Weekly Fishing Report for Central South Island and North Canterbury for 2 February 2023

CENTRAL SOUTH ISLAND REPORT

Unfortunately, due to illness, Rhys is unable to supply a full report this week, but we do have a couple of Noticeboard items for anglers in the CSI Region: 

Noticeboard: 

Grays River Willow removal 

Anglers, please be aware Environment Canterbury (ECan) is felling willows on a section of Grays River near the Tekapo River, machinery will be working out of the water, but some water discolouration may occur when machinery crosses the river. 

Bi-monthly meeting of Central South Island Fish and Game Council 

The next Council meeting will be held on February 9, 7:30 pm, at 32 Richard Pearse Drive, Temuka. 

Licence holders and members of the public are welcome to attend. 

NORTH CANTERBURY REPORT 

Our lowland rivers and streams are the places to be this weekend for a spot of fishing this long weekend. 

A bunch of rain is falling in the backcountry, and our rivers will come up in the next few days. 

The Met service is forecasting almost continual nor-westerlies for the coming few days, which will send a fresh down our main alpine-fed rivers. 

Typically, after a fresh is a time when sea-run salmon will enter the river system, so for salmon anglers in the coming days after the nor-wester ends, it will be worth keeping a close eye on the ECan river flow website to see that flow dropping; you can check it here.

The ECan site is an excellent resource for checking all rivers in our region, not just the big alpine-fed rivers.

Trout anglers are highly recommended to use this resource to assist in planning their fishing expeditions.

Above Right: If you are lake fishing this weekend finding a spot out of the wind or fishing the downwind end of the lake is your best bet.

Sea-Run Salmon Fishing Episode two- where to salmon fish

Click here to watch Episode Two

Speaking of salmon, Episode two of our five-part series on sea run salmon fishing has been released. 

This week, the team tells us what to look out for on the river to target salmon and some techniques for getting your lures into the right spot.

Check it out here.

Be sure to check out next week's instalment too. 

Womens angling survey prize draw

 Late last year, Fish & Game surveyed women anglers throughout the country with our Women anglers in Aotearoa survey. 

Over 2400 women responded to the survey sent to 36,000 female licence holders. 

To thank respondents for their information,  there was a spot prize draw for some quality angling gear.

For privacy reasons, the names of prize winners cannot be posted, but the following are the locations where the prizes went. 

1x Okuma Rod & Reel Set – Rolleston 

3x $100 vouchers (of their choice) – Waikari, Christchurch, Gisborne 

8x Lure and soft bait bundles from Wondercast Fishing Tackle and Daiwa – Hastings, Invercargill, Tauranga, Christchurch, Nelson, Tuakau, Gore, Onehunga  

The survey results are still being analysed but will be available after the study. 

Lake Sumner road closed till next week at the earliest 

Due to a rain event earlier in the week, the Hurunui District Council has alerted us that the Lake Sumner Road will remain closed past Waitangi weekend. 

The main washout is approximately 22km up the road has left the concrete ford suspended mid-air, rendering the road impassable.

There is NO ACCESS to the lakes. 

The photo right was taken more than 12 hours after the rain stopped, with a power of water still racing through, carrying boulders. 

Stand up for your sport 

Anglers and hunters may have seen a call to arms from Fish & Game arrive in their inboxes this week. 

The Natural and Built Environments bill threatens our ability as kiwis to fish, hunt and recreate in the outdoors. 

If you didn’t receive an email and want to learn more, check out: https://www.fishandhuntforever.nz/ 

NOTICEBOARD

Little Rakaia Giant Slalom 

Little Rakia Boating Club is holding their annual Giant Slalom on February 11 in the lagoon; registration closes on February 3. Do not miss out, as entries are limited to 45 Boats, so if you are keen to participate, contact Graeme at 0275772257.  

Bi-monthly meeting of the North Canterbury Fish and Game Council 

The next Council meeting will be held on Wednesday, February 15, 5:30 pm, at 595 Johns Road, Harewood, Christchurch. 

Licence holders and members of the public are welcome to attend. 

Rakaia Salmon Fishing Competition  

February 24^th, 25^th and 26^th, 2023.  

The 40^th anniversary of the Rakaia competition, the largest freshwater fishing competition in New Zealand, attracts over 700 entrants yearly.  

Rakaia River Promotions (the organisers) will post more details soon but bookmark their webpage to get the latest info.   

The NZ Salmon Anglers Association Waimakariri Salmon Fishing Competition

Saturday, March 11 2023, start time 5 am, finishes at 3 pm

Weigh in station is located at the Waimakariri River mouth and opens at 8 am

Click here for more details.

If you have any recent photos of your fishing exploits or fishing events you want to publicise, send them to northcanterbury@fishandgame.org.nz ; even if they aren’t from our region, I’ll pass them on.  

Tight lines 

Richie Cosgrove, North Canterbury Fish & Game Officer.