Reel Life October 2025 - Otago

Take Time Off to Enjoy the Wild 

Welcome to the Otago Reel Life monthly newsletter.

The new trout season has started with a mixed bag of spring weather – snow, rain, cold southerlies, north-westerly gales, and some lovely days in between. The fishing hasn’t always been easy, but we’ve seen some great trout caught.

Image above: Mike Weddell with a fine rainbow trout caught and released at Blakelys Dam this month. Photo: Bruce Quirey

We hope you get to take some time off this Labour Weekend, catch up with friends and family, and enjoy the great outdoors.

Many rivers have been discoloured due to rainfall, so adjusting your techniques will help bring success. Larger, dark-profile or bright lures often work best in these conditions. Alternatively, the lakes, reservoirs and dams have been productive.

Fishing can be especially rewarding as rivers begin to fall and clear, so keep an eye on flows and take your opportunities.

Alternatively, hunkering down with a worm or prawn on a ball sinker is another effective option, as fish forage in discoloured water.

Please note: Otago Reel Life is mostly highlights from our Otago Weekly Fishing Report. Read below for how to sign up for your weekly fishing news.

High-Country Opening

High-country rivers are spawning habitat for rainbows at this time of year. Please leave them alone until November 1.

High-country fisheries open on Saturday, November 1.

Many anglers will be rearing to go as these rivers can provide some of the best angling for rainbows before some fish drop back into the lakes.

A quick heads-up for those fishing in Central Otago — all lakes, rivers, and streams within the Clutha River catchment upstream of Clyde Dam are closed until 1 November, unless specifically listed as open in the regulations. In other words: if it’s not listed as open, it’s not open.

Please leave those waters alone — they’re spawning habitat for rainbow trout at this time of year, and protecting them now helps ensure the future of our fisheries.

Check the Otago Fish & Game fishing regulations before you head out.

Otago 2025-26 Sports Fishing Regulations.

Spring trout liberations across Otago

Yearling rainbow trout are liberated into Mathias Dam in the Maniototo this month. Photo: Steve Dixon

Thousands of rainbow trout reared at the Macraes Flat Hatchery, run in partnership with OceanaGold Macraes operation, have been released into popular put-and-take fisheries across the region this spring. About 70% were yearling fish (60–80g), with the remainder 2–3-year-old fish ranging between 800g and 3.5kg — perfect for anglers looking for an early-season catch.

Stocking has now been completed at all of Otago’s put-and-take waters. These releases help provide great access and opportunity for anglers right across Otago:

It is important to note that hatchery rainbows are only stocked in selected put-and-take dams and reservoirs — our rivers sustain wild trout populations naturally.

Put and take fisheries:

• Southern Reservoir
• Coalpit Dam
• McAtamneys Head Pond
• Hamiltons Dam
• Tomahawk Lagoon
• Sullivans Dam
• Rutherfords Dam
• Pinders Pond
• Lower Manorburn Dam
• Nenthorn Pond
• Mathias Dam
• Blakelys Dam
• Butchers Dam
• Conroys Dam
• Lake Johnson
• Moke Lake

Otago Weekly Fishing Report

The Otago Weekly Fishing Report is having a week off while we move into our new headquarters in Mosgiel. The weekly report will resume on Thursday, November 30, for the 2025-2026 fishing season.

• If you haven’t subscribed for free already and want to be ready for next season, 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.
• Plus, this year we’re starting 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

We’re On the Move 

Otago Fish & Game Council is moving to a new, purpose-built headquarters at 5 Hazlett Rd, Mosgiel, this Wednesday, October 22. Thanks for your understanding around this period as we vacate our old office in central Dunedin and set up in the new premises.

The new facility will replace our ageing premises and reflects a future-focused, financially responsible approach to delivering better value for fishing and hunting licence holders.

We’ve reinvested the proceeds from the sale of our Dunedin site to create a building that’s modern, practical, and fit for purpose — with little extra cost to our reserves.

Designed for efficiency and accessibility, the new single-storey building brings office, workshop, and storage spaces together under one roof. It features level entry access for all visitors, on-site parking, and facilities tailored to the needs of a small team and field operations.

Well done to W Hamilton Building Ltd for delivering this project on budget and ahead of time.

On the Drop

Henry McCook with one of many healthy-looking brown trout caught on a pheasant tail nymph. Photo: Sam Fisher

Henry and Sam, from Queenstown Hunting & Fishing, found clear water while exploring a Central river that was dropping after recent floods. Fishing around the middle reaches, they discovered trout were happy to chase almost any pheasant tail nymph presentation. In areas with limited visibility, blind fishing proved a viable option, still enticing active fish.

In the afternoon, a few trout rose to take small mayfly dries, providing some exciting surface action. The trout were energetic and willing to move, making runs, riffles, and shallow edges particularly productive.

