Central South Island Weekly Fishing Report - 27 November 2025

Family Weekend on Familiar Water

Chris Dyson in his happy place, catching fish with his family.

Local angler Chirs Dyson provided this inspiring report from last weekend when he and his family returned to a beloved familiar river that’s taken on new meaning for him now that his angling goal has become showcasing fly fishing to his kids and helping them to catch trout of their own.

Chris’s report:

“It’s always exciting returning to a river that you have fished all your adult life, and naturally you reflect on the many memories and experiences of your angling journey throughout the years.

The next step in my angling journey is teaching our children to fish, starting with spin fishing. We arrive at the river and spot a few fish in a nice stretch of water. They have seen some angling pressure during the first few weeks of the season, but one fish is hooked and landed on a #16 Hare’s Ear nymph.

Another fish is soon spotted in a small riffle and is hooked on a #14 black Parachute Adams dry fly. Our son Blake enjoys holding the fish while it sits in the net and quickly checks the weight (just under 3 pounds). Our daughter Mackenzie then takes her turn, enjoying the moment of holding and releasing the fish.

The following morning is close to perfect—calm, clear, and stunning. My wife Edwina catches a nice rainbow trout on a #14 Kakahi Queen dry fly imitation. We soon spot another good trout sitting close and shallow. I reach for the fly rod, but as I do, I see the fish move… and Mackenzie has hooked it on the spinning rod with a small black and silver Tasmanian Devil—a moment on the river I will never forget.”

Blake, age 8, and Mackenzie age 11, have well and truly caught the bug for fishing.

Lake Tekapo Salmon Stocking

Thousands of salmon smolt being prepared for release.

Thanks to Mt Cook Alpine Salmon we have continued to enhance the put-and-take salmon fishery at Lake Tekapo. The salmon smolt were gifted to anglers by Mount Cook Alpine Salmon as part of their philosophy of giving back to the community.

Check out a short video on of the release, here.

Releases of salmon into Lake Tekapo have occurred most years from 2009 with some great catches of 2-4-pound salmon reported over the years. The release of 23,500 smolt this Spring, on top of a release 80,000 smolt last Spring, is expected to provide for some great salmon fishing.

The salmon released were juvenile fish, about 6-months old, so we will have to wait patiently for them to grow.  We anticipate that fishing will be productive for 2 – 4-pound salmon at Lake Tekapo from Spring 2026 to Autumn 2028. The daily bag limit for salmon in Lake Tekapo is 4.

What the smolt turn into, a salmon double bag limit for two spin anglers.

Match The Hatch - Beetles!

Grass grub brown beetle and its synthetic counterpart.

When trout are feeding, they focus on whatever food source is most common at that moment—so matching a fly to what’s naturally on the menu will greatly improve your chances.

This week’s evening skies have been thick with brown beetles, signalling that beetle patterns, such as these, should be high on every angler’s list.

Brown beetles, the adult stage of the grass grub, are clumsy flyers that regularly tumble onto the water, offering trout an easy feed during warm nights.

A timely reminder to pay attention to the insect life around you and let them help you!

Spot X

McGregor Outlet Access Point.

McGregor Outlet Access point is located 15 minutes from the Tekapo township and lies on the western side of Lake Tekapo/Takapō.  

Access is via a 4WD track that intersects with Godley Peaks Road at the cattle stop. This provides shoreline access and small boat launching using 4WD vehicles to the lake.  Rainbow trout, brown trout and salmon are all present. A good old black and gold toby will do the trick just fine here.

Regulations for this location are:

• OPEN SEASON: All year
• FISHING METHODS: Fly, Spin, Bait
• MIN SIZE LIMIT: Salmon only – 250mm
• DAILY BAG LIMIT: Sports fish – 6
• NOTE: No more than 4 to be trout or 4 to be salmon.

Check out our Angler Access Website here for all the Central South Island Fish & Game angler access locations. 

Blake Harper with a brown trout caught from a jet ski after launching at McGregor Outlet.

A Message From Meridian Energy

Fences and barriers are erected near power stations to keep you safe from emergency discharges like this pictured

Summer is nearly here and there are a few things to remember when you’re out and about near our canals and hydro assets:

• Remember to park safely, well clear of the roadway and in designated parking areas.
• The rocks on the edge of the canal are super slippery and the canals quickly reach a 10M depth. Please be careful.
• Don’t climb fences around our structures – the fences are there to keep you safe.  
• Take it easy when walking down the side of the canals - it’s easy to slip, fall and break something.
• Our hydro station’s water intake and discharge areas have fast flowing aerated water, undercurrents and unpredictable water releases. Please follow the safety information on our safety signs.

Enjoy the canals and hydro assets safely over the summer!

Happy fishing  

Weather Outlook

The springtime Norwest fronts aren’t done with us yet!  

As I write this the Southern Alps main divide is receiving significant rainfall, 19.5 mm in the last hour at Mistake Flats in the Rangitata headwaters. The long range forecast according Metvuw.com shows that despite unsettled weather patterns around New Zealand most places will still get some settled weather over the next week, but windy weather, a few thunderstorms and downpours and some temperature fluctuations are likely as wind flows change direction.

By Sunday a low from the Tasman Sea moves into the Southern Alps main divide with some rain and localised winds, but an even larger low coming our way mid-week next week may create larger areas of wind and rain for the Central South Island region.

Over the coming week expect high country rivers to stay high and coloured, so focus on spring creeks, lowland streams, lakes, or the hydro canals, which stay more reliable.  If you are fishing high coloured water try using dark streamers, big soft baits, larger rattling lures in water.  Try to monitor flow gauges and watch for clearing edges after each big rain—often prime feeding opportunities for fish that you can key into. The canals offer the most consistent action throughout this unsettled spell.

The Wind

According to YR.NO the winds in Temuka (low country) the predicted long-range forecasts light winds in the morning with gentle northwest and northeast breezes. Around mid-afternoon the wind picks up, turning northwest then west with the strongest winds of the day.  By late afternoon it eases again, shifting to a lighter southwest breeze. On Sunday expect light winds through the morning with calm northwest breezes.  In the afternoon the wind turns north and picks up to a moderate breeze. By evening it eases again, settling into a light easterly.

Winds in Twizel (high country). Light winds in the morning with gentle northeast and east breezes. By late morning the wind swings north, then northwest, building to a steady gentle breeze through the afternoon. Later in the day it turns westerly and gradually eases toward evening. On Sunday predicted winds stay very light all day, beginning with a calm southeasterly in the morning. Through the afternoon the breeze turns easterly, remaining gentle right into the evening.

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 -  46.262
• Ashburton -  18.657
• Hakataramea - 2.187
• Ōhau – 12.808
• Ōpihi –  9.439
• Otematata - 3.307
• Pareora - 0.932
• Rangitata - 258.591
• Tekapo - 17.307
• Twizel –  9.347
• Waitaki -  208.643

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

NOTICE BOARD

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.