Otago Reel Life December 2017

Fisheries in great shape for holiday anglers

We are due for a good period of settled weather so let’s hope this holiday season lives up to our expectations.

Not only does good weather keep the kids outside, calm conditions provide an incentive to grab the fishing rod.

The Otago Region has wonderful fishing resources and it shouldn’t make any difference whether you have to travel or simply roll off your lounger at the motor camp...just have a positive attitude and do some simple planning to wet a line.

Above Right: Fish & Game staff on patrol during the summer holidays.

Lake, river and reservoir conditions across the region have remained stable providing good angling opportunities and fish in superb condition.

Lake Hawea continues to produce plenty of medium-sized salmon and large rainbow trout.

Trolling at the Neck has been very successful and there has been an abundance of green beetles scattered around the shoreline.

While green is an obvious lure colour, pink is also a well-proven salmon catcher.

The inland reservoirs are favourite holiday destinations and easy environments to teach the kids to fish.

Many are stocked with hatchery-reared rainbows that are often easy to catch and provide good entertainment.

Teach your children the art of spinning or have some floats with worms available.

Educate your kids well and if you intend to keep fish ensure that a chilly bin with ice is on hand.

Summer lake surveys

Fish & Game staff and voluntary rangers will be busy over the summer holidays interviewing anglers, checking licences and recording catch details.

It’s important that you carry your licence at all times when fishing.

Details on cell phones are acceptable but other forms of identification will be required.

Fishing regs review

The first of a series of public consultation meetings on the Anglers Notice was held in Queenstown in association with the Wakatipu Anglers Club in early December.

Further meetings are being scheduled for Alexandra, Balclutha, Dunedin and Wanaka in February 2018.

Left: Otago reservoirs are full of fish and great holiday destinations.

A public notice in the ODT paper will be run in mid-January with details of venues and times, the submission deadline and links to this website.

Issues for consideration: 

• Standardising regulations for un-named waters in the Upper Clutha catchment in line with adjacent named waters
• Redefining  and simplifying regulations in the Upper Clutha River from Wanaka outlet downstream
• Management options for the Upper Pomahaka River where anglers have expressed concerns about declining fishery quality
• Season length and bag limit options for Lake Mahinerangi
• Reconsideration of daily bag limits on lowland rivers and major lakes, including splitting daily limits on lakes to recognise the productivity of landlocked lake salmon populations

Minimum flow update

Staff are heavily involved in field work, public meetings and submissions on a range of waters that are subject to the minimum flow setting process.

This work is important to ensure that a river's natural character and ecological values are protected long term from excessive water abstraction.

Holiday water safety

Whether you're boating, fishing from the shore, or having fun with the kids on the water, make sound decisions over the holiday period. 

It’s simply about ensuring that all family members return home safely.

From the Otago Fish & Game team, thank you for all your support over the past year and we wish you a very pleasant Christmas and New Year.

Cliff Halford, Otago Fish & Game Officer

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