The Wait For Clear Braided Rivers Continues

Image Above: Chris De La Torre and his son fly fishing earlier today on Lake Ida.

As the northwest weather continues to roll through the region, our braided rivers still haven’t had the chance to clear—leaving many anglers waiting for that first good window to get out.

The good news is there are still plenty of excellent fishing opportunities available, both here in North Canterbury and further afield. It’s simply a matter of making the most of the limited weather breaks when they arrive.

We’re now heading into the prime period of the freshwater fishing season, so it’s a great time to restock your gear and be ready. Once those rivers drop and clear, you’ll want to hit the water at every opportunity.

High-country lakes have been performing well, with high water levels across the board—an ideal setup heading into summer. The flooded margins have provided fish with access to abundant insect life, so most trout should be in top condition. And when the sea-run salmon rivers finally become fishable, it will be exciting to see what turns up. More fish? Bigger fish? Hard to know—that’s part of what makes salmon fishing so special. It’s always a bit of the great unknown.

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Exploring Regulatory Changes To Increase Sea-Run Salmon Spawning – Your Feedback Is Sought

Salmon populations are at critically low levels currently 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

How and when can I provide feedback?

You can provide feedback via our online survey. The survey will be available via email and posted on this webpage. There will be a staged release of the survey as follows:

·      1 December 2025: A randomised subset of sea-run salmon licence holders will be emailed, inviting them to complete the survey. Check your email now!

·      1 January 2026: A survey link will be emailed to all sea-run salmon licence holders who did not participate in the random survey. Additionally, the survey link will be available on our website for any angler or member of the public to complete.

·      31 January 2026: The survey period closes. All submissions must be made by 11:59 pm NZDT.

For more information and to review our information pack, visit our website here.

Video Fishing Report From Last Week

Last week, the North Canterbury Fish & Game Council held its Annual Public Meeting (APM).

The APM brought together a wide range of hunters, anglers, staff, and North Canterbury councillors. At the meeting, the draft Statement of Service Performance was presented for the first time, following delays with the auditing process. Once councillors are satisfied with the document, it will be made publicly available and published on the Fish & Game website.

For this week’s fishing report, Field Officer Jackson Meecham has produced an online version of the APM presentation. While it doesn’t attempt to cover every single project, there was simply too much achieved over the past year, it highlights the key successes, critical programmes, and major outcomes delivered for anglers and hunters. The presentation finishes with a photo montage that gives a great snapshot of what the team has been working on throughout the year, so make sure you watch right through to the end.

Click the image below to watch the video from last week.

Tackle Tip Of The Week

A great choice for anglers looking to cover plenty of ground and want a comfortable boot.

Wading boots and guard socks are a great choice for summer fishing when you don’t mind getting your feet wet.

Whether you’re hiking long distances in the back country or jumping in and out of a boat, they’re comfortable, durable, and keep your feet warm throughout the day.

One of the biggest advantages of wading boots is that they’re built to handle water—they dry far quicker and hold far less weight than traditional leather tramping boots. Anyone who’s worn waterlogged leather knows how heavy and slow they become, and how long they take to dry.

Wading boots also allow you to add studs to the soles for extra grip on slippery rocks, giving you more confidence when moving through fast or uneven water. Guard socks help keep out stones and debris, while also adding insulation and comfort. Looking after your feet is essential—they’re your main mode of transport along the riverbank.

Wading boots pair perfectly with breathable waders, making them a versatile option for a wide range of conditions. Next time you’re in your local fishing store, take a look at the wading boot options available—and we’ll see you out on the water.

Community Corner 

Stories this week! 

Being Adaptable And Using The Seven Ps 

By Kieran Lee

Kieran Lee with a nice brown trout he caught earlier in the year. 

You’ve waited all winter. The days are finally getting longer, spring is creeping in, and with it comes the countdown to a new trout fishing season. The anticipation builds as plans form, maps come out, and visions of big fish and new adventures start filling your mind.

For many anglers, 1 October marks the true beginning of summer. It’s when friends reconnect to talk opening day plans, and anglers across the country lock in their destination, whether that’s a river, a lake, or a favourite stretch of water. Excitement grows fast, but so does the anxiety. Will we be the only ones there? Will the weather hold? What condition will the fish be in? What will the flows be like? Opening Day can be one of the best days of the year or one of the toughest, and the deciding factor is often your attitude.

This is where the adaptable angler shines. A flexible mindset can turn a challenging day into a memorable trip, even if it means fishing Plan B instead of your dream spot. One principle that has stuck with me for years is the classic 7 Ps:

PROPER PLANNING, PREPARATION, PREVENTS PISS POOR PERFORMANCE.

For me, that means doing the homework. Studying maps, checking forecasts, going over gear lists, packing properly, and making sure the vehicle is sorted. I imagine each stage of the trip and what I’ll need, including wet weather gear, safety equipment, food, and of course, fishing gear. But even with all that preparation, nothing guarantees that your chosen river will be fishable or angler-free.

So What Then?

If you arrive to find someone already fishing in the water, don’t charge in ahead of them. Approach from downstream at a respectful distance and have a chat. Most anglers appreciate the courtesy, and more often than not, the encounter is friendly. They may be about to finish up, you may decide to fish together, or they might point you in the right direction. A quick conversation keeps things positive. After all, we’re all out there to enjoy ourselves.

