Central South Island Weekly Fishing Report - 13 February 2025

Benmore Beauty

Father and son duo Gibert and Stefan Matravers sent us in a report of their recent incredible success on Lake Benmore / Te Ao Mārama with a catch they’ll certainly remember for a long time to come.

Stefan Matravers with his impressive 15.1lb Chinook Salmon.

“Lake Benmore was at its best, flat water and no wind, a beautiful day that was going to get a lot better.”

“We enjoy the challenge of using light gear, 2 to 4 kg rod with 6 lb line (10-year-old line that we say every trip must replace). Looking at our sonar we found fish holding on the bottom structure at around 30m, so set the downrigger at 70 feet with the trusted Tasmanian devil lure.”

“Before long ‘Fish on’ was the call from Stefan and the battle began. The fish surfaced in the first couple of minutes about 55m away and when we both excitedly saw the size of it, we thought why didn't we replace that line!”

“The fish went straight back to the bottom of the lake and held a depth of nearly 50m. It was an hour and a half before we saw it again. Over the next hour we got it to the boat three times to watch it swim away and then finally landed it with it breaking the net in the process.  A near on 3 hour “game fishing” saga resulted in a beauty 15.1lb Chinook Salmon!” 

“It was then off to the famous Twizel Rata Smoke House.”

Fishing tip from Gilbert – “Replace that old line before you go out and make sure your gear is in tip top condition. We luckily got away with it on this trip but next time we’ll be fussier!”

Thanks to Gilbert and Stefan for generously sharing their experience.

If you’re wanting to try for Chinook salmon in our inland fisheries like Lake Benmore / Te Ao Mārama  or Lake Tekapo / Takapō then you’re best to try over the next couple of months before they change into spawning mode.

These inland salmon fisheries, including the canals are not sea-run salmon fisheries, therefore anglers are not required to obtain and carry a season bag limit card.

Stefans salmon holding down deep during the fight to catch.

Canal Fishery’s ‘Top- 5’ Projects Revised

Garmins Harry Curley trials LiveScope sonar technology on the Tekapo Canal.

Central South Island Fish & Game have revised the “top five” projects as priorities for progressing the management of the hydro canal fishery over the next three years.

Canal fishery management projects are enabled through our annual operational work plans.

To proactively develop our understanding and management of the canal fishery our strategy is: 1, to commit to having at least two “top five” priority projects underway in each annual work plan and 2, to revise our top five priority projects every three years.

In our current 2024/25 operational work plan we have three “top five” projects underway, these projects are:

• Trialling the use of modern sonar technology for annual fish population surveys.
• Investigating resourcing required for undertaking an annual angler use and catch survey.
• Investigating the feasibility of a put-and-take salmon stocking programme.
• A coordinated, multi-media campaign advocating best practice catch and release.
• Develop ranging protocols targeting potential unlawful salmon harvest during short periods of high salmon abundance.

The “top five” projects, along with canal fishery management achievements from the 2021 to 2024 period, and an extensive schedule of project options are presented in the recently published 2025 - 2027 Hydro Canal Fishery Management Strategy.

To learn more about our management of the hydro canal fishery please click here to view the 2025-27 Hydro Canal Fishery Management Strategy. 

Fishing Insights from High Above

Plenty of angler space on the beautiful day in upper Ahuriri river.

Last Thursday CSI Fish & Game staff undertook the annual shelduck and black swan fly over survey.

While flying over the upper Ahuriri River there appeared to be ample spare water for anglers to fish on. There were only three different parties of anglers seen on the entire stretch of the upper Ahuriri and it was a cracker blue bird day. 

Ranging Round Up

CSI F&G Ranger Nikki Dellaway checking 3 junior anglers during a night ranging operation.

Last weekend CSI Fish & Game rangers undertook night ranging activities at the Hydro Canals.

Compliance was high with 40 anglers’ licences checked during the night with 39 compliant anglers and one offence.

Most successful anglers were those fishing around 2:00 am. Patience and determination pays off.