The ORC Environmental Data Portal is a excellent tool for monitoring flow levels and when rivers are dropping.

Lake trolling delivers

Ollie (13) and his dad Mark Russell show their successful catch from lead-line trolling on Lake Wānaka yesterday, including the salmon [inset]. Photos: Supplied

Anglers prepared to brave the weather on Lake Wānaka have reaped rewards this month.

Despite rain, cold and wind on Opening Day, Ollie (13) and his dad Mark Russell had a great day lead-line trolling the lake, catching two rainbows, a brown trout and a 38cm Chinook salmon.

With the lake a cool 9 deg C, the productive trolling was in shallow water of 3-4 metres in depth, where the higher water column was warmer and fish more active.

Soft Bait Fishing Clinics 

Learn how to catch more trout, salmon and perch at free soft bait fishing clinics this November. The hands-on sessions, hosted by Otago Fish & Game and Okuma pro-angler Lance Gill, will be held at two locations:

DUNEDIN

• Taieri River, near the red bridge on Taieri Ferry Road, Titri.
• 30pm to 8.30pm, Wednesday, November 5

CROMWELL

• Lake Dunstan, McNulty Inlet
• 10am to noon, Saturday, November 15

The clinics will cover the essentials of soft bait fishing — lure selection, rig set-ups, casting techniques, and how to retrieve soft baits to trigger strikes.

Free to attend. Select here to register online on the Fish & Game website.

The Patron's Prize is Here

Fish & Game Patron Dame Lynda Topp wants to help make your fishing season one to remember.

Fish & Game, Dame Lynda and Manic Tackle are giving away a prize pack worth $1,000 to one lucky licence holder.

The prize includes premium Manic Tackle gear such as a Primal Revel CS Fly Rod and FlyLab Glide Fly Reel set, a Simms Headwaters Sling Pack with Loon accessories, and a selection of hand-tied flies sourced from top New Zealand fly tiers including Peter Carty, Russ Anderson, Steve Gerard and Dame Lynda herself.

To enter, simply buy your whole season 2025–26 fishing licence by 24 October 2025. There are no forms to fill out — purchase your licence and you’re in the draw (licences already purchased are already in the draw).

The winner will be announced shortly after the draw closes. Get your licence before 24 October to be in to win.

Take A Kid Fishing

 Archie Senelale (3) reeled in a lovely rainbow at Take A Kid Fishing at Southern Reservoir. Photo: Bruce Quirey

Otago Fish & Game’s Take A Kid Fishing events at Southern Reservoir in Dunedin reeled in plenty of smiles during the school holidays.

About 500 children plus their caregivers had a crack at fishing at the reservoir last month.

Several hundred rainbow trout from Macraes Flat Hatchery at OceanaGold mine were liberated into Southern Reservoir for the events.

Southern Reservoir is now open to public fishing, as are all other put and take fisheries in Otago. Licences for children under 12 are free!

Thanks to our volunteers and supporters — Otago Community Trust, OceanaGold, and Dunedin City Council — for making the kids fishing events possible.

Read more

Fishing’s Great for Mental Health

The more time you spend fishing, the better it is for your mental health.

A significant New Zealand study of nearly 1,900 anglers, the largest of its kind globally, has shown that fishing can significantly boost wellbeing and mental health.

The study published in the international journal Leisure Sciences found active anglers were 52 percent less likely to report psychological distress or thoughts of self-harm.

The best part? The more time you spend fishing, the better it is for your mental health.

The research initiated by Southland Fish & Game officer Cohen Stewart (pictured) in collaboration with Dr Shyamala Nada-Raja, from the University of Otago, and independent researcher Paul Garbett. It was funded by Fish & Game NZ and supported by North Canterbury Fish & Game officer Heather Garrick.

Read more

‘Trout with PHDs’

Janine Smith and Simon Norwick own and manage a 280-hectare sheep and beef farm on the Maniototo, including this pond enhanced with fencing and native planting.

Fishing in the upper Taieri might be great – but it’s always not easy.

Just before the fishing season opened, Otago Fish & Game caught up with up Patearoa farmers Janine Smith and Simon Norwick. Ms Smith is project executive for Tiaki Maniototo and Mr Norwick is a keen angler. They own and manage a 280-hectare sheep and beef farm on the Maniototo. Otago Fish & Game has been pleased to support this project on its governance team and the technical advisory group.

Read more: Trout with PHDs – Anglers set sights on Otago waters for opening day - Fish & Game

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 office, corner of Hanover and Harrow streets, Dunedin.
• New address from October 22: 5 Hazlett Road, Mosgiel
• Tel: (03) 477 9076 

 

Tight lines, 

The team at Otago Fish & Game Council