Weekly Fishing Report — Central South Island — 02/12/2021

The canals have produced another potential world record sports fish!

Last week Geoff Clarke caught a 17.5-pound sockeye salmon at the Ohau canal system outlet.

A catch like this would make the news in Alaska; in fact, it probably will.

Above Right: Geoff Clarke and his gigantic 17.5-pound sockeye salmon-Photo Geoff Clarke

The current all-tackle world record is 15-pound and 3 ounces (6.88kg), caught in 1987 by Stan Roach in the Kenai River, Alaska.

While Stan was using a 30-pound tippet and targeting sea-run salmon, Geoff used a 6-pound tippet and an imitation egg lure and targeted trout and Chinook salmon around the salmon farms.

Geoff had initially thought his catch was a rainbow trout with its dark back colouration. Still, after sharing a photo of his catch on Facebook, he received messages informing him of the identity of his fish and that it could be a world record.

Geoff said the fight was unlike a rainbow or Chinook salmon’s — it did three medium size runs, surfaced once and then dove deep and tried to bury its head in the rocks and weed — about a 10-minute battle.

A closer look at Geoff Clarke's heavy-weight sockeye salmon-Photo Geoff Clarke

This super-sized sockeye catch comes nearly a year after several massive sockeye salmon were caught in the same area.

The XL sockeye caught last season were about 5 – 10-pounds, so I wonder if Geoff’s catch is from the same group of fish that didn’t spawn last year and now are about 10-pounds bigger…

Could we see a 20-pound sockeye caught this February?

Geoff is thinking about applying for the world record and will have to get all the paperwork sorted within the limited timeframes.

The upper Ahuriri River and Lagoons open this Saturday, December 6^th.

This is an iconic fishery, with scenery matching the fishing as an attraction.

Let’s hope the weather plays ball, but as I write this on Tuesday, there is a nasty wet front forecast to hit the alps on Friday and over the weekend.

Be sure to check the weather forecast before heading out this weekend.

The ECan website has a rain gauge in the Ahuriri valley, river flow gauges in the middle and lower sections of the river.

Last weekend we received region-wide rainfall, so it is well worth checking out the ECan river flows website before your trip this weekend to see how flows have abated.

There could be some great opportunities to fish those lowland rivers and streams as they drop back in flow.

The Opihi River was still high and discoloured on Tuesday afternoon, but other tributaries were coming right.

The weather forecast is half-decent for the Canterbury Plains this weekend – at this stage.

Lake Poaka near Twizel offers fantastic fly fishing opportunities-Photo R Adams

Finally, in this report, an idea for a fishing spot this December – Lake Poaka near Twizel.

This is a fly fishing only lake – one of the few fly fishing only waters we have in the CSI Region.

Fish & Game, DOC and ECan have put considerable efforts to knock back the smothering riparian vegetation here over the past few years.

The key benefit of the vegetation control project for anglers is that it has made room to access the shoreline and to have room for a backcast. There are also other ecological benefits for birds and fish and recreational benefits for campers and the likes.     

On a recent visit, I saw several medium to large trout cruising the shallow margins of the lake – and not an angler in sight.

The gaps between the trees around the camping area and small peninsulas held opportunities for sight fishing.

The Twizel River delta area would be a great spot to scout out in the daytime with some sight fishing on offer and then be well worth visiting after dark to swing a woolly bugger or lumo fly.

Notice Board

Tekapo River spill flow advisory

Genesis Energy is currently spilling water to the lower Tekapo River via the Lake George Scott Weir.

Tekapo River flows may rise rapidly during spilling, and all river users are urged to take extreme caution to avoid rising river flows.   

Spill flows can be viewed at the Genesis website here.

Tekapo River flows in the lower river, downstream of the Mary Burn confluence can be view on the ECan website here.”  

Waitaki River flushing flow

Meridian advise that a flushing flow generated from the Waitaki Dam to the Waitaki River is scheduled to occur on December 8. (commencing at 12 am on the 8^th and finishing at 12 am on the 9^th). Flushing flows are at least 450 m3/s for 24 hours.

Waitaki River flows at Kurow can be viewed at the ECan website here. 

CSI Council Meeting – Thursday, December 9th, 2021 (3.30 pm)

The Central South Island Fish and Game Council will be holding a Council meeting on Thursday 9th December at 3:30 pm at Council's Boardroom, 32 Richard Pearse Drive, Temuka.

CSI Annual Public Meeting - Thursday, December 9th, 2021 (7.30 pm)

The Annual Public Meeting of the Central South Island Fish and Game Council will be held on Thursday 9th December at 7:30 pm at Council's Boardroom, 32 Richard Pearse Drive, Temuka.

Licence holders are welcome to attend.  Please be advised that at both the Council and Annual Public meetings masks must be worn in Council’s building and 1-metre distancing rule will apply.  CSI Council will be adhering to the rules stipulated under the Orange Covid Traffic Light system.

Draft Sports Fish and Game Management Plan 

The Draft Sports Fish and Game Management Plan for the Central South Island Region was publicly notified on 16 October.

Submissions are due before 5 pm on 10 December 2021.

The Draft Plan, public notice and submission form can be found here. 

Tight Lines,

Rhys Adams

Central South Island Fish & Game Officer