Central South Island Weekly Fishing Report - 29 January 2026

Last chance to have your say: Potential fishing rule changes at Lake Heron 

Angler Thomas Hampton with a lake-type salmon caught from Lake Heron.

Fish & Game is inviting anglers and public feedback on potential rule changes that manage the catch of sub-adult lake-type salmon at Lake Heron.

The consultation period closes for submissions on 30 January 2026.

An information pack outlining the rule change options and fishery background, including the relationship between the Lake Heron lake-type and Rakaia sea-run salmon fishery, is available to read here before completing the survey.

The survey is publicly available on the Fish & Game website here for any interested person to complete.

The Council will review the submissions before making any recommendations on regulatory changes.

Exploring regulatory changes to increase Sea-Run Salmon spawning – Survey closes 31 January!

F&G are seeking your feedback to support future decision-making regarding sea-run salmon.

Salmon populations are currently at critically low levels, requiring the Central South Island and North Canterbury Fish and Game Councils to explore further regulation options, in addition to the season bag limit, that enable a greater proportion of the run to spawn.

Changes to the regulations may impact your fishing activities and your sea-run salmon fishery values, so we are seeking your feedback to support future decision-making. 

What is Fish & Game seeking feedback on?

Fish & Game is seeking your feedback on a variety of potential regulatory changes to the sea-run salmon fishery within the current management framework, including:

• Reducing season length
• Limiting fishing areas
• Implementing a catch-and-release fishery (0-season bag limit)
• Implementing a temporary season closure

For more information, to review our information pack, and to complete the survey, visit our website here

Last chance for optimal Sockeye Salmon fishing

A boat angler nets a fish from Lake Benmore.

A reminder – it’s one of the last weekends of the prime period for sockeye salmon fishing at Lake Benmore.  

After Waitangi weekend, it’s essentially over. By early February, sockeye salmon stop eating and start to colour up for spawning.  From late February through to late March, they run the rivers and streams to spawn.

Check out how to use them in our very own “How to Catch Sockeye Salmon” video, here.

Boaties need to troll at depth using lead line, downriggers or paravane, and shoreline anglers are best to be fishing around the Benmore Dam.

Please refer to the Weekly Fishing Report from the 8th of January for in-depth information on how to target the fish.

Weather Outlook

Fine weather is on its way for the weekend! Canal anglers enjoying the view.

The weekend is currently predicted to be fine across the majority of the CSI region according to NIWAWeather extended forecast, here.  

There may still be some lingering showers about the coast, but I’d say if you’ve been trying to get out on the lakes, this is the weekend to do it; there is also very little wind predicted. River flows are still high for the time of year.

The Wind

According to YR.NO, the winds in Temuka (low country), the predicted long-range forecasts for Saturday will have light breezes from the north west, changing to light breezes from the south east by late afternoon. Sunday sees light air from the north east, strengthening slightly later in the day.

Winds in Twizel (high country).  Saturday will see a calm day with little to no wind predicted, with a light westerly breeze predicted for Sunday afternoon.

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 -  26.783
• Ashburton -  36.581
• Hakataramea - 11.293
• Ōhau – 12.86
• Ōpihi –  67.713
• Otematata - 21.386
• Pareora - 18.189
• Rangitata - 110.08
• Tekapo -  18.14
• Twizel –  9.537
• Waitaki -  626.63

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

NOTICE BOARD

Environment Canterbury

The National Wallaby Eradication Programme intend to undertake wallaby control using contractors with dogs and shotguns in the Waitaki River vegetation on the northern bank between Hakataramea and the Stone Wall. They will place warning signage at all fishing access points, and if fishermen are observed, they will not discharge a firearm.

Operation dates during daylight hours – Monday 2 to Thursday 5 February and Monday 9 to Friday 13 February 2026.

Waitaki River wallaby control Feb 2026.

Meridian Energy Limited

Controlled water releases throughout the Waitaki hydro system are continuing but are beginning to ease. You can monitor this yourself by visiting the Meridian Energy Ltd website here.

Please plan your fishing accordingly and take care around all lakes and rivers, as water levels can change rapidly. If you see anyone who may be at immediate risk of harm, call 111 immediately.

Updates will be made via the Meridian Energy Ltd Facebook page, here.

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 still 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. 

CSI Council Meeting

Licence holders and members of the public are welcome to attend the next bi-monthly meeting of the Central South Island Fish & Game Council.

• Where: 32 Richard Pearse Drive, Temuka.
• When: 7pm Thursday 5 February 2026.