North Canterbury Fishing Report 18th November 2021

Lowland fishing
The L11/Ararira, Selwyn/Waikirkiri and Harts Creek/Waitatari are all fishing very well this year.
The condition of the fish in these rivers indicates that there is plenty of food in the lake to fatten them up.
Night fishing can be very productive in these waters.
If you can escape for some fun once the sun goes down, your chances of catching a fish are increased.
In early November, those anglers fishing the Selwyn/Waikirikiri were lucky enough to observe the Aurora Australis.
Check out this photo taken above by talented angler and photographer Vaughan Morrisey.
Above Right: The Selwyn/Waikirikiri Aurora Australis. Photo: Vaughan Morrisey.
Lake Forsyth/ Te Wairewa is picking up now, with sea-run trout and perch being caught.

A Perch caught by Emilie Craighead at Lake Forsyth/ Te Wairewa. Photo: Vaughan Morrisey.
Attached is a photo of a nice perch caught on a soft bait 1/8oz jig head.
For more info on how to fish Lake Forsyth/ Te Wairewa, go to https://fishandgame.org.nz/news/north-canterbury-fishing-report-28th-october-2021/.
Big rivers & salmon
The nor-wests have brought a late snowfall to our beautiful southern alps backdrop and sent a fresh down the big rivers.
These rivers are likely to stay unfishable for the weekend…. much to the disappointment of salmon anglers on the Rakaia and Rangitata.
They had started to bring in a few salmon before the rivers went dirty.
Salmon have also been seen in the lower reaches of the Waimakariri, although no one has owned up to catching one yet.
If you are salmon fishing this season, you need a salmon endorsement card to go with your licence.
Get your free one online at Fish & Game if you have not done so already https://fishandgame.eyede.com/Endorsement/SearchLicenceHolders.
Keep it on you when salmon fishing and safely return it to Fish & Game at the end of the season.
This will significantly help us monitor and manage the fishery.
Coleridge
Lake Coleridge is fishing well at the moment with reports of plenty of salmon about - they are on the smaller side but still a welcome catch!
The rainbows that have been caught have been in excellent condition.
The weather is looking a bit iffy for the high country this weekend, with some strong nor-west winds predicted, so if you want to head up, check out the conditions beforehand.
Check out www.windy.com https://www.windy.com/-43.269/171.497/meteogram?cbase,-43.765,171.953,8,i:pressure,m:cs2akUY or the Metservice Canterbury High Country forecast: https://www.metservice.com/mountains-and-parks/national-parks/canterbury-high-country
Note that the road into Ryton Bay is open so anglers can access the lake, although you need a good 4WD vehicle.
Remember, there is no camping on private land at Ryton Bay, but camping is available at the Trust Power Harper campsite.
Fish & Game and Ballinger’s hunting and fishing were disappointed to delay the Lake Coleridge fishing competition due to Covid-19.
But the plan is to reschedule it for the first quarter of next year. So we will update you when we have a date for this popular event.
Tight Lines
Categories
Archive
- December 2023
- November 2023
- October 2023
- September 2023
- August 2023
- July 2023
- June 2023
- May 2023
- April 2023
- March 2023
- February 2023
- January 2023
- December 2022
- November 2022
- October 2022
- September 2022
- August 2022
- July 2022
- June 2022
- May 2022
- April 2022
- March 2022
- February 2022
- January 2022
- December 2021
- November 2021
- October 2021
- September 2021
- August 2021
- July 2021
- June 2021
- May 2021
- April 2021
- March 2021
- February 2021
- January 2021
- December 2020
- November 2020
- October 2020
- September 2020
- August 2020
- July 2020
- June 2020
- May 2020
- April 2020
- March 2020
- February 2020
- January 2020
- December 2019
- November 2019
- October 2019
- September 2019
- July 2019
- June 2019
- May 2019
- April 2019
- March 2019
- February 2019
- January 2019
- December 2018
- November 2018
- October 2018
- September 2018
- August 2018
- July 2018
- June 2018
- May 2018
- April 2018
- March 2018
- February 2018
- January 2018
- December 2017
- November 2017
- October 2017
- September 2017
- August 2017
- July 2017
- June 2017
- May 2017
- April 2017
- March 2017
- February 2017
- January 2017
- December 2016
- November 2016
- October 2016
- September 2016
- August 2016
- July 2016
- June 2016
- May 2016
- April 2016
- March 2016
- February 2016
- January 2016
- December 2015
- November 2015
- October 2015
- September 2015
- August 2015
- July 2015
- June 2015
- May 2015
- April 2015
- March 2015
- February 2015
- December 2013
- March 2013
- September 2012
- July 2012