Weekly Fishing Report — Central South Island — 13/01/2022

It’s time to enjoy some summer fishing conditions
We seem to have finally made it to mid-summer weather forecast with no obvious rain predicted for a week or so, but that can change.
Region-wide waterway river conditions are now looking like what we expect in summer, relatively low flows, warm water and a bit of algal growth.
Feature image 'summertime fishing at Lake Alexandrina' Credit Rhys Adams
In saying that, it has been a pretty wet holiday period and flows are still holding in there in river sections that are expected to go dry.
However, summer water conditions will indeed be enjoyed this coming weekend so there are a few things to keep in mind.
Water temperatures are coolest in the morning, so this can the most productive time to fish.
For fly anglers its dry fly time so be sure to take a selection of flies that resemble terrestrial insects like blowflies, cicada and aquatic insects like mayfly.
Anglers trolling the surface and shoreline on lakes should be mindful of lake surface temperatures.
If surface temperatures are getting above about 19°C then it’s time to get your lures a bit deeper, usually only 2-3 metres deep water is substantially cooler and preferable for trout.
To gauge water temperatures, you can review the ECan river flow website, some of the flows gauge sites also provide water temperature.
Water temperatures are usually at their highest in the late afternoon as the heat of the day wanes.
Now for a few observations from the region.
There is some optimism we are in for a better sea run salmon season at the Rangitata River than the previous two “dud” seasons.
The river has finally cleared up after months of back-to-back rain events in the headwaters.
Ben Chivers tries his luck at the Rangitata River during the school holidays credit Rhys Adams
Some nice fish in the 10 – 15-pound size class have been caught recently.
At least two anglers have hung up their salmon gear for the season, successfully harvesting their season bag limit of two sea run salmon already.
We have had reports of great salmon fishing in Lake Benmore near Benmore Dam.
The salmon are reported to be taken deep trolling and said to be about 2-pound sockeye.
In my experience, Lake Benmore sockeye salmon should be around 1-pound currently – I’d guess they might actually be Chinook salmon.
But, I havn’t seen the fish or photo’s, so I could be wrong and we could be seeing larger sockeye this year like were observed about four seasons back.
There has been another super-sized sockeye caught from the canal system – about 12-pound. I have seen that photo.
In my observations from ranging at the canals we are experiencing some of the most consistent catches of chinook salmon in the canals in a few years.
I’m not suggesting everyone is catching their bag limit at all, rather, that there is consistently an appreciable number of salmon caught.
So rather than the boom-and-bust style canal salmon fishing we have experienced in recent year there appears to be a reliable chance of hooking one currently.
Notice Board
Want to catch a sea run salmon?
New regulations and requirements apply for sea run salmon in the CSI and North Canterbury Regions.
Click here for all the information you need.
Tekapo River spill flow advisory
Genesis Energy are currently spilling water to the Tekapo River via the Lake George Scott Weir.
Spilling is likely to occur over the holiday season.
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.”
Waterway Health Warnings
Before planning your trip, be sure to visit Environment Canterbury’s website to view up to date notifications and information regarding toxic cyanobacteria warnings on Canterbury waterways.
Tight Lines,
Rhys Adams
Central South Island Fish & Game Officer
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