Central South Island Weekly Fishing Report - 25 September 2025

Welcome to the New Season Anglers!

Where Can I go on Opening Day?

• Lakes Ōhau, Pūkaki, Tekapo / Takapō, Benmore, Aviemore and Waitaki offer great fishing for brown trout cruising the shallows and for rainbow trout around stream mouths.
• Lake Middleton is a small lake option and offers some shelter when it gets too windy at Lake Ōhau.
• October is a great month for fishing the hydro canals as springtime water temperatures increase a little.
• Lake Opuha/Ōpūaha, near Fairlie, is a favourite spot in South Canterbury for Opening Day (October 1) and a great spot to take kids fishing in the school holidays.  Use a garden worm for bait and have a picnic on the lake shore while waiting for a bite.
• The Ōpihi River offers small river fishing and is accessible near Fairlie and Temuka.
• The Waitaki River holds a huge population of trout and when the flows are right the fishing can be outstanding.  Around the township of Kurow is a great place to fish with several signposted river access points.
• Lake Hood holds high numbers of perch and a few trout that cruise only the shallow edge of the lake, perch love small brightly coloured lures.  A great spot for a school holiday outing.
• Child anglers only (11 years and under) can fish for perch at the Tinwald Domain Pond.
• The Ashburton River and its tributary streams hold reasonable numbers of brown trout and is best fished when the river is flowing low and clear.  
• The Rangitata River offers seriously scenic trout fishing above its gorge with the chance of catching a sea run brown trout near the river’s mouth.

Note: Many high-country waters remain closed until the first Saturday in November to protect spawning rainbow trout and sensitive fisheries — check your regulation guide.

The most up to date way to find a fishing spot is to use the F&G Central South Island Region Access Map, here. We suggest creating a shortcut to this map on your phone. This will allow you to quickly access it and view nearby locations while you're on the go.

For more help figuring out a spot you’re more than welcome to email csi@fishandgame.org.nz or call 03 615 8400 to speak to one of the team at CSI Fish & Game.

2025/26 Freshwater Sports Fishing Licence Price

Three generations of the Burr family. L-R Scott, Monty and Samual found success at the Tekapo canal fishbowl over the winter months.

There will be no increase in licence prices this season.

If you haven't done so yet, be sure to purchase your 2025/2026 fishing licence. You can easily buy your licence online through the Fish & Game NZ website, here, or from your local licence agent in-store.

If you head instore to buy your new licence and you normally hold a Loyal Senior Fishing Licence or think you may now qualify for one, be sure to mention that up front to the shop staff before they start your licence purchasing process – they will appreciate it. 

Fish & Game Officers and Rangers will enforce compliance—fishing without a licence is an illegal offence under the New Zealand Conservation Act 1987 and can lead to a criminal record.

Changes to the Family Licence

The New Zealand Fish & Game Council and the Minister for Hunting & Fishing have introduced changes to the regulations around the family licence. 

Major changes to the family licence are:

• Renaming licence holders as "Adult 1" and "Adult 2" rather than primary/secondary.
• Granting both partners/spouses equal, independent fishing rights
• Providing both adults with voting rights and communications

Note: The family licence now requires at least one of your children or grandchildren (under the age of 18 as at 1 October 2025) to be named on the licence to qualify.  This is to encourage families to introduce their children into fishing. 

CSI Region Regulation Changes for the 2025/26 Season

Officer Jase checks a compliant happy angler.

Every three years CSI Fish & Game undertakes a review of its regional regulations considering non-urgent regulations change proposals put forward by anglers, Fish & Game staff and Fish & Game councillors.

The most recent review resulted in several new regulations coming into effect from October 1^st, 2025. Take care to read your 2025/26 regulations guide for the official and full wording of the regulations, to read click here.

For anglers who prefer a paper copy, you can still pick one up at your local licence agent or Fish & Game regional office.

If you fish across multiple regions, we encourage you to access the other region’s regulations online, here.