If the water is already taken and you don’t want to fish second-hand water, this is when your preparation really pays off. Maybe you’ve based yourself near several rivers, or close to a spring creek or lake that will stay clear after rain. Maybe you’ve selected a valley less exposed to the wind, or positioned yourself higher in the catchment so flows drop faster. Experience helps, but a good tackle store can also point you toward fishable options.

Being adaptable also means adjusting your techniques to suit conditions.

Early-season weather is often unsettled, and flows can be higher, which can make light presentation tough. We faced exactly that this year. The river was up, carrying a hint of colour, and the low dark clouds made spotting nearly impossible. Sight fishing was off the table.

So we adapted. Higher flows push baitfish such as bullies, koaro, inanga, kokopu, torrentfish, and juvenile trout into structure along the edges. That is the perfect time to swap to heavier tippet and fish streamers or softbaits tight to the bank. Even though we were following two other angling parties, the method worked brilliantly. We watched trout cross the current to hit lures worked along the edge. Streamers and softbaits trigger a basic instinct in trout, and they will often attack aggressively even in pressured water.

Finally, a truly adaptable angler knows that sometimes the win is simply being out there on the water, in the fresh air, doing what you love. That mindset keeps you fishing longer, trying new techniques, and discovering new water.

Be adaptable. Fish smarter. Enjoy the season, whatever it throws at you.

Tight Lines!

Notice Board

News

Controlled Fishery on the North and South Branches of the Upper Hurunui River Enters Second Season of Trial

Many anglers would be aware that both the sections of the North and South branches of the Upper Hurunui River are under a Trial Controlled Fishery for a two-season trial. The beginning of last season saw some early challenges with the booking software; however, we expect the system will operate as it did at the conclusion of last season.
For information or to make a booking, please click here​​​​​​.

Environment Canterbury Stopbank Spraying Operations

Notice directly from Environment Canterbury

Environment Canterbury is about to commence our ground-based spraying operations for the 25/26 spray season.

The extent of these operations is our stopbank network, selected berms, fairway sites and access tracks on the Waikirikiri Selwyn, Rakaia, Hakatere Ashburton and Hekeao Hinds rivers (see attached maps below for the North Canterbury Region).

Above: Waikirikiri Selwyn (works shown in red)

Above: Rakaia River (works shown in red)

This work is undertaken annually and involves the ground-based application of approved herbicides using either a knapsack or truck-mounted pressurised spray unit.

The spraying targets noxious weeds such as gorse, broom and willow, as unmanaged growth can compromise the integrity of the stopbank network and river systems.

Spraying operations will be completed in accordance with our permitted activity rules under the Canterbury Land and Water Regional Plan, or where required in accordance with our spray consent CRC222040.

Spray operations will commence in November and will continue through the summer period. It is hard to provide a precise estimate of when the spraying work will commence and for how long, as it is highly dependent on weather conditions and the growth of weeds throughout the year.

Please contact Environment Canterbury with any questions: 0800 324 636

Environment Canterbury Rakaia River Planned Works 

Notice directly from Environment Canterbury

Due to recent high flow events in the Rakaia River, we have had some new erosion of flood protection vegetation occur downstream of SH1 on the South bank of the Rakaia and on the South Bank of Rakaia Island. 

We are planning to undertake some slotted tree protection works at the site below SH1 and open up a high-flow braid upstream to help take pressure off the site. 

The site on Rakaia Island will need 1 additional slotted tree, backfill and recover existing works. We have decided that a full diversion of the river braid at this site would be more disruptive to the site and down river habitats than undertaking some of the work in the water with a small gravel bund at the top of the site to reduce the flow rate through the site. The works will be timed to align with lower flows to reduce the amount of sediment being deposited in the waterway during works. We want to undertake these works as soon as possible to stop further trees from eroding and entering the river fairway.

Please contact Environment Canterbury with any questions: 0800 324 636

Weather Outlook

Christchurch

Rakaia

Waipara

Culverden

Hanmer Springs

Arthurs Pass

Lewis Pass

River Flows

Waiau Uwha at Malings Pass: 7.668

Waiau Uwha at Marble Point: 102.002

Hurunui River at No.2 Hut: 16.018

Hurunui River at SH1 Bridge: 80.838

Ashley River at Lees Valley: 2.286

Ashley River at SH1 Bridge: 2.667

Waimakariri River at Below Otarama: 131.256

Waimakariri River at Old Highway Bridge: 112.342

Selwyn River at Whitecliffs: 1.791

Selwyn River at Coes Ford: 0.746

Halswell River at Ryans Bridge: 0.988

Harts Creek at Timber Yard Road: 2.543

Rakaia River at Fighting Hill: 255.886

To help you plan your fishing adventures, be sure to check the following resources:

• E-Can River Flows: River Flow Data
• Outdoor Access Live Cameras: Live Cameras (subscription required)
• MetService Weather Warnings: Weather Warnings
• Windy: Wind Radar
• Yr Weather Service (most accurate for High Country): Yr Website
• Canterbury Weather Updates: Webcams and Website

Stay safe out there!

Please note: This weather update is current at the time of publishing. We recommend checking the latest forecasts, river flows and road conditions before heading out.

Click the licence below to get your licence today!

Next Video Report: 11th December 2025 (Facebook, YouTube and Instagram)
Next Written Report: 18th December 2025 (Email and Website)

Tight Lines,

Jackson Meecham, North Canterbury Fish & Game Officer & the whole North Canterbury Team.