Central South Island Weekly fishing report 26 September 2024

Are You Ready for Opening Day?

Opening Day is just around the corner, and for many anglers, it's all about the re-opening of our lowland waterways. 

Others might celebrate by visiting year-round fisheries that offer fantastic fishing at this time of year—Lake Benmore is a prime example.

Popular spots like Lake Opuha / Ōpūaha, the Ōpihi River and its tributaries, and the Waitaki River usually see a good number of anglers out and about for Opening Day and the first weekend of the season. 

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.

This year, Opening Day falls on a Tuesday and coincides with the school holidays, providing a great opportunity to keep the kids entertained—and the parents sane! Top spots for young anglers include the relaxed, park-like settings of Lake Opuha / Ōpūaha, as well as Borton’s and Bell’s Ponds on opposite sides of the Waitaki River.

For children, the easiest way to enjoy trout fishing is bait or spin fishing from the shore of a lake or pond. Garden worms are excellent bait if you can find them. Alternatively, shrimp or prawn are convenient options, especially effective for rainbow trout.

For a fun insight into whānau fishing, check out “Bonding over Bait” by Bruce Quirey on page 30-32, of the latest Fish & Game Magazine. It offers information on worm fishing rigs and top tips for family fishing.

New Direction for CSI & North Canterbury's Weekly Fishing Reports

We’re excited to bring you the first weekly fishing report for the 2024/2025 sports fishing season, which officially opens this Tuesday, October 1st!

CSI will continue to provide anglers with this weekly report, direct to your email inbox throughout the season. Newly appointed F&G Officer Jase will be supporting Rhys as co-editor this season.

North Canterbury Fish & Game is taking a new approach to their weekly fishing reports which will now be published exclusively on the North Canterbury Fish & Game Facebook Page and the Fish & Game website.

Make sure to follow the North Canterbury Facebook Page so you don’t miss any fishing reports or other important news.

Visit: www.facebook.com/NorthCantyFishGame

Welcome to the New Season, Anglers!

If you haven't done so yet, be sure to purchase your 2024/2025 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 – they will appreciate it.  

Make sure to review the latest CSI Sports Fishing Regulations 2024/25, here. 

This year, we’ve made some changes to how we provide the regulations. Due to rising production costs, we have moved to single-region pamphlets. 

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

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

Additionally, for those purchasing licences online, paper regulation pamphlets will no longer be posted. Instead, you'll receive a QR code that will direct you to the regulations page on the Fish & Game website.

Staff Announcement

Left to right - Jase Van Beers, Blake Harper and Graeme Clarke join the CSI Fish & Game team

We are pleased to introduce three new staff members to our team:

• Jase Van Beers has been appointed to a newly created Fish & Game Officer position.
• Blake Harper is joining the team as a full-time Ecologist, taking over the role previously held by Fish & Game Officer Mark Webb, who recently retired.
• Graeme Clarke joins us as our Environmental Officer.

Additionally, we are excited to announce that Hamish Stevens and Rhys Adams have both progressed to Senior Fish & Game Officer roles, where they will take on new leadership responsibilities.

Help Make Our CSI Weekly Fishing Report Great!

This report is crafted by the CSI Fish & Game team, but it’s your contributions that bring it to life.

We’d love to hear about your adventures—send us your short trip reports, photos, successful lures, and even your favourite recipes from Opening Day and throughout the season. 

Sharing your experiences helps make our reports engaging and inspiring for everyone!

Email your reports to Jase Van Beers at jvanbeers@fishandgame.org.nz

Photography Tips:

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-and-release techniques:

• Cool your hands and landing net by wetting them before touching the fish.
• Keep the fish in the water while removing the hook.
• Do not squeeze the fish and never touch the gills.
• Photograph the fish in or over the water. Do this quicky as the fish should be out of the water for no more than 5 seconds.
• Revive the fish facing into the current until it regains swimming strength.

Weather and Water Outlook for Opening Day

Staying updated on weather and waterway conditions will ensure a successful Opening Day on the water.

As the new season begins, the current long-range weather forecast, at the time of writing this (Thursday morning) for Opening Day the Low Country fisheries are promising! With overcast skies, light breezes, and mild temperatures predicted. Creating generally calm conditions for anglers on Opening Day.

There are plenty of year-round angling opportunities further inland and in the high country, making them great options for fishing over the weekend leading into Opening Day. Long-range weather forecasts suggest continuing typical westerly springtime conditions across the high country throughout the weekend and into Monday. As of now, five days out, cloud cover and light rain are expected later in the day in these areas on Opening Day according to the long-range forecast.

For the most accurate forecast, we recommend checking on Monday the YR.no forecast website. It offers precise, localized weather forecasts. For a bigger overview of conditions for more experienced forecasters we recommend Metvuw.com.

Water levels in the lowland rivers are currently ideal for fishing. With some rainfall forecasted for Thursday prior to Opening Day in the high-country headwaters, it should not affect the lowland rivers, which are expected to remain in excellent condition for Opening Day.

It's advisable to monitor river conditions closer to the time via the free ECan river flows and rainfall websites.

For those seeking real-time conditions, the Outdoor Access livestream cams provide a subscription-based service with a 30-day free trial, offering valuable insights into live river and lake conditions.

Boosting Lake Tekapo’s Fishery: 80,000 Salmon Smolt Released

Fish & Game Officer Nikki Dellaway releases salmon smolt at Lake Takapō .

In September, Fish & Game officers Nikki and Jase oversaw the release of 80,000 salmon smolt into Lake Tekapo / Takapō, a significant boost to the lake's fishery. 

The smolt were generously gifted by Mt Cook Alpine Salmon, whose ongoing support plays a valuable role in enhancing the region’s angling opportunities. 

These young salmon are expected to thrive in Lake Tekapo’s cool, clear waters, and by the 2026/27 season, they will reach a harvestable size, ranging from 2 to 4 pounds. 

This release not only bolsters the local fishery but also promises exciting prospects for anglers in the coming years, highlighting the collaborative efforts between Fish & Game and local partners to enhance recreational fishing.

Tight lines this opening day!

Rhys & Jase
Central South Island Fish & Game Officers