CSI Weekly Fishing Report - 2 April 2026

Take a Kid Backcountry Fishing these School Holidays

The Central South Island is one of the best places in New Zealand to introduce kids to backcountry fishing.  Clear rivers, high-country lakes and open landscapes provide many accessible places where families can explore and fish together.

Trips like these give children the chance to experience wild places while learning about fish, rivers and where their food can come from.

When taking kids fishing, the focus should be on making the experience enjoyable rather than worrying too much about results. Success helps keep young anglers engaged, so it pays to choose spots where fish are likely to be present. In many situations bait fishing provides a good strike rate and is a simple option for beginners.

Kids often enjoy seeing their parents catch fish as well, and it can be inspiring for young anglers to watch and learn. The key is finding the right balance between having a few casts yourself and making sure the kids remain the focus of the trip.

Picture above - Bridget White assists Tor Authen with casting on the Ahuriri River.

Location and safety are also important.  Look for places where kids can move around comfortably and avoid steep banks, slippery rocks, or fast water. The region has many suitable backcountry locations, including the lakes around the Ashburton Lakes area, the Upper Rangitata River, and the Ahuriri River, where access is relatively straightforward and the surroundings make for backcountry experience.

Morning trips are often the most productive.  Fish tend to be more active early in the day and kids usually have more energy and enthusiasm at that time. Keeping trips short also helps maintain interest — a couple of hours is often plenty.

Plan for regular breaks and bring snacks or other activities to mix things up.  Kids will often enjoy exploring the riverbank, skipping stones, or swimming just as much as the fishing itself.

With the right location and a simple approach, backcountry fishing in the Central South Island can be an enjoyable way to spend time outdoors with kids while introducing them to the region’s outstanding fisheries.

Please keep us in mind if you’re heading out fishing over Easter weekend on a fishing adventure, we’d love to hear from you! Don’t be shy, please send in your fishing photos and anything else of interest from across the Central South Island region. To email Jase, click here. Best of luck for the long weekend and enjoy it!

 

Offender Prosecuted

A CSI F&G ranger assists young anglers at the Kids’ Salmon Fishing Day. Credit: Braided Creative.

Central South Island Fish & Game have successfully prosecuted an angler who flouted the law while fishing at Loch Cameron near Twizel in October 2025.

The angler was found fishing the day before the season opened for salmon that were released for a Kids’ Salmon Fishing Day.

Blake Thorman of Christchurch appeared in the Timaru District Court on 17th March and entered a guilty plea to three charges: providing false details, fishing without a sports fishing licence and fishing out of season.

Thorman was known to Fish & Game having previously been issued a warning for fishing outside of the family fishing licence provisions in 2020.

Judge Savage convicted Thorman on all three charges and ordered him to pay a total of $1,500 in fines and costs.

Central South Island Compliance Coordinator Hamish Stevens said, “Hopefully this will prompt people to think twice before fishing without a licence or providing false details to a ranger.  It’s especially disappointing that this offender took advantage of fish released for the annual Kids’ Salmon Fishing Day”.

 

Angler Etiquette Over Easter Weekend at the Hydro Canals

Nikola Harrington with a 17.5 lb trout she caught with her husband and daughter at the Tekapo Canal.

With the long weekend starting tomorrow, we’re anticipating a busy few days on the canals, particularly around high-traffic spots like the salmon farms and intake structures.

Please remember these canals are owned and maintained by Meridian and Genesis, and anglers are privileged to access their land and infrastructure.

To keep this unique fishery open and accessible, it’s essential that anglers act responsibly.  Showing respect for the land, the infrastructure, and others goes a long way in protecting ongoing public access.

Here’s a few reminders of what angler behaviour should look like at the canals:

1. Speed limits on canal roads are respected, this is very important for safety of all people along the canals and the longevity of angler access to the canals
2. Take in, take out policy when it comes to general rubbish
3. Fish waste is disposed of appropriately, away from the canal banks and water. Bring a bucket with a lid to take it away with you.
4. Hazard warning signs and safety fences are respected.
5. Overnight camping, including sleeping in cars, is undertaken away from the canals at designated camping areas.
6. Toilets provided on the canals and at power stations are used.

