Central South Island Weekly Fishing Report - 11 December 2025

Two Weeks Chasing Trout on New Zealand’s South Island – Part 2

In this week's WFR we’re picking up from where we left off with Tobias and Tilmann from Germany with their report from their action-packed two-week fishing trip to New Zealand where they spent the majority of their holiday.

“The next day at midday, we moved on to Omarama and the Ahuriri River with its tributaries. Here we experienced fishing of the very highest quality and scenery that felt almost unreal. The riverbed was carpeted with blooming lupins, painting the banks in vibrant shades of pink, purple and blue.

The Ahuriri was still slightly coloured from snowmelt coming down from the mountains. For us, this turned out to be an advantage: despite bright sunshine and perfect weather, the fish were less wary, and we were able to catch numerous brown trout between 55 and 65 cm.

By far the most successful lure in this river was a small brown twitchbait, the Spearhead Ryuki, cast against the current and then worked back with short, sharp twitches. The combination of the lure’s erratic action and the river’s flow seemed irresistible to the trout.

One afternoon we decided to focus entirely on one small tributary stream of Ahuriri River. Despite its modest size, this stream held a very good stock of both brown and rainbow trout between 50 and 60 cm. We managed to catch and release two dozen trout in just a few hours. Each fish was beautifully conditioned, and in such a small stream the fights felt especially intense.

Tobias Paschen hooks up at Ōhau A canal.

In the days that followed, we left the Central South Island Region and headed further south and west. Among other waters, we fished the mighty Clutha River in Otago and later the Turnbull River on the West Coast. Each system had its own character, different colours, structures and flows, but all shared that unique New Zealand mix of wildness and accessibility that makes this country so special for anglers.

However, we still had unfinished business with the canal browns, and so, in the last days of our trip, we returned to the hydro canals. Heavy rain in the days beforehand had significantly increased the flow in the system, creating more current and dissolved oxygen. As so often with trout, this change in conditions seemed to switch the fish on.

We were suddenly able to catch a good number of brown trout on soft plastics, although most of them were not larger than about 45 cm. It was still thoroughly enjoyable fishing, but the 20-pound brown trout that we had managed to land on a previous trip remained unmatched this time. Some records, it seems, are not so easily broken.

Our two weeks in New Zealand had passed in what felt like the blink of an eye. We had covered many kilometres, explored a wide variety of waters and learned a great deal.

We would like to express our sincere thanks to all the local anglers who took the time to talk to us, shared their knowledge, and even helped us choose the right flies when we were unsure. That openness and willingness to help are a big part of what makes the fishing community in the Central South Island here so special.

For us, one thing is clear: we will be back. There are still countless rivers to explore, pools to inspect and trout to fool, always with the greatest possible respect for the fish and their fragile habitats.

Until next time, New Zealand and tight lines!

Tobias and Tilmann”

Tobias Paschen making memories on CSI waters.

We Want to Hear your Angler Stories

With the Christmas break looming, we’d love to hear about your holiday fishing experiences across the Central South Island!

A tidy, respectful landscape style (horizontal) photo makes for a professional presentation.

Every story helps inspire and engage the CSI angler community. Please email Jase at jvanbeers@fishandgame.org.nz with anything you feel will be of interest.

Lincoln High School Students Explore Angling at Ashburton Lakes / Ōtūwharekai

Lincoln High School students cast their lines at stunning Lake Heron.

Last week, Lincoln High School’s outdoor education students spent their annual school camp exploring the Ashburton Lakes/Ōtūwharekai, enjoying three days of fishing, learning, and immersing themselves in a spectacular high-country environment.

While fishing Lake Heron/Ōtūroto, several students and a teacher crossed paths with CSI Fish & Game Rangers Hamish Stevens and Jase Van Beers, who took the opportunity to check licences and educate the next generation of anglers about the requirement for single hooks at Lake Heron—which will become a legal requirement at Lake Heron next season.

Led by teacher Andrew Young, all eighteen students successfully caught at least one fish during the trip, landing trout, salmon, and perch. Andrew has been a driving force behind growing a passion for freshwater fishing at Lincoln High School over his three years there.  He’s heading to Southland next year to teach and hopes to continue inspiring young anglers in his new community.

Jase also spoke with student Thomas Hampton, who proudly caught his first-ever salmon at Lake Heron whilst on the camp.  Thomas shared that earlier this season he landed a 10lb brown trout in a local spring-fed stream near Lincoln—an achievement he’s still buzzing about.  Lincoln added that he and his mate “go hard fishing and love it.”

For more information on Ashburton Lakes/Ōtūwharekai fishing opportunities over the holiday period, click here.

CSI Fish & Game Ranger Hamish Stevens provides education and single hooks to keen young anglers at Lake Heron.

Upper Ahuriri River Angler Use and Satisfaction Survey

An angler spots a trout in the Upper Ahuriri River.

As part of ongoing work to better understand and manage the angling experience on the upper Ahuriri River, CSI Fish & Game is undertaking an angler use and satisfaction survey throughout the 2025/26 season.

