Reel Life December 2025 - North Canterbury

Our braided rivers still aren’t getting a break from the persistent nor’west weather. With little time to clear, anglers haven’t had many opportunities to get amongst the action. The Canterbury Plains have also been drying out under the hot, windy conditions we’ve experienced over the past month, and as flows drop and water temps rise, fishing can become increasingly challenging.

On a brighter note, the high-country lakes are in excellent condition heading into the heart of the season. Despite regular strong winds since November, those who’ve timed their trips with the calmer spells have been rewarded with great fishing and some stunning fish.

The salmon front has been quieter than usual, largely due to the rivers staying discoloured. But once they clear and become fishable, it will be well worth heading out—there are already reports of salmon being caught by anglers surf-casting for other species, suggesting they’re moving in.

Upcoming Creel Survey Project

This season, we’ve launched a creel survey project across several of our high-country lakes. The aim is to better understand the experiences of anglers visiting these iconic waters.

What is a creel survey?

A creel survey is a brief interview carried out while anglers are fishing. We ask a few quick questions and, where relevant, measure and weigh any harvested fish. This information helps us assess the condition of fish populations and how these lakes are used throughout the season.

The data collected will play an important role in future regulation decisions. A big thank-you to all the anglers who have participated so far—we look forward to sharing the findings with licence holders in the coming months.

Christmas Office Closure

The North Canterbury Fish & Game office will close at 5:00pm on December 23rd and reopen at 8:30am on January 5th, 2026. Staff will be unavailable on public holidays.

If you have any enquiries during this period, please email Matthew Garrick at mgarrick@fishandgame.org.nz.