Reel Life December 2025 - Otago

Welcome to the Otago edition of Reel Life for December. It has been an exceptionally busy month for the Otago Fish & Game staff and council members, marked by the exciting official opening of our new headquarters in Mosgiel. Angling is picking up across the region as we hit the silly season:

• trout are actively feeling in our rivers
• our big lakes are full due to high rainfall in the headwaters
• warmer temperatures mean perch are in hyper-active mode
• salmon are biting in good numbers near the Lake Hāwea dam.

Early summer weather has been unsettled, so it pays to make the most of the clear, settled windows between the rain. We encourage all our licence holders to enjoy every opportunity to get among our world-class fisheries this summer. We wish you a safe and happy break this Christmas and New Year holiday period.

• Looking for places to fish? Check out this link: Where to Fish — Otago
• The ORC Environmental Data Portal is an excellent tool for monitoring flow levels.
• Before you head out, be sure to check this season’s regulations: Otago 2025-26 Sports Fishing Regulations.

Please note: Otago Reel Life is a compilation of highlights from recent Otago Weekly Fishing Reports. Read below for how to sign up for your weekly fishing news.

Don’t Forget Your Licence

A friendly reminder to all anglers that you must carry your current season's licence whenever you are fishing. Please be prepared to present your licence on request if you meet a Fish & Game ranger during your outing.

Otago Weekly Fishing Report

The Otago Weekly Fishing Report is published free weekly on Thursdays during the main fishing season.

• If you haven’t subscribed, you can click here.
• The weekly report will be emailed to your inbox with up-to-date fishing conditions, weather and river flow information to help improve your catch.
• You’ll also get a behind-the-scenes look at the work Otago Fish & Game does for our licence holders.
• We’re also offering a new section, Club Updates, connecting you and local fishing clubs.

You can catch up on previous regional reports on the Fish & Game website: Regional Fishing Reports - Tagged with Otago

Here’s a taste of what you may have missed recently in our weekly fishing reports:

Building ceremony marks a new chapter

Otago Fish & Game Council has officially opened our new headquarters in Mosgiel.

This month Otago celebrated a big milestone for the region — a new purpose-built home on Hazlett Rd, blessed in a whakawatea led by a representative from Ōtākou Rūnaka and opened in a ceremony alongside councillors, staff, partners and supporters.

The new base brings everything under one roof and puts regional staff closer to the rivers, lakes and wetlands where our work happens. With solar panels, EV-ready infrastructure and modern comms facilities, it’s built for the future — and for the anglers and game bird hunters who fund our work.

The project was funded through the sale of Otago Fish & Game Council’s previous Dunedin property, allowing the region to upgrade with minimal impact on reserves.

The opening ceremony was dedicated to the memory of long-time staff member and chair the late Monty Wright. The ribbon was cut by Monty's wife Colleen and former chair Dr John Jillett with present chair Adrian McIntyre.

A huge thank you to W Hamilton Building Ltd for delivering the build on time and on budget.

Image above: Cutting the ribbon at the new building in Mosgiel are Otago Fish & Game Council chair Adrian McIntyre (left), past chair Dr John Jillett, and Colleen Wright, the wife of the late former chair Monty Wright. Inset credit: Otago Daily Times

Drift-Diving Key Fisheries

Staff drift-dived the Greenstone and Caples rivers this week to count and classify fish.
On December 11 and 12, wetsuit-clad staff drifted downriver as part of our initiative to expand our drift-dive programme and establish baselines for long-term monitoring of key fisheries.

We aim to complete our drift dives before the start of the season each year, but limited weather windows and workload pressures over recent months prevented us from doing so. The December dates offered the only suitable opportunity.

Weather challenges and competing priorities in our operational work plan have pushed our Young and Wilkins river drift dives to later this season.

We will prepare a report for the Council once we complete this season’s drift-dive programme.

Anglers Notice Triennial Review

We are currently working through our full review of the Otago fishing regulations, a process that takes place every three years.

Shortly, every Otago Region full season licence holder with a registered email will be contacted with details on how to contribute and share their opinion on potential changes, so keep an eye on your inbox.

Feeling the heat? Go perch fishing!

Visiting angler John Lyall with a Lake Tuakitoto perch. Photo: Ian Hadland

Warm winds coupled with longer sunny days has ramped up lake temperatures, in turn driving the delightful tablefare species into hyper-active mode.  These conditions make perch very catchable.

Local perch botherer Ian Hadland and his mate John Lyall from the West Coast landed a dozen good perch on a recent outing to Lake Tuakitoto with the best being over 1kg. Using bright soft baits in yellow or white seemed to be preferred by the perch but a paddle tail in a smelt-coloured pattern was also catching. This colour has the added benefit in being of interest to cruising trout as well. 

Fillets were later deep fried in a beer batter to top off a sweaty afternoon on the lake.  

Making hay while the sun shines

Cole Briggs with a long rainbow trout, founding cruising in a backwater. Photo: Mason Court 

Summer has been behaving much like spring, with rain appearing right in the middle of what should be calm, settled spells. All this extra moisture has kept river and lake levels higher than usual. It pays to make the most of the settled windows between the rain, and this weekend is no exception, with more wet weather forecast for the upper catchments next week.

