

Wānaka

As mentioned above, be prepared to blind-fish likely holding water in cloudy conditions. Chance of a shower on Friday and early Saturday but otherwise it’s looking fine. The wind may come from the north-west on Friday swinging northerly on Saturday. Light wind predicted on Sunday. Go fishing!

Click here for live weather updates.

 

Alexandra

The fishing outlook for Alexandra looks good. The weekend starts with westerlies on Friday evening. A few showers on Saturday should clear to a fine day with light wind. Cold morning starts will warm up to pleasant conditions. Clear skies and light wind on Sunday should offer good river and lake-edge stalking opportunities.

Click here for live weather updates.

 

Clutha Regional Forecast

The Pomahaka River is flowing at easily fishable levels while the lower Clutha River/Mata-Au has come up from recent relatively low flows. On the weather front, the Clutha area is expecting showers late on Friday and early Saturday with the wind turning from the west to northerly. Sunday looks fine. It’s a perfect time of year for mayfly caddis hatches, but if trout aren’t surfacing, be sure to explore all likely-looking water anyway.

The Pomahaka River was flowing at 4.8 cumecs

The lower Clutha River at Balclutha was flowing at 432 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.