Category: Reel Life
Keep up to date with all the freshwater fishing action, news, events and comment from across New Zealand by signing up to 'Reel Life' - the official monthly newsletter from Fish & Game New Zealand.
Why not check out some recent editions of our 'Reel Life' newsletter here?
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Reel Life March 2023
April is awesome for fishing in North Canterbury, it's the goldilocks zone, not too hot, not too dry just right for both the fish and anglers.
Reel Life February 2023
Around 500 anglers participated in the Rakaia Salmon Competition last weekend.
Reel Life January 2023
This summer has been the fishing summer in North Canterbury; our Rangers have been out and about and seen anglers all over the region.
Reel Life December 2022
North Canterbury has loads of Christmas fishing options for those looking for a holiday fishing mission.
Reel Life November 2022
North Canterbury’s hidden secret fisheries are its lake fisheries; most are just a short drive from Christchurch but often overlooked as anglers head to the more famous river fisheries of...
Reel Life October 2022
We've had reports the lower reaches of the big rivers (Waimakariri and Rakaia) are holding beautifully condition sea run trout that anglers are catching in good numbers.
Reel Life September 2022
With opening day (October 1st) falling on a Saturday this season, I’m sure many anglers have booked a few days off work to fish their go-to spot and make the...
Welcome to the first Reel Life issue of the 2022/23 fishing season
Your new season fishing licence will unlock the wonderful New Zealand rivers and lakes to you for a fishing season that is looking awesome.
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Reel Life April 2022
This is the last Reel Life until September! We'll still be putting out weekly fishing reports until the end of April, so if you want to hear more about the...
Reel Life January 2022
January is a popular month for fishing, with anglers able to head further afield for some R&R.
Reel Life December 2021
Well, we are not far away from the summer holidays and without a doubt, the best summer holidays are centred around fishing – well, we think so anyway!
Reel Life November 2021
Anglers have been all over the spring fishing this year, and things are looking just as good for November.
Reel Life October 2021
The 2021/22 fishing season is only a week away, and your fishing licence is your ticket to adventure and opens a world of opportunities for you and your family.
Reel Life January 2021
January has been a great month for fly fishing. Some settled weather has meant some great back country fishing.
Reel Life December 2020
Canterbury is blessed with a number of high-country lakes, ranging in size from the large Coleridge and Sumner to more intimate lakes such as Grasmere and Georgina.
Reel Life November 2020
This spring has been dominated by Nor westers, this isn’t unusual at this time of year and is a common frustration among anglers.
Reel Life October 2020
The first Saturday in November marks the opening of high-country lakes in the North Canterbury Region.
Reel Life September 2020
As usual opening day prospects are determined largely by weather and river conditions on the day.
Reel Life August 2020
The new fishing season is only five weekends away and your new season fishing licence will unlock the full fishing potential of New Zealand for you to explore.
Reel Life February 2020
There are many positives for the anglers who target March on their fishing calendar.
North Canterbury Reel Life January 2020
Well the salmon are finally here, actually, it looks as if some of the salmon runs were quite early this year, it’s just that the rivers were too high for...
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North Canterbury Reel Life December 2019
The North Canterbury region offers much to the angler during the holiday season.
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North Canterbury Reel Life November 2019
After a perfect high-country opening weekend at the start of November the weather has been dominated by North West winds.
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North Canterbury Reel Life October 2019
The first Saturday in November marks the opening of high-country lakes in the North Canterbury Region.
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North Canterbury Reel Life September 2019
Opening day prospects
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North Canterbury Reel Life August 2019
September is always a good time to have a couple of outings before the real show starts in October.
North Canterbury Reel Life March 2019
Most people are aware that the way the holidays are lining up this month is very fortuitous.
North Canterbury Reel Life February 2019
The weather over recent weeks has been very settled and very warm.
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North Canterbury Reel Life January 2019
There's always lots going on in February for the North Canterbury angler, including on the salmon front, as the main alpine rivers should have the fish all through them.
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North Canterbury Reel Life December 2018
Summer...are we there yet? Surely by the Christmas holidays we are going to get some sunny days.
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North Canterbury Reel Life November 2018
November has seen some of the biggest floods in the alpine rivers that we have seen for years.
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North Canterbury Reel Life October 2018
For a kick off, we apologise for a mistake in the Anglers Notice - the high country Opening Day is on the first Saturday of November, the 3rd, and not...
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North Canterbury Reel Life September 2018
One of the biggest influences on fish condition and abundance in the lead up to Opening Day is how many severe floods happened in the preceding months.
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North Canterbury Reel Life August 2018
Although winter can produce some stunning still days that are ideal for getting out onto lakes, September can be a very windy unpredictable month.
Reel Life May 2018
We’ve got a simple message as May rolls into June and the start of winter…there is still some terrific fishing out there!
North Canterbury Reel Life April 2018
As the salmon season drew to an end, the general consensus was that it was yet another poor season.
North Canterbury Reel Life March 2018
Looking back at last month's Reel Life I made a foolish prediction based on previous years that March would bring some more settled weather.