Please view our angler access map website here, zoom in on the canals to see where toilets are provided by Meridian and Genesis.

 

Late Season Exploring

Caleb Ryder carefully releases an energetic backcountry rainbow trout.

North Canterbury Fish & Game staff member Caleb Ryder visited our region last weekend for a cast and kindly provided this report;

“A break in the weather down south opened the door for a weekend mission out of Christchurch to a small South Canterbury backcountry river. Water levels were on the low side and fish numbers a bit thinner than usual, but a chat with a local suggested many had likely pushed further upstream with the reduced flows. 

Later in the day we located a willing customer, a sprightly rainbow that couldn’t resist a black gnat drifting naturally past.

The following day we tried Lake Ōpuha, where plenty of browns were cruising the shallows. They were cagey at first, turning down most offerings, until an afternoon breeze finally put a ripple on the water. That small change made all the difference, and a couple of patrolling fish soon lost their caution, sipping down a well-placed blowfly. 

 

Correction - Ashburton Anglers – Join the Grey Ghosts Angling Club

Unfortunately, the wrong phone number went into last week’s article ‘Ashburton Anglers – Join the Grey Ghosts’.

The correct phone number to contact Dave is 027 900 0625.  If you’re a like-minded angler and wish  to join their ranks then make the most of the remainder of the season by giving Dave a call to find out when the Grey Ghosts are next getting together. Seasoned and beginner anglers are welcome.

Ross Edmonstone of the Grey Ghost fishing club playing a wee brownie on a side stream of a bigger river.

 

Weather and Water Outlook

The long-range forecast for the Easter long weekend isn’t looking too flash, unfortunately. A prolonged wet southerly sets in on Saturday morning.  

Good Friday certainly looks to be the pick of the days.  Canals, lakes and spring fed streams will be reliable options this long weekend.

The Wind

According to YR.NO the winds in Temuka (low country) the predicted long-range forecasts that  Saturday will have a light breeze from the west early morning before a moderate southerly change mid-morning for the rest of the day. Sunday sees southerly fresh breezes.

Winds in Twizel (high country). Saturday will see light breezes from the south, south-east. Sunday is predicted to have light breezes from the north, north-east.

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 -  10.121
• Ashburton -  12.628
• Hakataramea - 2.801
• Ōpihi –  8.965
• Otematata - 3.475
• Rangitata - 76.062
• Tekapo - 7.936
• Twizel –  1.435
• Waitaki -  354.593

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

 

NOTICE BOARD

‘The Mackenzie’ - 11 April

This is a mountain bike race that does a full loop of Lake Tekapo/Tākapō.

The riders head along Godley Peaks Rd and to avoid issues the organisers have managed to get Godley Peaks Rd closed from the Lake McGregor turn-off, north.   As per the Race Tekapo event, this only relates to tourists and spectators. All residents, hut owners, farmers can get through as per usual. There will be crew asking drivers to take extra care on their way up the road. For more information, please visit themackenzierace.com

Opuha Water Limited

Opuha Water Limited is preparing to undertake operational maintenance works on the Kakahu pipeline over a two-week period commencing Monday 13 April, which requires the pipeline to be empty. Works will be carried out by Rooney Earthmoving and overseen by Opuha Water Limited operations staff. Contact Opuha Water Limited on 03 614 7801 if you require further information.

McKinnon’s Creek Salmon Hatchery – Volunteers Wanted 

If you or anyone you know may be interested in volunteering for the McKinnon’s Creek Salmon Hatchery they can always do with more help. They are a dedicated team who would love to share their knowledge and skills to new volunteers. Head to their website here to learn about what they do and to get in touch, mckinnonscreek.co.nz

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 very 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. 

 

Please Send us your Fishing Reports!

Whilst this report is crafted by the CSI Fish & Game team, it’s your stories that truly bring it to life. We’d love to hear about your own fishing adventures. Please share your short trip reports, photos, go-to lures, or favourite recipes etc.

Email your reports to Fish & Game Officer Jase Van Beers at jvanbeers@fishandgame.org.nz

Click here for Central South Island Fish & Game on Facebook

For any questions, please email csi@fishandgame.org.nz or call 03 615 8400.