Weekly Fishing Report – Central South Island - 20-02-2020

The fishing proved pretty good for salmon up at Ohau C Canal last weekend and I have had reports that they’re still catching them at a reasonable rate this week.

Before heading out fishing, make sure to read up on all the regulations, even if you think you know them well.

Here is the link to the online version of the 2019-2020 regulation guide.

If you need clarification on the regulations don’t go on Facebook, give us a call at the CSI office in Temuka 03 6158400 or email csi@fishandgame.org.nz and get a direct response from one of our staff.

Over the season our team of rangers do encounter a few anglers in breach of the regulations and more commonly fishing without a licence.

If you missed it at the start of the season, we put out a summary of last seasons ranging efforts that can be read here.

An angler we encountered fishing without a licence up by the Magic Carpet on the Tekapo Canal last August had his case processed in the Timaru District Court yesterday.

The offender was convicted and ordered to pay $880 in fines and costs.

A bit more of a sting to the bank account than the $21 Day licence that could have been purchased easily online or at one of our many licence agents.

Feel free to share this outcome with anyone and everyone as it should act as a good deterrent for anyone considering fishing without a licence.     

This weekend's weather forecast has some promise for good fishing.

Sunday looks like to be the pick of the weather, sunny and mild.

Saturday has some good localised weather, but it will be a bit overcast and there may be a few showers of rain around in places – check the forecast for yourself and find the best conditions.

There is a front due to rip up the main divide on Friday so there may be some rainfall and increased flows for main divide rivers like the Ahuriri and Rangitata.

That rain will prolong the need for the power companies to manage excess water from the headwater lakes through the hydro schemes so expect some spillways to be operating and the Tekapo River to remain high and unfishable.

Now, some ideas for your fishing this weekend.

If you still havn’t tried trolling for sockeye salmon in Lake Benmore, now is the time.

Above Right: A very successful sockeye fishing outing on the Ahuriri Arm of Lake Benmore.

Here’s a video on targeting Lake Benmore sockeye.

If you don’t have a downrigger just put out lots of colours on your leadline and you’ll still be in with a good chance of catching one.

If you do catch some sockeye salmon, we’d like to hear from you.

Send any sockeye catch reports to me at radams@fishandgame.org.nz, I’m happy to get anglers reports from any fishing in the CSI Region too.    

Although the summer days have kind of morphed into autumn, this is still the best time to get out and try dry fly fishing with large terrestrial dry flies like cicada, grasshoppers, blowflies and damselflies.

You don’t have to be a fly angler to fish with dry fly, check out this advanced spin fishing pamphlet for tips for rigging a spin rod with a float and dry fly.

And if they’re not taking from the surface and refusing your spinners then try fishing small nymphs under a float on your spins rod, here’s a video showing you how.

Notice board

Canals research

NIWA are undertaking fishery research in the canals next week. They will be using fyke nets along the canal banks. Please leave the nets undisturbed.

Waitaki Catchment riverbed weed spraying

ECan are planning to undertake riverbed spraying of weeds like gorse, broom, alder and willow to help manage the flood carrying capacity of the rivers.

The helicopter spraying is likely to occur from mid-February to mid-March, weather and river flow permitting.

Target areas: Tekapo River (delta to Edwards Stream confluence), Pukaki River (Tekapo River confluence up to pylons), Upper Ohau River, Waitaki River (Otekaieke to above Kurow). 

ECan contact: Sam Kidner 027 304 4255.

Hunting Stand Ballot

Any game bird hunters needing a hunting spot for opening weekend of the 2020 game bird season should consider balloting for a hunting stand on one of our four wetland we manage.

For more information visit this link at our www.fishandgame.org.nz website.

Tight Lines

Rhys Adams, Central South Island Fish & Game Officer