North Canterbury Reel Life February 2018
Volunteers really stepped up to the mark over a weekend for the annual task of marking all remaining enhancement programme stocks.
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North Canterbury Reel Life January 2018
Good news for anglers - the six lakes closed late last year after trout were discovered with unidentified rashes - have been re-opened.
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North Canterbury Reel Life December 2017
If you are camping by a lake this holiday try fishing from a kayak or small inflatable, trolling with light spinning gear with either Tassies or Rapalas.
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North Canterbury Reel Life November 2017
The fishing season got off to a slow start due to cooler weather and high rivers - but recent large highs have over the South Island have brought some settled weather.
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North Canterbury Reel Life October 2017
Many anglers won't need reminding that November 4 marks the opening of the high country lakes.
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North Canterbury Reel Life September 2017
At the time of writing almost all the rivers in the region are high and dirty, fairly typical for this time of year - but read on!
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North Canterbury Reel Life August 2017
This morning I went for a walk down to the Selwyn Huts and the water was still a little murky for spotting trout.
North Canterbury Reel Life May 2017
The opening of the Game bird hunting season is often a welcome transition for many licence holders from fishing to hunting.
North Canterbury Reel Life Apr 2017
As the season draws to a close there has been some settled weather to bring a rush of activity from both salmon and trout anglers alike.
Wellington Reel Life Mar 2017
Okay, the weather has been crazy, and at least in some rivers that normally fire the fish have been fickle...
Auckland / Waikato Reel Life Mar 2017
An ambitious tagging program has been started on the Whanganui River by Fish & Game councillor Nigel Juby.
Hawke's Bay Reel Life Mar 2017
After another hot dry summer, it was refreshing to get some decent rain in early March to give the rivers a flush out and add some volume to their flows.
Taranaki Reel Life Mar 2017
With only one significant fresh in the last month, Taranaki ringplain streams and rivers have been very fishable – and there’s even been a nice period of settled weather to...
Nelson Marlborough Reel Life Mar 2017
Trout flying bright green streamers were released into the Riuwaka River during a day long operation in mid-March.
West Coast Reel Life Mar 2017
Conditions have certainly come right recently, with great fishing available.
Both opportunities for salmon and trout fishing have been excellent this month, as the weather has settled down and the river flows have stabilised.
North Canterbury Reel Life Mar 2017
Late March and early April often brings settled weather to the Canterbury region.
Central South Island Reel Life Mar 2017
April is the last month of the ‘summer’ fishing season.
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New Blog Post
Finally, in a clear patch of weather Southland staff were able to get out and undertake drift diving surveys as part of their annual trout monitoring program.
Northland Reel Life Mar 2017
Autumn has arrived – with the mornings noticeably cooler and some heavy dews happening.
Eastern Reel Life Mar 2017
Autumn has rolled around quickly and seasonal changes are evident in the Eastern Fish & Game region.
North Canterbury Reel Life FEB 2017
Well it’s been a challenging summer for fishing - if it wasn't the wind it was flooded rivers that upset many plans.
Nelson / Marlborough Reel Life FEB 2017
'exhilarating' cicada season in full swing
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Northland Reel Life Feb 2017
With warm temperatures and a “medium adverse event” declared in Northland, water levels have been getting very low.
Taranaki Reel Life Feb 2017
At last...after a long period of westerly conditions bringing cool winds and lots of rain, we've finally enjoyed some settled summer weather in Taranaki, not a moment too soon!
Eastern Reel Life Feb 2017
Lake Rotoiti has been one of the top performers so far this summer, serving up some “solid” catches.
Auckland / Waikato Reel Life Feb 2017
The weather has been less than ideal recently but the heat has brought out the cicadas – and the trout that feed on them.
Northland Reel Life Jan 2017
We hope everyone has had a good summer break...or are still enjoying your holidays.
Eastern Reel Life Jan 2017
Lake Rotorua’s shoreline fishery has been slow to get underway this summer due to cooler and windier than normal conditions.
Central South Island Reel Life JAN 2017
It has been a fickle summer weather-wise, with welcome small but regular rainfall events occurring across the region.
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West Coast Reel Life Jan 2017
Large numbers of hunters turned out in the West Coast Region for Opening Weekend this year, both local hunters and many from other regions.
Nelson/Marlborough Reel Life JAN 2017
The Taylor River fishery is in good shape after a 50 medium to large brown trout were released before Christmas.
Wellington Reel Life Jan 2017
Spring and now 'summer' continue to be a real mixed bag when it comes to weather and fishing prospects.
Taranaki Reel Life Jan 2017
Regular freshes, persistent westerly winds and even an early dump of snow have conspired to provide great conditions for the trout, but not so flash for the anglers.
Hawke’s Bay Reel Life Jan 2017
December and early January have seen many of the rivers running low and clear as we progress through the hot summer months here in the Hawke’s Bay.
Auckland / Waikato Reel Life Jan 2017
Fish & Game staff were recently on the Whakapapa and Whanganui Rivers monitoring water quality and witnessed some amazing hatches in the late evening, and heard cicada sounding off all day.
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