Reel Life January 2025 - West Coast

Summer Angling

After a wet spring, summer has finally arrived on the Coast. With the rivers low and warm a good proportion of the fish in the smaller rivers and creeks are dropping back into the larger rivers seeking cooler water and depth . In such conditions, fishing in the larger rivers such as the Grey, Arnold and the Taramakau will greatly increase your chances of hooking up. The local lakes are also warming up so for consistent fishing try to get down the thermocline to the cooler water. A couple of colours of leadline or a paravane will greatly increase your chances. Lakes can also fish well in summer if you can find a cool stream flowing in. Cicadas are making themselves heard again is always an exciting time of year, especially for the fly anglers. If you’re thinking of starting fly fishing, the cicada season is a great time to do it as the fish are more accommodating of inaccurate casts or the fly’s landing hard on the water. Perch fishing in the summer is a great way to get the kids into fishing as there are good numbers in some of our Lakes. They are generally very easy to catch and are a great table fish. Lake Mahinapua has been producing some good-sized perch recently with one measuring 42 cm! Other perch fisheries on the West Coast are the Kapitea Reservoir and Lake Kaniere. To target Perch the successful anglers have been using orange or pink soft baits, remember to take plenty as they have a habit of chomping the tails off. One method for catching Perch is to trawl until one is hooked and then fish that area as they congregate in schools, they can also be seen feeding around the rushes so keep an eye out for water disturbance.

Above: Toby Lang and Johnny O’Reagan getting out and enjoying a days fishing on the Crooked River.

Check Clean and Dry

Last year the Department of Conservation installed weed nets around the launching ramps at Lake Paringa and Lake Ianthe to reduce the likelihood of a transfer of Lagarosiphon to nearby lakes. With the lakes low and warm the Lagarosiphon has had a great growing season and has reached the surface of the two lakes it inhabits. The weed is usually transferred from boat trailers, jet units and anchor wells. If you are launching and retrieving in these lakes, please check your trailers and anchors for any weed and leave it at the Lake. It would be a great shame if any more of our pristine lakes were infested.

Jack Thomas with his trout caught by kayak fishing at Lake Paringa.

Maxime Leconte trying his luck at Iveagh Bay, Lake Brunner.