Central South Island Weekly Fishing Report - 6 November 2025

High Country fishing season opens

Anglers were treated to perfect weather, with sunny skies and light winds during this seasons High Country Opening Day. The day began cool and crisp before warming into a summer-like afternoon by lunchtime, with a few anglers even tempted in for a swim.

Pictured above: Fish on! Glen Currall with his first fish of his season. Credit: Jase Van Beers.

Fish & Game Rangers were out and about in Twizel, Lake Alexandrina and Ashburton Lakes areas, checking on close to one hundred compliant anglers across the region.

Logan McDowell (10yo), caught this rainbow trout with his dad Mark from their dinghy on a silver ticer lure, while fishing Lake Heron on Opening Morning. Credit: Rhys Adams.

Opening day at Lake Heron was a social day of fishing for most anglers with many noting how busy the day was compared to recent seasons. It is estimated around 100 anglers fished the lake over the day. No doubt the stunning weather had a role to play in this.

While checking on anglers, Ranger Rhys Adams was educating anglers on regulations that are set to be introduced next season, i.e., from November 2026 Lake Heron anglers will be required to use single hooks only. 

Single hooks were handed out to anglers by Rhys during the day to support their transition to using single hooks only. These hooks were kindly donated by Pete at Outdoor Adventure Sports in Ashburton.  Single hooks can be easier and quicker to remove than treble hooks which should help look after undersize salmon that are commonly caught and released at Lake Heron.
 

Ranger Blake Harper with an upper Ahuriri River brown trout caught, cared for and released.

Ranger, Blake Harper said that while the weather on the day was fantastic, the Ahuriri River remained elevated and murky from recent heavy rain and snow falls. Despite these conditions, some spin anglers had managed success and caught trout.
 

Glen Currall with a lovely brown to kick off his season. Credit: Jase Van Beers.

Ranger, Jase Van Beers was active in the Twizel area and said considering the high-water conditions, many fly anglers in the Twizel area fished their plan B and even C, waterway for Opening Day but spirits were high and most landed trout in good condition.
 

Gary Harrison with a fine brown trout of 6.4lbs caught on a nymph on Opening Day at Lake Alexandrina. Credit: Allan Gillespie.

At Lakes Alexandrina and McGregor, Ranger Allan Gillespie reported that the lakes fished reasonably well with good numbers of fish sighted. The weather was fine with light breezes, and he checked 21 compliant anglers.  Fish were in good condition averaging about 4.5lbs with the largest caught being 6.8lbs.

 

Kids salmon fishing day

Families flock the bank at this year’s KSF. Credit: Braided Creative.

The annual Kid’s Salmon Fishing Day, hosted by Central South Island Fish & Game on Saturday 1 November, was a resounding success at Loch Cameron near Twizel.

Event coordinator and Fish & Game Ranger, Nikki Dellaway said, “The event was a great success, and the weather couldn’t have been better.  We were delighted to hold the Kids Salmon Fishing Day for another year.”

A total of 87 youngsters aged between 4 and 11 years—along with their families—enjoyed a fun-filled day learning the ropes of salmon fishing in a relaxed and supportive environment.

The fishing action didn’t disappoint, with over 100 salmon landed throughout the day.  “A massive thank you goes out to Mt Cook Alpine Salmon, the major supporter of the event. Their generosity is what makes the day possible,” Nikki said.

As part of Mt Cook Alpine Salmon’s commitment to giving back to the community, more than 300 salmon were gifted for the event.

Fish transport was kindly provided by Mackenzie Supply Services. Watch a video of the fish being released, here.
Core memories being created, as many kids caught their first ever fish. Credit: Braided Creative.

Spot prizes were generously donated by Shaw’s Hardware, Southern Alps Outdoors, Hunting & Fishing Timaru, Meridian Energy, and Kilwell Sports—ensuring every child went home with a fishing-related prize such as a lure, tackle box, or voucher.

There are still plenty of salmon available to all sports fishing licence holders in Loch Cameron. Anglers are encouraged to take a child or junior angler out over the coming weeks while this unique opportunity lasts.

Anglers are urged to take salmon caught in Loch Cameron home for the table—the daily bag limit for salmon is two fish. Please refer to the 2025/26 Sports Fishing Regulation Guide for full details, or contact the Fish & Game office at 03 615 8400 or csi@fishandgame.org.nz for clarification.

Lastly, Fish & Game asks everyone to help keep Loch Cameron pristine. If you’re lucky enough to catch a salmon, please take your fish waste with you and dispose of it responsibly—Loch Cameron is a popular swimming and picnic spot for locals and visitors alike.
 

Kids line up to register to fish at Loch Cameron. Credit: Braided Creative.

Spot X

Wainono lagoon angler access.

Wainono Lagoon is the home of public land game bird hunting in South Canterbury but is seldom considered an option for trout fishing and NOW perch! 

Wainono Lagoon is accessed from a beach track at the end of Hook Beach Road, off Hook Swamp Road, off SH1, 30 minutes south of Timaru. This beach track is only suitable for 4x4 vehicles and drivers with experience in loose gravel. It’s a long walk otherwise.

About 4km along the beach track to around the middle of the lagoon is probably the best trout fishing area offering the most reliable chance of finding suitable water clarity for fishing. Perch have been found recently in the south-east corner of the lagoon.

If you do catch a perch please keep the fish and do not release it back into the water. 2–4-pound brown trout actively feed in the shallow margins. A lure or fly imitating a small fish or possibly even a dry fly could well be taken without hesitation.

Regulations for this location are:

• Open Season: 1 Oct – 30 Apr
• Fishing Methods: Fly, Spin, Bait
• Daily Bag Limit: Trout – 2, Perch – No limit

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

 

Weather Outlook

Lake Alexandrina weather conditions couldn’t have been better last Saturday for boating. Credit: George Empson.

Rivers are returning to regular levels for the time of year, so there are options a plenty this weekend!
The long range forecast according Metvuw there is a high pressure system dominating New Zealand over the coming days, sitting just offshore and drawing in warm air from the subtropics and Australia – meaning mild, settled weather.

However, this pattern breaks down next week as low pressure returns, bringing the chance of heavier rain in the west and stronger winds across the country.

 

The Wind

The winds in Temuka (low country) show that Saturday will see predicted long-range forecast and gentle to moderate breezes from the northwest and west throughout the day. On Sunday, lighter northwest breeze with a late southeast change in the evening are predicted.

Winds in Twizel (high country). Saturday sees light to gentle westerly winds throughout the day with a southwest change overnight. On Sunday, the wind changes to the northwest in the afternoon and remain light.

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 -  65.51
• Ashburton -  45.782
• Hakataramea - 5.772
• Lake Ōpuha – 90.7 % full, with a lake level of 390.23m
• Ōhau – 12.567
• Ōpihi –  11.792
• Otematata - 10.32
• Pareora - 1.104
• Rangitata - 109.016
• Tekapo -  20.489
• Twizel –  14.606
• Waitaki -  486.721