'Reel Life' Newsletter
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Reel Life November 2023
Hundreds of rivers, streams and lakes in Otago are just waiting for you this summer. Get out in nature, unwind, and reconnect. ReWild yourself!
Reel Life October 2023
Pack the fishing rods if you’re planning to escape for the October long weekend.
Reel Life August 2023
It took only 17 minutes for the first licence to be sold last Thursday when the new season’s licences went on sale at midnight.
Reel Life April 2023
Welcome to the final edition of Reel Life for the 2022/23 fishing season. We hope you’ve had a great season.
Reel Life January 2023
The Christmas-New Year holiday period did not disappoint many anglers looking to relax and reel in a catch.
Reel Life November 2022
Otago Fish & Game staff have been interviewing anglers around Lake Hāwea, to get an overview of the fishery.
Reel Life September 2022
Many anglers will be grabbing the chance for a weekend getaway on the opening of the 2022-23 fishing season.
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.
Read more about 'Welcome to the first Reel Life issue of the 2022/23 fishing season'...
Reel Life April 2022
Calling all junior anglers! Otago Fish & Game is offering anglers aged 17 years or under the chance to win one of three Shimano rod and reel sets.
Reel Life February 2022
Dunedin has three stillwater trout fishing spots within 15 minutes’ drive from the city centre - Southern Reservoir, Sullivans Dam and the Tomahawk Top Lagoon.
Reel Life November 2021
Opening day has rolled around again, and Otago Fish and Game staff are starting to hear of some good fishing reports.
Reel Life October 2021
Fish should be in fine condition for the October 1 start of the fishing season after a relatively mild winter.
Reel Life September 2021
This time of year, brown trout are in hot pursuit of whitebait in the lower reaches.
Reel Life April 2021
Anglers might be surprised how many places in Otago are open to fish over winter.
Reel Life February 2021
Our rangers have come across plenty of anglers out on our southern lakes, who still have trouble distinguishing between salmon, and rainbow or brown trout.
Reel Life January 2021
Our ranging team has been busy over the holiday period, checking over 250 anglers on our local waterways.
Reel Life December 2020
Some time off work to go fishing, along with a few weeks of warm, settled weather.
Reel Life November 2020
Outram was a hotbed of angling activity last Wednesday night when about 50 anglers attended the first of three clinics on softbait fishing.
Reel Life October 2020
If you managed to find some fishable water around opening, you probably had some success.
Reel Life September 2020
With the countdown to the new fishing season heading into the final week or so, it is time to get your gear organised and hatch a plan for opening.
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.
Otago Reel Life January 2020
Anglers over the holiday period were finally treated to some great fishing conditions, January provided a sequence of calm days and some great catches were reported.
Otago Reel Life December 2019
I can’t recall a wetter or windier December than we have just received.
Otago Reel Life November 2019
Anglers were grateful that on November 1 and for a few days the sun shone making the opening of western backcountry waters most pleasurable with anglers reporting great fishing and...
Otago Reel Life October 2019
For those of you that managed to get out for the start of the new season I trust the experience was well worth waiting for and some nice fish were landed.
Otago Reel Life September 2019
October 1 is the start of the 2019/20 season, a new licence and undisturbed water is the right formula to get started.
Otago Reel Life August 2019
Welcome to the first Otago edition of Reel life leading into the 2019/20 fishing season.
Otago Reel Life January 2019
In late January, temperatures across the region soared above 30°C with a mix of windy and dry conditions.
Otago Reel Life December 2018
Eagerly awaited, the Christmas and New Year holiday period allows anglers to leave work behind and time to concentrate on some enjoyable angling.
Otago Reel Life November 2018
In mid-late November a series of fronts with plenty of rain delivered a lot of water to central, eastern and southern Otago.
Otago Reel Life October 2018
Labour Weekend was warm and pleasant which allowed angers to take advantage of respectable fishing opportunities.
Otago Reel Life September 2018
The start of the new season on October 1 falls on a Monday so consider making a long weekend of it.
Otago Reel Life August 2018
Winter didn’t really arrive with average day time temperatures higher than usual.
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!
Otago Reel Life April 2018
April has been a cold month with plenty of wind and some snow on the tops.
Otago Reel Life March 2018
March was an unusual month - windy with periods of rain and the occasional calm spell that gave anglers a chance to get out on the water.
Otago Reel Life February 2018
January was one of the hottest on record with February probably the coolest.
Otago Reel Life January 2018
The good days and heat just keep on coming and look like continuing for some time.
Otago Reel Life December 2017
We are due for a good period of settled weather so let’s hope this holiday season lives up to our expectations.
Otago Reel Life November 2017
The period leading up to the holiday season is busy for most and can be very stressful.
Otago Reel Life October 2017
Rivers have been in good condition leading up to Otago’s backcountry river opening on November 1.
Otago Reel Life September 2017
Climate experts NIWA predict that temperatures in Otago are very likely to be above average, and rainfall totals will most likely fall into the normal range this spring.
Otago Reel Life August 2017
The weather during July and August was pretty miserable across the region with regular rain and the flooding in late July, which had a significant impact on lowland and coastal...
Otago Reel Life April 2017
Parts the region experienced some heavy rain in mid April and air temperatures have cooled. Coastal areas got a flush but to the west of the Region it has been...
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.
Otago Reel Life Mar 2017
Calm conditions and clear water through March was welcomed by anglers. Across the region anglers reported some great fishing and it’s set to continue through April.
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.
Southland Reel Life Mar 2017
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.
Central South Island Reel Life Mar 2017
April is the last month of the ‘summer’ fishing season.
Read more about 'Central South Island Reel Life Mar 2017'...
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.
Southland Reel Life FEB 2017
In this month’s Reel Life article, field officer Cohen Stewart interviews retired fishing guide and honorary ranger Len Prentice to find out how the average angler can make their fishing...
Otago Reel Life FEB 2017
In mid-February summer finally arrived and anglers were able to get out and fish in some decent weather.
West Coast Reel Life FEB 2017
Over the past week and a half, weather conditions have improved significantly on the West Coast, with a period of excellent settled weather.
North Canterbury Reel Life FEB 2017
High hopes for March fishing
Nelson / Marlborough Reel Life FEB 2017
'exhilarating' cicada season in full swing
Read more about 'Nelson / Marlborough Reel Life FEB 2017'...
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!
Hawke’s Bay Reel Life Feb 2017
With February air temperatures peaking at 33OC at the airport, it was nice to receive some decent rain in the middle of the month to give the rivers a good...
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.
Southland Reel Life JAN 2017
As mentioned in previous Reel Life articles, there have been isolated increases in mouse populations in some parts of Southland.
North Canterbury Reel Life Jan 2017
As I write this report, the East Coast rivers in Canterbury have peaked in flood, with flows higher than seen for some time.
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.
Otago Reel Life JAN 2017
It’s fair to say that the summer holiday period has been severely interrupted by some abysmal weather over the past month and leading up to the New Year.
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.
Read more about 'Central South Island Reel Life JAN 2017'...
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.
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