CSI Fish & Game Ranger Hamish Stevens was present at the Rangitata River mouth last Friday and noted that some silveries (smelt) were spotted.

So, anglers fishing river mouths should look to imitate these bait fish. No doubt any trout present will be keying in on this seasonal food source.

The traditional fly to imitate smelt is the ‘Hopes Silvery’ but if you’re a spin fisherman a jerk shad style soft bait in similar colours will suffice or better still capture some smelt and dead drift them through the riffles and runs close to the river mouth. 

Weather and Water Outlook

CSI is your oyster this weekend, long range forecasts on Metvuw and YR.NO indicate a fine settled weekend. Mid next week there’s a large north westerly front predicted.

Sunday morning looks to be the pick. The clear, calm conditions overnight into the early morning should help with sight fishing and fly presentation.

Except for the Waitaki River due to its controlled flow, many CSI river levels are now running low with summer like conditions according to the ECAN River Flow Website. Making accessing those harder to reach pools, gorges and backwaters more achievable which leads to the opportunity to potently target uneducated fish.

The predicted long-range weather forecast for the weekend as of Thursday morning are as follows:

Low Country/Temuka

• Saturday, 15 February will begin with clear skies overnight, transitioning to fair conditions in the early morning, although fog will briefly appear around dawn. As the day unfolds, clear skies and light breezes will prevail through the afternoon before mostly clear conditions return by evening. Expect a high of 26°C and a low of 10°C.
• Sunday, 16 February will begin with clear skies overnight, followed by consistently clear and calm conditions through the early morning. As the day progresses, partly cloudy skies with a gentle easterly breeze will take hold, with fair weather and a light breeze from the west prevailing into the evening. Expect a high of 22°C and a low of 12°C.

High Country/Twizel

• Saturday, 15 February will begin with clear skies overnight, transitioning to fog in the early morning. The afternoon will be predominantly clear with light breezes shifting from the southeast to a gentle northwest by evening. Expect a high of 26°C and a low of 10°C.
• Sunday, 16 February will begin with clear skies overnight, transitioning into calm conditions through the early morning. Later, partly cloudy skies with a gentle easterly breeze will prevail until fair weather returns by evening with a light breeze from the west. Expect a high of 22°C and a low of 12°C.

This forecast was accurate at the time of writing but please remember to check the forecast for yourself before heading out.

Licence Photo Competition November - February

Want to have your picture on the next season’s fishing licence?

Remember to have a camera with you when fishing this year so you can enter the monthly competition and go into win a $250 Kilwell voucher.
The four monthly winners then go into a public vote and have the chance to win an additional $1000 Kilwell voucher and have their image on the 2025 Fishing Licence.

Click here to learn more

Notice Board

Lake Benmore aquatic weed spraying - Boffa Miskell

Helicopter aquatic weed spraying is scheduled to be carried out on Lake Benmore to target Lagarosiphon major this week at The Neck, Ahuriri Arm and Delta. Treatment dates are Thursday, 13 February 2025 – Friday, 14 February 2025 which are weather-dependent and will proceed only in suitable conditions. Key public access points and boat ramps will have signs 24 hours before and after spraying. Please avoid fishing for 24 hours following treatment. If you have any questions, please call 0800 638 943, or check the LINZ website for updates as the treatment period approaches.

Grey Willow control at the Ashburton Lakes – Department of Conservation

Aerial spot spraying of grey willow in the Ashburton Lakes area at Māori Lakes took place on the 12^th of February. The relevant suggested restrictions for five days after application of the chemical are:

Don’t take water for consumption, don’t gather food or fish from the waterway and don’t swim.

Please contact DOC Geraldine if you’d like to know more.

Central South Island Fish & Game are now on Facebook and Instagram

Search for csifishgame on Instagram and Central South Island Fish & Game on Facebook. Please like and follow us to keep right up to date with everything we’re up to at CSI Fish & Game.

Any questions are still best directed towards csi@fishandgame.org.nzor calling 03 615 8400.

Please remember to share your angling experiences with us, it helps make our reports more engaging and inspiring for everyone! Please email your reports to Jase, here.