Fishing Report for the North Canterbury Region Friday the 12th of January 2018

Hello and welcome to the North Canterbury Fish & Game weekly report. 

It looks like the drought has broken!  No doubt the weather is probably upsetting some holiday and fishing plans. 

However, the positive is that rain was badly needed. 

Above Right: The Waimakariri River at the Gorge Bridge rising after Thursday’s rain.

The rain is widespread bringing much needed freshes to the alpine rivers as well as foothill rivers such as the Selwyn and the Ashley.

The rain will clear by the weekend. 

However, there will be strong easterlies around the coast and northerlies in the high country but there may be some sheltered spots somewhere in the middle. 

The biggest issue this weekend will be finding fishable water.  All the rivers will be high and dirty after this week’s rain. 

The lakes could be an option.  Unfortunately lakes Lyndon, Pearson, Grasmere, Sarah, Hawdon and Marymere are still closed until further notice, due to the unusual trout rash found in some of these lakes towards the end of last year. 

The latest update from the Ministry of Primary Industries, which is carrying out the testing, is that we are still at least two weeks away from a result.  We would like to thank anglers for their patience. 

We know it's a major inconvenience for some but we cannot take the risk.

The Coleridge or Hurunui lakes are still an option this weekend. 

The issues we had with warm water temperatures before Christmas have been resolved by the recent cooler and windier weather. 

Brown trout will still be cruising around the edges readily taking dry flies while the rainbows will be out deeper which will be more suited for trolling or harling. 

Please check your regulations to make sure you are complying with the varying rules for our lakes.

Tight lines,

Tony Hawker, North Canterbury Fish & Game Officer.