Central South Island Weekly Fishing Report - 16 October 2025

  • Central South Island
  • 16/10/2025

Central South Island Weekly Fishing Report - 16 October 2025

Gales, Coffee, and Good Fish

Battling unpredictable spring conditions with gale-winds, Jeremy Poulter and his visiting friend Andrew found success in the low country last weekend.

With a solid plan, short leaders, and plenty of determination (and caffeine), the pair still managed to find good fish along with great banter.

Jeremy Poulter sent in this report.

"My good mate Andrew flew down from Auckland for a weekends fishing. I was tasked to get him onto some fish and remind him why he should live in the South Island and not Auckland. However, the weather forecast wasn't going to make life easy for us. Gale Northwest winds, and rain in the mountains, forecast both days, kept us away from the hills and looking for opportunities closer to the coast. 

The food was on point, fishing was good, and the banter was outrageous. The secret to our success was 6 weight rods, shorter than normal leaders, having a location plan A, B and C under our belts, and consuming far too many canned Boss coffees to keep motivation levels high in the gale head winds. It seemed fly choice wasn't that important, just needed to get it in front of the mouth of the fish (easier said than done in the wind). But we managed to get it done with several nice fish to the net."

Please email Jase, here with your fishing experiences this season. Please don’t be shy, every story helps inspire and engage the CSI angler community that you are a part of by subscribing to this newsletter.

Pictured above: Jeremy with a cracker low country river brown trout.

Andrew with a well-earned brown trout, windy conditions proved a challenge during last weekend.

 

Spring Tip for Lake Benmore Anglers

The gut contents of a particularly hungry (and greedy!) Lake Benmore trout — full of sockeye smolt.

Recent diet research shows that during the sockeye smolt season (Spring), some trout take full advantage of the opportunity to feed on these small migrating fish.

After hatching, sockeye fry emerge from their redds and head downstream in search of lake habitat — making them an easy meal for hungry brown trout.

Now’s the perfect time to target these trout! Try using a small silver lure around river and stream mouths flowing into Lake Benmore/Te Ao Mārama during the spring months.

 

Lakes Benmore and Opuha Producing the Goods

Sefton Stevens with a Lake Benmore brown destined for the table, soft bait of choice was a black and gold paddle tail.

Recently CSI staff member, Hamish Stevens, has had his two boys out on the water chasing trout at lakes Benmore/Te Ao Mārama and Opuha/Ōpūaha.

Both locations are great places to introduce young anglers to sports fishing with easy access and healthy populations of usually cooperative trout.

His boys, Finn and Sefton, had success fishing with soft baits to sighted browns cruising the lake margins in search of an easy meal.

Learning to adjust the retrieve as a trout approached was key to their success, with erratic movements by twitching the rod tip after a pause in winding producing explosive takes.     

 

Good Angler Behaviour = Good Access

Night fishing is permitted at the hydro canal fishery but make sure you are actively fishing - camping is prohibited.

We're fortunate to have hydro generation waterways like the canals in Tekapo and Twizel that offer world-class fishing opportunities.

To keep these areas accessible for the public we need everyone to be doing the right thing.
We want you to be aware that poor angler behaviour may lead to a reduction in access.

Safety first

Meridian and Genesis have installed barriers, fences and signage to keep anglers out of hazardous areas. Stay safe and respect physical barriers and safety rules at all times.
No fish is worth getting hurt for. The best prize from any fishing trip will always be getting home safely.


Camping

No camping at the canals. Camping includes camper vans, motor homes, and sleeping in your vehicle. Night fishing is permitted, but anglers need to ensure that they are actively fishing.
The no-camping rule is enforced, and anglers will be required to leave the canals based on the assessment: “if it looks like camping, it is camping.”


Rubbish

Your rubbish and fish waste are your responsibility, pack-in and pack-out.
Do not leave fish frames and guts in the margins of the water.
Please also be careful not to snag your line in the power station intakes, fishing nylon is causing blockages to the intake screens which then causes issues for hydro generation.

