'Reel Life' Newsletter
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Reel Life April 2023
As you read this, the last week of the season for most of our waterways lies ahead of you.
Reel Life March 2023
I am sure you will agree that there has been a definite change in the seasons down south.
Reel Life February 2023
Over the summer months, Southland Fish & Game staff have been undertaking drift dive surveys on our major rivers as part of our annual trout monitoring program.
Reel Life January 2023
Over the holiday period, spin anglers may have experienced the frustration of observing trout rising away on the surface and being unable to tempt them into taking their lure.
Reel Life December 2022
Over the summer holidays, the upper Waiau River is a favourite fishing spot for many anglers.
Reel Life November 2022
In last month’s edition of Reel Life, I wrote about soft baits and how they have become increasingly popular amongst trout anglers and have revolutionised spinning fishing for trout.
Reel Life October 2022
There’s no doubt about it, soft baits have certainly revolutionised spin fishing for trout.
Reel Life September 2022
The countdown is on! Just ten days to go until the start 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
If you are anything like me, whenever you drive past a petrol station, your eyeballs will be bulging when you look at the fuel prices that seem to be increasing daily.
Reel Life February 2022
This month, we want to highlight the awesome fishing opportunities on the Waiau River and share with you five top access spots.
Reel Life January 2022
With the summer break fast approaching, we thought we would provide anglers with ten quick fishing tips to make their holiday fishing trips more successful.
Reel Life December 2021
As mentioned in the last edition of Reel Life, we will be profiling some great access points on our major rivers with each monthly edition of Reel Life.
Reel Life November 2021
Southland anglers had a great start to the season, with almost all our rivers in good condition for the opening day and weekend.
Reel Life October 2021
The 21/22 sports fishing season is almost upon us, and this season is not one to be missed.
Reel Life September 2021
I’m sure that after this most recent lockdown there are plenty of anglers who are keen to head out trout fishing to stretch their legs, clear their heads and gather...
Reel Life April 2021
Fish & Game staff conducted drift dives on the upper Mataura, upper Oreti and lower Mararoa rivers during the month of March with some mixed results.
Reel Life March 2021
In a typical fishing season, many international anglers would be visiting Southland and they love to head into our backcountry and explore the fantastic fishing we have on offer.
Reel Life February 2021
Over the last few months, as rangers have been out talking with anglers, they have noticed lots of new anglers having a go at trout fishing.
Reel Life November 2020
The mid-reaches of the Oreti River between Benmore and Castle Rock is a fantastic stretch of river and one of my personal favourites.
Reel Life October 2020
During the first week of the season, some Southland rivers were a bit too high for fishing.
Reel Life September 2020
The 20/21 sports fishing season is almost upon us and this season is not one to be missed.
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
Fishing at night with mouse lures continues to be highly effective in many areas around Southland where beech forest is present – Lake Te Anau, Manapouri, Monowai, upper Waiau, Mararoa,...
Southland Reel Life January 2020
We have finally received some nice weather from the ‘weather gods’ and now is a perfect time to get the kids and grandkids out fishing.
Southland Reel Life December 2019
As many anglers will now be aware, the ‘mouse fishing’ is really starting to heat up around Southland.
Southland Reel Life November 2019
Now is the time to head out bait fishing on our lower rivers because there are heaps of trout about and they are readily taking baits.
Southland Reel Life October 2019
Despite some rain and elevated river flows during the first few weeks of the new fishing season, there has been some great trout fishing on offer around Southland.
Southland Reel Life September 2019
The team at Southland Fish & Game have put this short video together of tips and tricks to help you get a fish in their region this year.
Southland Reel Life August 2019
Over the last few weeks I have certainly noticed that things are starting to warm up (albeit slightly) and day length is increasing.
Southland Reel Life April 2019
The final month of the sports fishing season has been a good one with reports of great fishing action throughout the region.
Southland Reel Life March 2019
The weather has been starting to cool off down south but the same cannot be said for the trout fishing.
Southland Reel Life January 2019
Last month, I talked about a few spinning lures that should be in every angler’s tackle box.
Southland Reel Life December 2018
It's a question I get asked frequently by anglers who are new to spin fishing and want to increase their chances of success.
Southland Reel Life November 2018
From now, right through summer, is a great time to target those trout which inhabit the estuaries and tidal reaches of Southland’s main rivers.
Southland Reel Life October 2018
With the great weather over Labour Weekend came some superb fishing.
Southland Reel Life September 2018
Southland is blessed with some great small stream fisheries - the likes of the Orauea, Mokoreta, Mimihau, Otamita, Waimea and Hedgehope to name a few - and early season is...
Southland Reel Life August 2018
Now's the time to venture out of your armchair and over to the lower reaches of our rivers to catch a winter trout.
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!
Southland Reel Life April 2018
The tail end of the fishing season, April and May, is an ideal time to target Southland rainbows.
Southland Reel Life March 2018
Southland river levels have been variable this month with high flows occurring earlier in March.
Southland Reel Life February 2018
This month the Southland region finally experienced a good dumping of rain that raised the rivers enough for Fish & Game staff to conduct some of their annual fish spotting...
Southland Reel Life January 2018
Over summer, the Mavora Lakes are a popular camping destination for both local Southlanders and visiting anglers.
Southland Reel Life December 2017
For many Southland anglers it is a family tradition to head to the lakes for the Christmas and New Year period and these family trips often involve a few days fishing.
Southland Reel Life November 2017
From about November through to January each year, the common smelt makes its way from the ocean into the tidal reaches of our rivers and streams.
Southland Reel Life October 2017
Southland anglers have been thrilled with the start of the new sports fishing season.
Southland Reel Life September 2017
Southland is blessed with some great small stream fisheries, the likes of the Orauea, Mokoreta, Mimihau, Otamita, Waimea and Hedgehope to name a few, and early season is the perfect...
Southland Reel Life August 2017
In Southland, trout fishing options abound and the season ahead is shaping up to be a good one.
Southland Reel Life May 2017
A majority of the larger brown trout in Southland’s rivers will certainly be in spawning mode at the moment.
Southland Reel Life April 2017
In their day to day ranging, Fish & Game staff have many fishing conversations with anglers from all around the region.
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. Insect activity is high, especially on calm days.
Southland Reel Life Mar 2017
Finally there has been a clear patch of weather and Southland Fish and Game staff have been able to get out and undertake drift diving surveys as part of our...
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...
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.
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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