Central South Island Weekly Fishing Report - 9 October 2025

Low country rivers such as the Ōpihi, Ōrāri and Temuka/Te Umu kaha are firing on all cylinders right now!  Be sure to plan a trip to these rivers as soon as you can. We have been hearing several reports of rainbows being caught in the lower reaches of the Ōpihi.

Pictured above: Sam Coskerie presents one of several fine brown trout he has caught in the last week.

Sam Coskerie’s angler report

“A couple of days after Opening Day, my mate Tommy Hewson and I headed down to the Ōrāri River, where we each landed a couple of nice brown trout around 5lb, and I managed a solid 7lb brown. The water was clear with a good flow, and there were plenty of great fishing spots along the river.

The next day, I fished the Temuka River and caught another 5lb brown in mint condition! We were using the trusty Berkley black and gold soft baits, which have been working really well so far this season.”

A major New Zealand study has confirmed what many anglers have long felt — time spent fishing isn’t just good fun, it’s genuinely good for your mental health.

The study, led by Fish & Game New Zealand in partnership with the University of Otago, surveyed nearly 1,900 anglers across the country — making it the largest research project of its kind in the world. The results were remarkable: people who fish regularly were 52% less likely to experience psychological distress or thoughts of self-harm, and 46% less likely to suffer from moderate to severe anxiety.

Fish & Game’s Chief Operating Officer, Richie Cosgrove, said the findings provide powerful new evidence of fishing’s value beyond recreation.

“We’ve long suspected that the peace and connection anglers find on our rivers and lakes goes deeper than just enjoyment. This research confirms it at a global scale,” he said.

Project lead Cohen Stewart, from Southland Fish and Game, added that the more people fished, the better their mental health outcomes were — a clear “dose-response” effect.

“With nearly 1,900 participants from across Aotearoa, this study gives us confidence that trout fishing genuinely supports mental wellbeing,” Stewart said.

Dr Shyamala Nada-Raja, a wellbeing and suicide prevention researcher at the University of Otago, said fishing could complement traditional approaches to mental health care.

“Nature-based activities like trout fishing offer a simple, accessible way to improve wellbeing — especially for those who might not seek out formal counselling,” she explained.

The study also found that the benefits of fishing were consistent across genders and ethnic groups. Key factors that boosted wellbeing included time in nature, water contact while wading, and fishing alongside friends or family.

Professor Tim Stokes from Otago University described the research as “internationally significant” as countries worldwide look for new ways to tackle declining mental health.

With around 140,000 fishing licences sold annually and anglers spending over a million days on the water each year, fishing clearly plays a big role in New Zealanders’ connection to the outdoors — and now, it’s proven to play a vital role in supporting mental health too.

To read more on the benefits of fishing and the study that has been published in the international journal Leisure Sciences, click here.

Also, this week is Mental Health Awareness Week and the theme is Top Up Together, click here for more.

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