Our Hydro Canals access pamphlet can be found here for further information.

Be Prepared - Exciting Times Ahead - Get your Licence now!

 

High Country Opening is on the horizon. Which now includes the entire Ahuriri valley.

It’s an exciting time for anglers with two big fishing weekends fast approaching– Labour Weekend and High Country Opening Weekend.

Before going out fishing remember to purchase your 2025/2026 fishing licence online through the Fish & Game NZ website, here, or from your local licence agent in-store.

You can familiarise yourself on the CSI Sports Fishing Regulations 2025/26, here.

Labour Weekend is just 8 days away and is a classic weekend for fishing the canals, Lake Benmore and targeting a sea-run brown trout down near the river mouths. 

High Country Opening Weekend for the CSI region is 1st & 2nd November.  This opens a world of fishing options that now includes the Ahuriri River, lagoons and tributaries upstream of and including Longslip Creek.

Check out our Angler Access Website here for some fishing spot inspiration.  

Spot X

Wairepo Arm angler access

Wairepo Arm is located 6km from Twizel, along SH8. This spot is often overlooked in favour of the canals but it’s certainly worth a look for rising browns early morning and late evening.

There is a track network around the whole arm with multiple access options. Rainbow trout, brown trout and salmon are present here.

Regulations for this location are:
  • Open season: All year
  • Fishing methods: Fly, Spin, Bait
  • Minimum Size Limit: Salmon - 250mm
  • Daily Bag Limit: 2 sports fish
  • Season Bag Limit:  Salmon - refer to Note 9 of regulation guide.

NOTE: An angler may fish from a boat EXCEPT when being propelled by a motor. 

 

Weather and Water Outlook

The predicted long range forecast on Metvuw.com shows that windier weather is coming back in this Friday and weekend, but high pressure is also in the mix bringing drier skies and lighter winds at times. But that all changes again on Monday as big rainfall is forecasted for the main divide with totals in excess of 100mm predicted for Monday and Tuesday. Keep an eye on the ECan rainfall websites to check the waterway you’re thinking of fishing. The wild spring carries on!

The Wind

As of Thursday morning the long range forecast according to YR.NO shows that over the weekend in Temuka (Low Country), winds will be changeable, starting fresh from the north and northeast on Saturday before easing, then shifting to light-to-fresh southerlies on Sunday with a gentle easterly by evening.

Winds in Twizel (High Country) this weekend are forecasted to shift from southerly to westerly breezes on Saturday, easing to light and calm southwest and southerly winds on Sunday.

 

The River 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.

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

NOTICE BOARD

Hard Labour at the Canals

On Saturday the 25th of October the Twizel Hard Labour multisport event is on in Twizel over Labour Weekend.  Kayakers will be active from around 8:30am till 11am and will be racing from Lake Ruataniwha, down through the Ōhau B and Ōhau C Canals and out into Lake Benmore via the Ōhau C Tailrace.  Lake Ruataniwha is closed to all powered craft from 7am until 9am.

Please do not fish while kayakers are passing by particularly at the SH8 bridge above Ōhau B canal. This annual event has Meridian approval.

 

Kids Salmon Fishing Day

Thanks to Mount Cook Alpine Salmon, the Kids Salmon Fishing Day is on for 2025!
The event is being held at Loch Cameron, 5km from Twizel on the morning of Saturday the 1st of November.

  • The event is for kids between the ages of 4 and 11 only.
  • Registration is on the day from 8:30am, fishing starts at 9am. 
  • For more info email: ndellaway@fishandgame.org.nz

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!

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

Disclaimer:

The information presented in these news items is based on the context and regulations in place at the time of publication. Please note that some articles may include reference to laws and regulatory standards that have since changed. For the most current and accurate information please check our Fishing Licences & Regulations pages or our Hunting Licences & Regulations pages.

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