This follows an online angler displacement survey completed in 2024/25 as part of a multi-phase Pressure Sensitive Fishery (PSF) management pathway, where we set out to determine the extent and nature of any displacement, and to gauge support for potential management tools.  That survey showed that some anglers were avoiding certain times or sections of the river because of crowding.  Support for potential management tools—such as voluntary beat systems or Designated Waters—was mixed.

What the earlier online survey didn’t tell us, however, was how often anglers are actually encountering each other on the river or provide a baseline for angler use and satisfaction.  Without that information, it’s difficult to evaluate whether any future management changes would have an effect.  To address this gap, staff are now conducting on-river interviews to gather accurate data on angler numbers, encounter rates, and satisfaction levels.  These results will help guide any future decisions and ensure that management actions are supported by measurable information.

We appreciate anglers taking a few minutes to participate when approached by staff on the river.  If you see CSI Fish & Game staff on the upper Ahuriri River or receive a call back note on your vehicle windscreen this summer while out fishing, please don’t be shy as your input is an important part of looking after this fishery for the future.

Giveaway for Junior Anglers!

Fly fishing set giveaway!

We have a great beginners fly, reel and fly box set to giveaway to a keen junior angler looking to embrace fly fishing!

The set includes a Rimal Ripper Low Mass Scrim 9’0” / 6 Line rod, a Goture 5/6 reel and fly box full of flies to get you started.

To enter to win this set all you need to do is send in a fishing report to the Central South Island Weekly Fishing Report, along with your fishing licence details as proof of age. You must be a junior sports fishing licence holder aged between 12-17 on 01/10/2025.  The best report sent in will receive the set!

If you’re needing to purchase a licence, click here.

Please email jvanbeers@fishandgame.org.nz with your fishing reports to enter and please title your email as “Fly Set”.

The winner must be able to collect the set from the Central South Island Fish and Game Office based in Temuka by 5pm on Monday the 22^nd of December at the latest.

Catch and Release Quick 5 Tips

A healthy Lake Benmore brown trout prepares to swim off.

Taking a fish home for dinner is a fundamental part of sports fishing; however, there will be times, either by choice or by legal requirement, when you will release fish. 

Careful catch and release is a skill you must learn to ensure any fish you intend to release doesn’t come to harm.

Here are our ‘Quick 5’ tips for handling fish with care:

1. Cool your hands and landing net by wetting them before touching the fish.
2. Keep the fish in the water while removing the hook.
3. Do not squeeze the fish and never touch the gills.
4. Photograph the fish in or over the water and make it quick - the fish should not be out of the water for more than 5 seconds.
5. Revive the fish facing into the current long enough for it to regain its swimming strength.

In the unfortunate instance that a fish you intended to release does end up bleeding from the gills, so long as you can legally take that fish, you should keep it as part of your bag limit and utilise it. 

This short video demonstrates good fish handling skills, click here to view.

Weather Outlook

Please always check the weather and waterway conditions yourself before heading out to ensure an enjoyable day on the water, click on the links below to the weather and water condition forecast providers we use.

• Metvuw.com
• Outdoor Access livestream
• YR.NO
• NIWA Weather
• ECan River flow data 

Notice Board

Return Your Sea-Run Salmon Bag Card

If you are finished sea-run salmon fishing for the season, please remember to return the details of your salmon bag card to us.

Even if you didn’t go fishing, or catch or keep any sea-run salmon, your information is still important.

You can do this online by clicking here, give us a call on 03 615 8400, email csi@fishandgame.org.nz or post the card to us at P.O Box 150 Temuka 7948. 

Meridian Energy Limited

The controlled release of Lake Pūkaki continues from the Pūkaki Gate Structure into the Pūkaki riverbed.

While this water is being released, please do not enter the riverbed over this period under any circumstances, and remember to obey all warning signs, as currents and river flows will be unpredictable.

Due to expected rainfall and ongoing snowmelt, we haven’t confirmed an end date for this release. Updates will be made via the Meridian Energy Ltd Facebook page, here.

Lakes Benmore, Aviemore and Waitaki - water to be released from Thursday 11 December 2025

Meridian is advising that from Thursday 11 December it will start the controlled release of water at Benmore Dam, with releases at Aviemore and Waitaki to follow. The lakes are currently very high and nearing their maximum consented levels.

Anyone camping or using any of the areas around Lakes Benmore, Aviemore and Waitaki is asked to follow all signage and instructions and ensure they are a safe distance from the water’s edge. People should take special care if they are downstream of any dams or hydraulic structures, as river flows and levels will be unpredictable.

If people see anyone who may be at immediate risk of harm, please call 111.

Genesis Energy Limited

The controlled release of Lake Takapō/Tekapo into the natural bed of the Takapō/Tekapo River is continuing.

Please do not camp in or around the Takapō/Tekapo River bed and take care when accessing or recreating in river areas downstream of dams and hydraulic structures in case of flow changes.

If you see others who may be at risk, please contact Genesis’s Control Centre on (07) 384 7210.

Updates will be made via the Genesis website, here.

Remember every story helps inspire and engage the CSI angler community. Please email Jase at jvanbeers@fishandgame.org.nz with your own angling reports.

Click here for Central South Island Fish & Game on Facebook

For any questions, please email csi@fishandgame.org.nz or call 03 615 8400.