Reel Life September 2021

Plenty of places to fish locally with bubble buddies

This time of year, brown trout are in hot pursuit of whitebait in the lower reaches.

Rainbows can be found at the river mouths of our major inland lakes.

Above Right:Where there’s whitebait, there’s trout on prowl in the lower reaches of our rivers. PHOTO: BRUCE QUIREY

If you’re able to fish close to home, fishing from the shore at your local spot is permitted under Alert Level 3.

Why not head there with your bubble members?

In Otago there are plenty of freshwater fishing locations close to main centres and open for fishing.

Check your regs booklet to find waters currently open (e.g. lower reaches of our main rivers, major lakes).

Can’t find your regs book? We can help with that here.

Here are a few ideas:

- Tomahawk Lagoon

- Sullivans Dam

- The Waters of Leith - downstream of Leith Street Foot Bridge

- Waikouaiti River – below State Highway 1 road bridge

- Lower Taieri River – below the Silverstream confluence

- Tokomairiro River - downstream of Coal Gully Road Bridge

- Clutha River – open apart from Deans Bank

- Lake Wanaka

- Lake Hawea

- Lake Wakatipu and the outlet at Kawarau River

- Lake Dunstan

Please note: Southern Reservoir in Dunedin is closed to public fishing in September.

Remember to keep to the Government guidelines. https://covid19.govt.nz/activities/sports-and-recreation/

Good luck!

Sticking to the rules

Deans Bank, in the Upper Clutha, reopens on October 1 and only fly fishing is allowed when it is open. PHOTO: PAUL VAN KLINK

We’ve noticed people fishing in places where they shouldn’t be at this time of year.

Remember that places like Deans Bank, on the Upper Clutha, are still off limits during the winter closed season while fish there are spawning.

Deans Bank reopens on October 1 and only fly fishing is allowed when it is open.

Map shows the Deans Bank section of the Upper Clutha River, click to see bigger version.

It’s great to see people fishing within their bubbles under Alert Level 3, but not so great that some aren’t following the rules.

Just make sure you check your regulation book before heading out.

If you notice someone fishing in closed waters, you can politely and respectfully encourage them to move on while keeping a safe distance.

Otherwise, if you have compliance concerns, please contact Fish and Game: Phone (03) 477 9076.

Take A Kid Fishing is back

Hey kids, parents and caregivers!

The annual Take A Kid Fishing event is returning to Southern Reservoir, Dunedin, for two weekends this month.

Subject to Covid restrictions, we plan to hold four sessions from 10am to noon on September 18/19 and September 25/26.

This popular FREE annual event is an exciting way to get kids outside and fishing for trout.

If you wish to register, please be prepared to be flexible due to changing Covid restrictions.

There are real possibilities that numbers could be reduced orthe event could be cancelled at late notice.

Note: At this stage, we are taking registrations for only ONE ADULT PER FAMILY in the possibility it will be held under Alert Level 2.

Please register for only one session, because this is a highly popular event. Tap here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/2VWVJ23

Special thanks to The Otago Community TrustandOceanaGoldfor their support.

Have your say

Anglers and hunters need to check they are enrolled to vote now that candidates in the 2021 Fish & Game elections have been confirmed this week.

Thirteen candidates have been confirmed for the Otago Fish & Game Council election.

Nominations for the triennial election closed on August 26.

Candidates will vie for nine council positions following a decision to reduce the council’s size from 12 elected councillors for the next three-year term.

Incumbent Otago councillors decided last July to scale back the size of the council ahead of the implementation of recommendations from the 2021 ministerial review of Fish & Game.

Otago candidates listed in alphabetical order, including their sub-regions, are:

Mike Barker - Central Otago

Chris Bell - Dunedin/North Coast

Rick Boyd - Lakes

Ian Cole - Lakes

Ray Grubb - Central Otago

John Highton - Dunedin/North Coast

Mark Joyce - Clutha

Adrian McIntyre – Clutha

Vicky May - Central Otago

Murray Neilson - Clutha

Eric Neumann - Dunedin/North Coast

Blair Trevathan - Central Otago

Colin Weatherall - Dunedin/North Coast

Voting is open to all 2020/21 adult whole season fishing or 2021 game bird licence holders.

The electoral roll closes at 5pm on September 8.

If licence holders don’t remember ticking the box when they purchased their fishing licence last year or their game bird licence this year, all they need to do to check they are on the electoral roll is give their regional Fish and Game office a call.

Once on the electoral roll, you will receive voting papers ahead of the election period, which runs from September 16 to October 8. You will also be able to vote online.

All election results are announced on October 12, and the newly elected councillors take office shortly after that. Full candidate lists are available here: https://fishandgame.org.nz/about/elections/2021-candidates/

For inquiries contact:

Ian Hadland, Returning Officer – Otago Fish and Game Council

PO Box 76, Dunedin 9054,

(03) 479 6555

ihadland@fishandgame.org.nz

https://fishandgame.org.nz/about/elections/

Tight Lines

Bruce Quirey, Otago fish & Game Officer