If rivers are still dropping and slightly discoloured, change up your tactics — target the clearer edges, or run streamers and soft-baits through the likely holding water.

Salmon are still being caught in good numbers around the dam wall and campground at Lake Hāwea, and fishing in Stevenson Arm on Lake Wānaka is starting to pick up as well. Mark from Southern Wild Wanaka recommends regularly checking your gear when trolling on Lake Wānaka, as lake snow has been causing issues by fouling lures. It’s far better to check every 15–30 minutes than spend hours unknowingly dragging a clogged lure around.

The Upper Clutha is still running high but remains clear. Heavy tungsten-headed nymphs in sizes 12–14 have been working well on the Deans Bank section.

Joint project protecting threatened native fish

Volunteers Eddie Weir (15) and Angus Hollows (14) release captured brown trout below the culvert which acts as a fish barrier.

A significant three-year project to protect native galaxiids in the upper Crookston Burn is showing promising results, with the number of brown trout captured and removed continuing to decline in the targeted 800-metre reach.

The sensitive headwaters of the Crookston Burn were previously protected from brown trout by an overhanging culvert which was compromised by flood damage. This allowed brown trout access to an area where the threatened and nationally vulnerable Pomahaka galaxiid were present. This is a joint initiative between Ernslaw One and Otago Fish & Game.

In the most recent electric fishing operation, about 100 small brown trout were successfully captured and transferred downstream of the upgraded culvert, which now acts as a secure barrier, preventing their return to the headwaters.

While the project has been successfully reducing numbers to date, a small handful of trout remain in the reach. The team is planning for one final operation in early autumn to capture and transfer these remaining fish before the spawning season.

Bow waves in the Basin

Spot the bow wave on this oxbow! Photo: Jayde Couper

One of our Fish & Game officers was doing habitat improvement work at Fish & Game’s Paerau Wetland Wildlife Management Reserve this week when he took this photo of a trout darting away in haste — a good reminder of the quality fish that live in the Upper Taieri oxbows through the Styx Basin. These backwaters fish are more like stillwater and can hold surprisingly good trout, thanks to abundant aquatic insect life.

Expect weedy conditions, particularly in the oxbows. Fly fishers do well with Corixa and midge patterns fished just under the surface, while small, lightly dressed dry flies can be effective when fish are rising. Spin anglers should use light gear and small, slow-action lures. Fish the edges just outside the weed beds, and keep the rod tip high to avoid snagging.

Stalking the river margins through this marshy, uneven terrain can be challenging and calls for a good degree of fitness.

Find out more about access and habitat at Paerau Reserve here.

Toxic algae warning

Toxic algae (cyanobacteria) at Butcher’s Dam. Photo: ORC

Otago Regional Council has issued a toxic algae warning for Butcher’s Dam — follow all precautions if you intend to fish there.

• Fish caught in areas affected by toxic algae are generally safe to eat if they are cleaned, gutted, and washed thoroughly
• Avoid eating the gut or liver, where any toxins may accumulate.
• If the fish looks or smells unusual, or you’re unsure, it’s best not to eat it.

Click here for more important advice from the ORC about toxic algae.

Advocacy in action — Silverstream update

Otago Fish & Game continues to work closely on Silverstream river works to minimise impacts on trout and habitat while recognising the importance of these projects for flood protection in nearby communities.

The Otago Regional Council has completed Phase 1 of its Silverstream capacity-improvement works between the Taieri River confluence and Gladfield Rd. Encouragingly, contractors recently observed about a dozen trout between Riverside Rd bridge and the pump station, showing that fish are still using the reach despite the works.

Phase 2, from Gladfield Rd to Riccarton Rd, is now underway and follows the same methodology as earlier stages.

Our Environmental Officer has been working directly with ORC staff to reduce impacts on spawning and habitat. As a result of this advocacy:

• ORC has sequenced works to avoid known spawning areas where possible
• This year’s work focuses on lower reaches where Fish & Game has no records of spawning
  • ORC is timing the bulk of works to avoid the main spawning season and lower the risk of sediment discharges during winter and spring high flows
  • ORC continues to keep Fish & Game informed as work progresses

Check, Clean, Dry – no room for complacency

Didymo in the lower Clutha River/Mata-Au near Tuapeka Mouth last season. Photo: Bruce Quirey

High flows in the Clutha catchment will have helped flush away some unwanted didymo build-up. That’s good news — but it’s not a free pass. There’s no room for complacency when it comes to stopping the spread of freshwater pests.

Anglers and all water users still need to play their part to make sure didymo, lagarosiphon and other unwanted organisms aren’t carried from one waterway to another on gear, boats or clothing. Just a single drop of water or a tiny fragment of weed is enough to start a new infestation.

Over summer, Otago Regional Council’s Check, Clean, Dry ambassadors are out and about across the region, talking with anglers and other water users about freshwater pests and how to stop their spread. If you see them at a river, lake or boat ramp, have a chat — they’re there to help protect the places we all value.

