Weekly Fishing report - North Canterbury 24-11-2017

The larger snow fed rivers have not seen a fresh for two weeks and are in great condition for salmon fishing at the moment, with confirmed catches from the Rakaia and Waimakariri rivers.

From the Rakaia Mouth up to SH1, there have been reports of catches up to 16lb which is great to see.

The lower reaches of all the main salmon rivers would be worth a look this weekend for keen salmon anglers.

Above Right: Steve Smith with a nice Lake Guyon Brown trout.

The rivers are also all in great condition for sea-run trout fishing in the lower reaches with a few white-baiters reporting both seeing and catching good conditioned trout recently,  with good numbers of Silveries showing up at the Rakaia Mouth this week which the trout will  be fattening up on.

The best weather for all angling in the region this weekend is likely to be tomorrow, with light rain forecast for much of the region heading into Sunday, however winds should remain relatively light.

This current period of stable flows has also resulted in favourable conditions in the headwaters of the main rivers, which often see fresh after fresh this time of year, and all the Canterbury high country waters will be trout fishable until the next fresh.

Spin fishing a small Veltec spinner or Rapala should produce good results in the side braids of upriver reaches of the larger rivers. 

The regions high country lakes opened two weeks ago, with anglers reporting good fly fishing in recent days with the calm weather we have seen.

These lakes should continue to fish well for the next few weeks with the warming weather and surface insect activity should pick up, including the widely enjoyed green beetle hatch.

On the plains we have started to see brown beetle hatches, which is a good sign that trout will be starting to rise to flies rather than feed on aquatic life.

Left: Perfect water for dry fly fishing.

The mid reaches of the Ashley River between Rangiora and the gorge should be producing some nice trout leading up to Christmas, as should most high country streams with the stable flows we have seen over the last few weeks.

Also worth a look would be the Waiau tributaries, but it sounds like the mid reaches of the Hurunui have been quiet.

Lowland rivers such as the Styx, the South Branch of the Waimakariri River and the L2 should fish well early in the season following the quite winter spell they have had.

Fresh Waters Programme

The students from Room 8 at Leeston Primary School got to go fishing at Peacock Springs near Christchurch Airport this week. The school is one of 30 in North Canterbury Fish & Game region that take part in the Fresh waters programme organised by Fish & Game.

Students learn the value of our freshwater fisheries as they raise salmon from ova in tanks in the classroom then release them into appropriate local waterways.

After releasing the fish the schools have the option of taking the children out fishing for the day under the supervision of Fish & Game staff and expert volunteers.

You can watch their days fishing here.

Fin Clipping this weekend at Montrose

Club Fund Raising Event, 2 days.

Saturday 25th  and Sunday 26th  November 2017

Volunteer Assistance Needed

Hatchery staff are anticipating depleted diluted oxygen levels before Xmas. In an effort to avoid releasing non marked smolt we will be attempting to fin clip half of the release stocks this November and the other half in February 2018.

The Annual Chinook Salmon Smolt fin clipping program will commence at the Montrose hatchery at 8.30am Saturday 25th and again on Sunday 26th of November, finishing around 2pm each with a good team. 

This important task of marking Chinook salmon for the purpose of identification within the fishery is one of the most essential fisheries management tools we have.  

North Canterbury Fish & Game are inviting members of the New Zealand Salmon Anglers Association and the Canterbury Lurefishing Association, and members of the public to assist with the task of adipose fin clipping approximately 130,000 salmon smolt at the site. These smolt stocks are destined for release into Silver Stream, Otukaikino, Rakaia, Coleridge, Kaikoura, Clarence and the West Coast in July. 

Numbers of members advised to complete this task on this weekend are 40 volunteers on both days. Members of the public are also welcome on the day, so invite your friends and their families to enjoy the comradery of anglers on this social and educational event.

Fish & Game Rangers and Council members are also invited to take part over the weekend. 

The car pool meeting point will be at the Yaldhurst Hotel car park, at 7.30am Saturday. Volunteers whom have not been to the Montrose hatchery before are advised to meet at Blackford Road which is the first road on the right after crossing the Rakaia Gorge bridge, on the south side of the river. The entrance to the property is 6kms up the road from the turn off and it will be marked by an angler access sign.  

Fish & Game will also be providing a barbeque lunch on the day.

Warm clothes and wet weather gear is advised. Gumboots or waders are also advised. 

An indication of numbers from the clubs prior to the weekend would be appreciated.

Thanks all, 

For further information please contact;

Dirk Barr

North Canterbury Fish and Game

Hatcheries Manager

021 221 8378

Please Note:

Anglers and Hunters are advised that North Canterbury Fish and Game will be holding their Annual General Meeting, on Wednesday 13 December 2017, Commencing at 6.30pm, to be held at the new offices of NCF&G, 595 Johns Road, Harewood, Christchurch.

Good luck if you are heading out for a fish this weekend.

Steve Terry, North Canterbury Fish & Game Officer.