Central South Island Weekly Fishing Report - 26 February 2026

Hydro Canal Diet Research Underway – We Want Your Help!

CSI staff collecting samples for diet and growth research project.

The sampling process includes removing a small segment of muscle tissue from behind the head, extracting the otoliths (ear bones), and collecting the gut contents. We also record the fish’s weight, length, sex, and species. Importantly, we do not take any of the fillets — anglers keep all of the fish except for the head and guts.

If you catch a fish in the Tekapo Canal or the Pukaki-Ohau Canal during February or March and plan on keeping it, we would love to sample it.

If you catch a fish in the Tekapo Canal or Pūkaki-Ōhau Canal and intend to keep it, please place it on ice or in a chilly bin as soon as possible and contact Blake on 021 89 7797.

Blake will arrange to meet you and carry out the sampling on site.

The Fish & Game New Zealand Code of Conduct

Tony Brazier fly fishing Lake McGregor.

It's important that we all understand our responsibilities to the environment and each other when we're out on the water.

Please consider the rights of others and observe the anglers’ code of conduct while freshwater fishing in New Zealand:

• If no Fish & Game access sign is present, always ask permission from the land occupier before crossing private property.
• Do not park vehicles so that they obstruct gateways or cause a hazard on the road or access way.
• Do not interfere with livestock, crops, machinery or other property.
• Always use gates, stiles or other recognised access points and avoid damage to fences.
• When driving on riverbeds keep to marked tracks or park on the bank and walk to your fishing spot.
• Always fish in an ethical manner.
• Never push in on a pool occupied by another angler. If you are in any doubt, ask those already there whether it is okay to join them.
• Always enter a pool behind the direction being fished by any angler already there.
• Move upstream or downstream with every few casts (unless you are alone).
• Avoid unnecessary wading or any avoidable disturbance to the water.
• Fish being returned to the water should be released as carefully and quickly as possible. Remove the hook and return the fish facing upstream until it swims away.
• Fish being retained should be killed as quickly as possible by a blow to the head with a rock (or similar tool), or by cutting the fish’s throat with a knife.
• Always respect the environment, wildlife, other anglers and members of the public.
• Remove waste nylon and personal litter from the riverbanks and parking places.
• Leave everything as you found it. If a gate is open or closed leave it that way.
• The only way we can protect our rivers in the long term is to CHECK, CLEAN and DRY all your gear before entering another river or lake anywhere in New Zealand. Didymo and other aquatic pests are adversely affecting New Zealand fresh waterways.
• Remember to treat others as you would wish to be treated yourself!

Best Practice C&R for Sea-Run Salmon Three Key Principles and Top Tips

Upper Rangitata Sea-Run Salmon Fishing Closure from 1 March

The sea-run salmon season is closed on the Rangitata River upstream of Turn Again Point from 1 March. Red line indicates boundary.

The sea-run salmon fishing season for the upper section of the Rangitata/Rakitata River and its tributaries is closed for sea-run salmon fishing from Saturday the 1^st of March. 

The upper section is identified as the river and its tributaries upstream of Turn Again Point.  Turn Again point is located on Rangitata Gorge Road about 12km upstream of the gorge.

The image above gives an overview of where Turn Again Point is on a satellite map.  For a closer look, check out access point 18 on the Rangitata River on our online angler access maps here.

The trout fishing season remains open in this upper section upstream of Turn Again Pont until 31 March.

Refer to page 13 in your 2025/26 sports fishing regulations guide here to view the open season listings for the Rangitata/Rakitata River.

Final Call Before Sockeye Salmon Spawn

A spawning sockeye salmon in the Twizel River. Credit: Richard Cosgrove.

On the 1^st of March all streams and rivers where sockeye salmon are present are closed to sockeye fishing.

Some key rivers are Tekapo River/Takapō, Ōhau River, Ahuriri River, Twizel River/ Whakatipu.

If you are keen to try catch an early-run sockeye in a river or stream you have until this Friday, 27^th of February.

To view the regulations for sockeye salmon fishing refer to your 2025/26 sports fishing regulations guide here.

The trout season remains open in the same waters.

Sockeye salmon spawning run estimates have been monitored since 2018. To learn more about sockeye salmon populations, CSI Fish & Game’s most recent Sockeye Salmon Population Monitoring 2025 repot can be viewed here.

Weather Outlook

As I write this, rivers will be getting a fresh before the weekend due to a short wet southerly pushing across the South Island. However, the weekend seems to be generally fine and settled, with the potential for some showers late on Sunday afternoon in the low country. So, get the boat out on the lakes or head for the backcountry and make the most of these final days of summer (not that it’s been much of a summer).  Bring on autumn!

The Wind

According to YR.NO the winds in Temuka (low country) the predicted long-range forecasts that  Saturday will have light northwest to west breezes in the morning before swinging around to gentle east to south east wind in the afternoon. Sunday sees the same pattern as Saturday.

Winds in Twizel (high country). Saturday will see light easterly breezes all day and Sunday is set to be much the same with a late change to the northwest.

The Flows

As of Wednesday afternoon, 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 -  11.779
• Ashburton -  24.29
• Hakataramea - 2.589
• Ōpihi –  20.954
• Otematata - 0.386
• Pareora - 1.501
• Rangitata - 64.577
• Tekapo -  12.294
• Twizel –  3.514
• Waitaki -  352.507

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

NOTICE BOARD

Meridian Energy Limited – Benmore Dam works

From February 2026 through to early 2029, part of the top carpark at Benmore Dam will be closed for Meridian Energy Ltd seismic strengthening works; however, the boat ramp will remain open and accessible but carparking will be reduced so please considered alternative ramp options such as Sailors Cutting during busy periods.

During March/April (exact timing TBC), Loch Laird Road will be reduced to one lane for approximately four weeks with traffic lights in place.  Please allow extra time, expect reduced parking, and follow all signage while these works are underway.

Waitaki Riparian Enhancement Society - Annual General Meeting

The Annual General Meeting of the Waitaki Riparian Enhancement Society (WRES) or better known as the Waitaki Voluntary Salmon Hatchery is to be held on the 31^st of March at the Glenavy Hall. WRES is a voluntary organisation whose aim is to increase the wild sea-run salmon population of the Waitaki River.  For more information check out their web page or head along to the meeting.

• Date: 31 March 2026
• Time: 7.30pm
• Place: Glenavy Hall

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 very 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.

Tight lines,

From the Central South Island Fish & Game team