Central South Island Weekly Fishing Report - 15 January 2026

Lake Benmore Summer Fishing – Hard to Beat!

Over the holiday period CSI Fish & Game rangers undertook angler compliance by boat on Lake Benmore/Te Ao Mārama.

Anglers they spoke to mentioned steady catch rates and rangers observed several nice fish being netted.  Some anglers noted that the higher than normal in-flows from Tekapo/Takapō River had required them to adapt their usual techniques to find success.

Several jet boat anglers were seen heading up the Tekapo/Takapō River, capitalising on the higher levels.  Rangers also assisted a stranded boat on the day, towing them safely back to the boat ramp.

Pictured above: Angler Casey Dixon with a well-conditioned rainbow trout with his daughter Bella and wife Ashley, enjoying all Lake Benmore has to offer.

A highlight of the day was meeting the Dixon family.  Casey Dixon netted a very healthy rainbow trout whilst fishing from his beautiful family boat that he built himself.

Reports of constant sockeye salmon bag limits being met have been a recurring theme this summer and local sporting shops continue to sell out of flasher/dodger rigs used to target sockeye salmon. Check out how to use them in our very own “How to Catch Sockeye Salmon” video, here.

It was great to find high levels of compliance with licensing and regulations.  Please remember to have your sports fishing licence with you on the boat (not in your wallet back at the tent).

Also, know your Fish & Game regional boundaries before purchasing a local area licence. The Waitaki valley and lakes such as Aviemore are part of the Central South Island Fish & Game region. Our southernmost boundary runs from Shag Point/Matakaea along the mountain ranges to the Lindis Pass. Check out your local area, here.

Angler Gary Maguire happily produces his licence to Fish & Game rangers while out fishing on Lake Benmore.

Big Salmon in the Hydro Canals

Connor Cavaney from Hawkes Bay (15 yo) with one seriously big canal salmon.

Fish & Game Ranger Jase Van Beers recently caught up with Connor Cavaney, a 15-year-old junior angler from Hawke's Bay, while he was fishing the hydro canals with his dad.

The pair have made the canals their annual father–son trip for several years, and Connor has clearly developed the skills to consistently target big fish.

Connor said, “I find a mix of fishing techniques that adapt to flow and clarity that all gain me success in catching big fish. I just keep trying new ways until something works and then add it to my list for next time”.

Over the week he used a range of techniques, including bait fishing with prawn, soft-baiting darker colours by casting up into the flow and drifting down before very slowly retrieving, and fly fishing—landing a standout fish on a tiny black-and-red dry fly.

“It’s been really encouraging to see so many junior anglers at the canals this summer who are so passionate about fishing and developing strong skills,” said Jase.

Connor Cavaney with another ripper salmon.

Hydro Canal Fish Release

CSI Fish & Game staff members Jase and Graham net fish to transfer to the canals.

Over the past few weeks Genesis Energy have been managing Lake Tekapo/Takapō water levels through Gate 16 and the Tekapo/Takapō riverbed spillway.

CSI Fish & Game staff have been collaborating with Genesis Energy staff to relocate stranded fish from the Tekapo/Takapō spillway.

Together we have relocated 410 stranded fish including 204 rainbow, 205 brown trout and one juvenile salmon smolt from the spillway to the Tekapo/Takapō Canal.  Of these fish about 130 were juveniles but the majority were of a size that would provide a satisfying catch for anglers.

Additionally, 105 trout were tagged for the purpose of monitoring the growth and movement of fish of Lake Tekapo origin in the Tekapo/Takapō Canal.

The tagging project at the Tekapo Canal/Takapō has been in place for over five years – check out this YouTube video to see clips of the recovery and tagging process and keep an eye on our facebook page for a clip of this release.

If you catch a tagged trout, please report your catch on our online form, here. Or phone 03 615 8400 or email csi@fishandgame.org.nz – you don’t have to have kept the fish.  The key pieces of information we are after is the four digit tag number, an estimated weight, location and date caught.

Weather Outlook

Dramatic scenes at the Benmore dam. As Meridian Energy manage water levels.

Today and tomorrow are predicted to be pretty wet and cold for the majority of the region with rain easing Saturday late morning to fine spells according to NIWA Weather extended forecast, here.

The Waitaki River is running extremely high with a flood warning currently in place. Flows are expected to rise to between 850 and 950 cumecs through the rest of today, and then recede from that peak but are likely to remain higher than usual for around one week.

The Wind

According to YR.NO the winds in Temuka (low country) the predicted long-range forecasts are that Saturday will have fresh to moderate east to south east winds turning to moderate southerlies at midday. Sunday sees fresh to moderate south west winds in the morning swinging to gentle south easterlies by evening.

Winds in Twizel (high country). Saturday will see light to gentle easterlies all day with gentle north east winds predicted for Sunday.

The Flows

As of Thursday morning, the ECan River flow data website shows the following river flow rates read in cubic meters per second (m³/s). Click on the river name to go to the ECan website for more information.

• Ahuriri -  39.556
• Ashburton -  23.253
• Hakataramea - 2.213
• Ōhau – 21.551
• Ōpihi –  17.972
• Otematata - 3.416
• Pareora - 1.146
• Rangitata - 140.935
• Tekapo -  19.579
• Twizel –  9.334
• Waitaki -  894.116

Please always check the weather and waterway conditions yourself before heading out to ensure an enjoyable day on the water.

NOTICE BOARD

Sea-Run Salmon Spawning – Survey

Sea-run salmon populations are at critically low levels currently requiring the Central South Island and North Canterbury Fish and Game Councils to explore further regulation options, in addition to the season bag limit, that enable a greater proportion of the run to spawn. Changes to the regulations may impact your fishing activities and your sea-run salmon fishery values, so we are seeking your feedback to support future decision making. 

For more information, to review our information pack, and to complete the survey visit our website here.

The survey period closes on the 31st of January 2026.  All submissions must be made by 11:59 pm NZDT.

Lake Heron - Survey

Fish & Game is inviting angler and public feedback on potential rule changes that manage the catch of sub-adult lake-type salmon at Lake Heron.

The consultation (Information) pack outlining the rule change options and fishery background and the survey is available here.

Please educate yourself with the consultation pack before completing the survey.  The consultation period closes on 30^th of January 2026.

Meridian Energy Limited

Due to high lake and river levels, and ongoing inflows, Meridian continue to release water from Gate 19 at Lake Pūkaki, as well as from Lakes Ōhau, Benmore, Aviemore and Waitaki.

Take care around all lakes and rivers as water levels can change rapidly.  Do not enter the water under any circumstances and remember to obey all warning signs as currents will be unpredictable.  If you see anyone who may be at immediate risk of harm, call 111 immediately.

There is currently no end date for these releases – they will end as inflows reduce.

Updates will be made via the Meridian Energy Ltd Facebook page, here.

Waterway Health Warnings

Health NZ – Waitaha Canterbury has issued a health warning after potentially toxic harmful algae (benthic cyanobacteria) was found in Opihi River at SH1 and Lake Hood.

People should avoid the river and animals, particularly dogs should not be allowed near the water until the health warning has been lifted.

Check out the ECan website for the current warnings – click here for river health warnings and click here for lake health warnings.

Return Your Sea-Run Salmon Bag Card

If you have finished your 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, or email csi@fishandgame.org.nz or post the card to us at P.O Box 150 Temuka 7948. 

Please remember to email your angling reports to Fish & Game Officer, Jase Van Beers, at jvanbeers@fishandgame.org.nz.  We’d love to hear from you!

Click here for Central South Island Fish & Game on Facebook

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