Reel Life December 2021

BRANCH & LEATHAM RELEASES UNDERWAY
Anglers should be delighted to hear Fish & Game have carried out a release of 250 1kg+ rainbow trout in the Leatham River into the mid-lower Leatham by vehicle.
The Branch River release is planned for the week 29 Nov - 3 Dec (weather dependant), where a helicopter will be used to liberate 300 fish into the upper Branch at various points from Silverstream confluence upstream.
The fish are not tagged; however, they are missing their adipose fins, so they can still be identified by anglers when catching fish and staff while carrying out annual drift dives.
These releases are made possible through funding from Trustpower as mitigation for the Branch River hydro scheme.
As always, we appreciate any feedback on your fishing experience in this fantastic fishery.
HARVESTING ALONGSIDE THE MOTUEKA RIVER
The forest management company, OnefortyOne, wish to advise the public that they will be carrying out harvesting activities alongside the Motueka river near Biggs Cnr/Norths Bridge upstream to the Goldpine post yard between the 22nd November – 17th December.
No harvesting will be active during the weekends.
They ask that anglers avoid this stretch of the river and obey all signage and road closures while the work is carried out.
SPRING CREEK DIVE RESULTS
Spring Creek was recently dived by staff, and it was pleasing to see a recovery in the trout population, which was very low due to predation by seals in recent years.
It appears seals have been elsewhere in the past year or two, as evidenced by an increase in both brown and rainbow trout in most cohorts – see graph.
We expect to make the most of the early summer period to dive into several smaller rivers, including the Motupiko, Opouri, Riuwaka and upper Motueka.
WORKS AT BRANCH HYDRO WEIR
Anglers in the lower Branch River area would have noticed significant works currently underway at the intake weir (dam).
Trustpower is installing an infiltration gallery to allow water take during periods of higher flow and reduce the amount of gravel entering into the system.
Fish & Game have been consulted about the works and are happy with the construction methodology, which involves very little in-stream disturbance.
However, there will be around a month during February when the intake will be closed, and there will be no water coming into Lake Argyle.
Trustpower have indicated the lake and canal will remain at a normal level during this period.
However, there will be no electricity generation and therefore no flow through the lake and lower canal.
Fishing will still be possible in the lake and canals during this time; however, access to the lower Branch immediately upstream of the weir is off-limits until the project completion.
Jacob Lucas, Nelson Marlborough Fish & Game Officer
Categories
Archive
- March 2022
- February 2022
- January 2022
- December 2021
- November 2021
- October 2021
- August 2021
- April 2021
- March 2021
- February 2021
- January 2021
- December 2020
- November 2020
- October 2020
- September 2020
- August 2020
- March 2020
- February 2020
- January 2020
- December 2019
- November 2019
- October 2019
- September 2019
- August 2019
- April 2019
- March 2019
- February 2019
- January 2019
- December 2018
- November 2018
- October 2018
- September 2018
- August 2018
- May 2018
- April 2018
- March 2018
- February 2018
- January 2018
- December 2017
- November 2017
- October 2017
- September 2017
- August 2017
- May 2017
- March 2017
- February 2017
- January 2017