Waimakariri River

Introduction

Although the Waimakariri is one of New Zealand’s most heavily fished rivers, it is a mistake to believe that this is due entirely to the river’s close proximity to Christchurch. In fact, the river is home to one of the most well-known salmon fisheries in New Zealand, in addition to excellent populations of brown and rainbow trout. Like all of the snow-fed braided rivers, the Waimakariri is characterised by highly variable flows, and floods can occur at any time of year.

Getting There

At its closest point, the Waimakariri literally flows through the outskirts of Christchurch. The popular tidal reaches can be accessed directly off the Old Main North Road or through the township of Kaiapoi. Upstream of SH1, a series of roads and tracks run up each side of the river. Access is more limited in the Gorge section but improves where State Highway 73 comes close to the river just west of Cass. A number of the Waimakariri’s tributaries, which are home to excellent trout fisheries, can be accessed directly off SH73.

The Mouth & Lagoon

The Waimakariri Mouth is unlike any other in Canterbury. Rather than the typical long shingle spit, large lagoon and deep, narrow gut, the Waimakariri flows into a big tidal bay. The point where it enters the sea can be more than 100 metres wide. The top half of the outgoing tide is the most productive in the tidal reaches, especially when it coincides with the first few hours of daylight. The Waimakariri salmon run is later and occurs over a shorter period of time than runs in other rivers. The best salmon fishing in the tidal reaches is during February and March. Boat owners can launch into the Kaiapoi River at the ramp near the BMX track in Kaiapoi. It is then a short distance down the Kaiapoi to the Waimakariri. Boats can also be launched at Kairaki or just above the Motorway bridge. Please note that boat drivers are required to keep their speed below five knots in the Kaiapoi and below the Motorway Bridge.

McIntosh’s Rocks are located a kilometre above the mouth on the north side of the river and are the most popular fishing location on the river. This a great place for young or novice anglers as no wading is required and other anglers are always nearby to lend a hand if needed. There is also a wheelchair platform for mobility impaired anglers at McIntosh's Rocks. Populations of sea run trout move into the Waimakariri tidal reaches throughout the spring and early summer. The most popular place to fish for these are in the riffles at the top of the tidal zone, close to the Old Highway Bridge. The best time to fish is when a discoloured river coincides with low tide during the last hour of daylight.

Reminder: A wheelchair fishing platform has been installed at McIntosh's Rocks. Anglers confined to a wheelchair can deal directly with ECan at either the ECan Parks Office, 1330 Main North Road, by appointment via contacting them through either by phone through their Main ECan Town Office Customer Services, or emailing direct the “Parks Team” at  Duty.Ranger@ecan.govt.nz

On a case by case basis they consider key applications, the main criteria being a disabled / mobility vehicle exemption.

The Middle Reaches (SH1 to Gorge Bridge)

Salmon fishing in the middle reaches is unpredictable. The fish tend to wait in the tidal reaches for a fresh before racing through the middle reaches in a mad rush, trying to reach the safety of the gorge before water levels drop. Anglers who are on the river at this time do very well, but their success rate drops dramatically once the run is past. The first day the river is clear after a fresh between mid February and the end of March is the best time to fish the middle reaches. Access to this section of the river is excellent. In fact, it is one of the few pieces of salmon real estate where having access to a jet boat, 4WD, or ATV is not a great advantage. Salmon pools are easy to locate on this river. Any slow-flowing, deep water is worth a cast or two. This sort of water is often found around river protection groynes or clumps of willow trees. The middle reaches of the Waimakariri are also home to good populations of rainbow and brown trout, which are most common during autumn and winter.

The Gorge

The Waimakariri Gorge is one of the most New Zealand’s most scenic river settings. Unfortunately, most of it is inaccessible to shore-bound anglers, who can only get to the river at the Gorge Bridge, Woodstock and the Kowai River confluence. The gorge reaches offer more consistent salmon fishing than further down, especially in March and early April. Please note that salmon fishing is not permitted above Staircase Gully, which is located a few kilometres upstream of Woodstock. Check the current regulations before contemplating a salmon fishing trip in this part of the river.

The Upper Reaches 

The Upper Reaches & Tributaries Limited trout fishing opportunities exist in the main stem of the Waimakariri above the Mt White Bridge. The river tends to get very low in this section during the summer, and trout are often forced to move down into the gorge to find permanent flows. However, excellent trout fishing is available in tributary streams such as Broken River, Winding Creek and the Porter River. These streams are less prone to flooding than the main river and offer consistent fishing throughout the open season. These rivers are best accessed off State Highway 73 between Lake Lyndon and Lake Pearson.

Methods

Salmon

Spin fishing is the most effective salmon fishing technique for fishing the Waimakariri. A medium action rod of 2-2.5 metres in length, coupled with a fixed or free spool reel capable of holding 200 metres of 7-10kg line, is ideal. Tidal reach anglers use lures that cast well but still have action. 42 gram ticers and 28 gram zed spinners are the most popular. Anglers fishing above the State Highway 1 Bridge use lighter lures as casting distance is not important. Zed spinners weighing between 17 and 22 grams are the most popular. These must be fished right on the bottom in order to get a bite.

Trout

Sea run trout are most easily caught on streamer flies and soft baits imitating native smelt, particularly in fast-flowing water. Spin fishing techniques can also be effective but tend to work better in slower-flowing water. Traditional fly and spin fishing techniques work well for upriver trout. The silt content of the water makes sight fishing difficult, and so anglers tend to use blind fishing techniques. The tributary streams offer a more typical back-country experience. Sight fishing for brown and rainbow trout using lightweight flyfishing tackle is likely to be the most successful technique. These tributaries are highly sensitive to over harvest and anglers are encouraged to limit the number of fish they take.

Regulations

A current sports fishing licence is required for trout. If you are fishing for salmon, you will need a Sea-Run Salmon Licence. This includes fishing within 500 metres of where it flows into the sea. Please consult a current Regulation Guide before you commence fishing.

For more details on Sea-Run salmon, use this link: FAQ's for Sea-Run Salmon Anglers

Further Information

Fishing conditions in the Waimakariri River are highly variable, with floods taking place at regular intervals throughout the fishing season. In order to avoid disappointment and possible danger, anglers are strongly advised to check conditions before leaving home.

The following information source should be of help...

Use this link: ECan River Flow Service