North Canterbury Reel Life April 2019

Fishing opportunities in May

April has been a fantastic month for trout anglers.

There have been some massive highs bringing settled weather and great trout fishing conditions.

High country lakes have fished well right throughout the season.

Back country rivers have also fished well towards the end of the season with many local anglers enjoying quitter numbers on the rivers.

Above right: Dominik Letkovsky with the 15lb rainbow trout Jill caught on Lake Georgina.

The end of April signals the end of the traditional fishing season.

There are still some opportunities however.

For our high country lakes - Loch Katrine and Lake Sumner are still open.

These would be well worth a look as there is still settled pleasant boating weather heading into May.

Lake Forsyth is open all year and remains a good destination for well-conditioned browns.

As for the rivers, the end of April means no more salmon fishing.

There are still some options for trout anglers though.

The Rakaia River is open for catch and release trout fishing from State Highway One to the White Posts.

Likewise with the Waimakariri and Ashley rivers, which are open from State Highway One to the Western Zone boundaries for catch and release trout only.

The Hurunui and Waiau are slightly different in that that are still open from the mouth to the Western Zone boundaries for catch and release trout only.

All well worth a look before the browns disappear around mid June to spawn.

After only one month of closure there are a number of lakes that open again on June 1 including Coleridge, Lyndon, Pearson, Selfe and Taylor.

These lakes, as well as Sumner and Katrine, which are open all year, provide some varied angler opportunity for anglers using both spin and fly, shore and boat-based fishing.

It is only one month to wait which isn’t that long really. June can provide some amazing still days on the high country lakes.

Fish & Game activities

It’s a busy time of year for fish & Game staff in autumn and early winter.

As well as preparing for the opening of the duck hunting season, there are also a number of fisheries projects on the go.

This year staff will be conducting spawning surveys on all the main salmon spawning tributaries in the four main alpine river catchments.

Following this, staff will be continuing a genetic sampling programme of our salmon population to better understand any genetic diversity.

Biennial fishing regs review

North Canterbury Fish & Game is calling for angler submissions on the biennial fishing regulations review.

Every two years we seek angler feedback and suggestions on our regulations.

This is your chance to have your say on how harvest is controlled for our fishery.

The angling regulations try to set a balance between angling opportunity and sustainable fisheries management.

Sometimes these two goals conflict and rules have to change over time to manage this.

There is a process for anglers to be involved in the process before council makes a final decision in June.

All submissions need to be written and anglers with a submission need to have them into Fish & Game by 5pm, May 10.

On Wednesday May 15 we will hold a public submission hearing at the North Canterbury Fish & Game Office from 6.30pm for those who wish to talk on their submission.

You can email your submission tonorthcanterbury@fishandgame.org.nzor post it into:

North Canterbury Fish & Game,

PO Box 50,

WOODEND

All submissionswill be collated and given to councillors for their consideration.

Don't miss this chance to have your say!

Tony Hawker, North Canterbury Fish & Game officer.

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