New Regulations Below:

Ahuriri River Catchment: all waters of the Ahuriri River Catchment now open on the first Saturday in November AKA high-country fishing opening day.

Awakino River/Awakinonui: this small tributary of the Waitaki River now has an open season starting on the first Saturday in November.

Lake Alexandrina/Takamana: the two-month winter fishing season bag limit of 2 sports fish was modified to include the provision that a maximum of 1 brown trout may be taken.      

Lake Opuha/Ōpūaha: A three-month winter fishing season has been introduced from 1 June to 31 August with a 2 sports fish daily bag limit.

Fish Bait: a portion of fish may now be used as fish bait, excluding trout, salmon and any fish eggs. This means you can now cut an anchovy into pieces to use for bait, but it remains illegal to use portions of salmon and trout and remains illegal to use fish eggs.

Scented soft baits: Scented soft-bait lures that imitate active baitfish may now be used anywhere spin fishing is permitted—46 waterways gain this option.

Fish farm feed pellets: A regulation was introduced to explicitly list that it is illegal to use feed pellets sourced from fish farms and fish hatcheries as bait.

Upper Ōhau River, Wairepo Arm and Kelland Pond: daily bag limits are now 2 sports fish, matching that of their interconnected canal fisheries waters, Lake Ruataniwha and Ōhau B Canal.

Sea-Run Salmon Licence: reduced to ONE fish for the season for the CSI & North Canterbury regions.

Spot X

Bennets Road angler access.

Spot X is a new segment in our Weekly Fishing Report where every week we will briefly highlight a fishing access location within the Central South Island region.

This segment may jolt your memory to an old spot or inform you of somewhere you never realised existed, encouraging you to get out a see what’s on offer in CSI.

Bennets Road Boat Ramp at Lake Opuha / Ōpūaha is located 17km from the township of Fairlie. The lake has a good population of brown trout and the occasional rainbow trout.  It offers great lake shore fishing for beginners and an easy boat ramp for those wanting to get out on the water. Freedom camping is available but restricted to self-contained vehicles only.

Regulations for this location are:

Open season:1 Oct – 30 Apr

Winter Season:1 June-30 Aug

Fishing methods: Fly, Spin, Bait

Daily Bag Limit: 4 trout.

Photography Tips for Your Angler Reports

A lovely rainbow trout caught, cared for and released, with a great photo to match.

Kept Fish: Make sure your fish and hands are clean of any blood — a respectful and tidy photo makes for great presentation.

Released Fish: Use these careful catch, care, release techniques:

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.

An in depth article by Mark Sherburn recently published in the latest Fish & Game Magazine title “Catch and Release Making It Count” can be found here along with excellent instructional video, here.

About CSI’s Weekly Fishing Report

This weekly fishing report is written by the team at Central South Island Fish & Game, one of the 12 independent Fish & Game regions.  

Its intention is to keep you up to date with everything freshwater sports fishing happening in our region from local angler reports, what we're up to at CSI Fish & Game, tip and tricks, and any information from other local agencies that may be relevant to you while out fishing.

The Central South Island Fish & Game region covers from south of the Rakaia River in the north boundary to Shag Point in south boundary and all the way inland to the main divide of the Southern Alps.  We are home to some of New Zealand’s best-known fisheries, including the Mackenzie hydro canals and lakes, Waitaki River, Ahuriri River, Lake Benmore, Tekapo, Rangitata River, Ashburton lakes, and beyond!

Whilst this report is crafted by the CSI Fish & Game team, it’s your stories that truly bring it to life. We’d love to hear about your adventures—share your short trip reports, photos, go-to lures, or favourite recipes from Opening Day and throughout the season.

Email your reports to Fish & Game Officer Jase Van Beers at jvanbeers@fishandgame.org.nz

Once again best of luck for Opening Day from CSI Fish & Game!

NOTICE BOARD

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

Tight Lines,

From the team at Central South Island Fish & Game