Before moving between waterways, always:

• Check your gear, boats and clothing for plant matter or mud and leave it at the site or dispose of it in a bin
• Clean everything thoroughly
• Dry all gear completely — ideally for 48 hours — before using it elsewhere

Angler on point with new skills

Graeme Collins with a brown trout caught soft baiting up near the Bendigo Wildlife management reserve. Photo: Supplied

Small changes in technique can make a big difference to success, and Graeme Collins’ story is a great example. Graeme recently attended a soft-bait clinic run by Otago Fish & Game with Lance Gill from Okuma, hoping to pick up a few new skills — and the results speak for themselves.

A long-time reader of the Otago Weekly Fishing Report, he has landed 11 fish on soft baits since the clinic in November and is enjoying far more consistent success on the water.

His wife, who usually tags along to enjoy the birdlife, is considering purchasing a licence after seeing how effective the new approach has been. Graeme says the extra confidence has encouraged him to explore more of the region’s lakes and discover new fishing spots he might not have tried otherwise.

The brown trout pictured was destined for the smoker, and Graeme is excited to see how his soft-baiting continues to develop over summer.

Salmon on the bite in Hāwea

A pair of tasty sized salmon destined for the dinner table. Photo: Cole Briggs

Salmon fishing near the Hāwea Dam and campground is heating up, with schools of salmon congregating in good numbers near the dam wall. Anglers are reporting success from several spots in the area. A key tip is to use a lure heavy enough to reach the school and allow it to sink before retrieving, as some salmon will even strike on the retrieve. Popular colours are silver, blue and pink. Smaller heavy lures are proving to be effective for casting distance and sink rate.

Smaller salmon are also present in the schools, so if you catch one and plan to release it, take extra care: keep it in the water while unhooking and release gently. If the fish appears unlikely to survive, it should be kept. Lake Hāwea limits are two trout and four salmon. Rangers will be monitoring licences and catches to ensure compliance.

Boat anglers can often locate the schools on a sounder, then either troll directly over them or drift and cast back towards the school. Jigging with flies or soft baits can also be effective. Remember, anyone fishing under power from a motorised boats must stay at least 100 metres away from any shore-based angler.

Looking after your catch

With the weather warming up and the lakes and rivers producing some excellent eating-quality fish, properly looking after your catch is just as important as landing it.

To get the best from trout, salmon, or perch, dispatch each fish quickly and humanely to reduce stress and preserve the flesh’s texture. Keep your catch cool immediately — ideally on ice in a chilly bin — to slow bacterial growth and maintain freshness, particularly on warm days. For larger trout or salmon, gutting soon after landing helps if they won’t be filleted the same day. Once home or at a suitable spot, fillet your fish and give it a quick wipe with a paper towel before eating, or vacuum packing to freeze for later enjoyment. Following these simple steps ensures your hard-earned catch tastes as good as it looks.

More information can be found here

Fish in the slow flows

Hadlee with a solid brown trout caught in a high and dirty lower Clutha. Photo: Supplied

As we covered in detail in the weekly fishing reports, the lower Clutha River continues to run high and dirty.

But that didn’t hold back Hadlee, from Dunedin Hunting & Fishing, and his mate James from success fishing with soft baits below Balclutha. Hadlee caught his trout in a backwater on a black-and-gold soft bait with a 1/12 ounce jighead. “It was tough fishing but there’s a lot of whitebait in the river. Trout were busting up on them. Look for where there is not a lot of flow,” Hadlee says. Using the same soft-bait set-up, James caught two trout during his first time fishing for trout and Hadlee one.

Cubs take up spades and spin rods

Cromwell Cubs (from left) Willow Templer (8), Victor Pavlenko (8), Thomas Lush (7), Te Maire Bain (7), Molly Mexted (6), James Howden (13), and Riley Pritchard (8) proudly show their trout and perch caught during a Take A Kid Fishing event run by Otago Fish & Game at Cromwell during the spring season. Photo: Mason Court

When Cromwell Cubs leader Jonwin Hellewell took her group to a planting day with Otago Fish & Game at Lake Dunstan, she wasn't sure how it would go. What happened next surprised her.

"At the planting day they sat and listened for a whole hour. They were completely engaged. It was amazing," Ms Hellewell said.

Over the past few months, Fish & Game has run a series of planting days and fishing events with youth and community groups, connecting conservation and outdoor recreation. Across four groups, volunteers and Fish & Game staff planted 750 native plants that will provide food, shelter and breeding environments for game birds and other wildlife.

Read the full story here

Don’t Forget Your Licence

Buy early to get best value for the 2025-2026 season. Get your licence online or visit a local agent.

Click the link for a list of the agents in Otago where you can buy a licence.

Event Calendar 

Click here for upcoming fishing events throughout New Zealand.

 

Want more info? Check out these links or contact our helpful Otago team. 

• Trout Fishing Made Easy 

• Otago Fish & Game Facebook page 

• Otago Fish & Game webpage 

• Otago Fish & Game, 5 Hazlett Road, Mosgiel
• Tel: (03) 477 9076 
• Email: otago@fishandgame.org.nz

 

Tight lines, 

The team at Otago Fish & Game Council