North Canterbury Weekly Fishing Report - 5th February 2025

Have a great Waitangi Day for those of you getting a long weekend hopefully, it involves time spent with loved ones and plenty of fish caught!

Angus with a stocky arm-length fish caught in a North CanterbURy River

With the long weekend ahead, many anglers will be eager to get out on the water and explore Canterbury’s high country. The weather forecast suggests northwest winds on Saturday, which can make casting challenging. However, fishing at the downwind end of a lake and wading out into the water can still be productive, even if conditions are a bit unpleasant. The good news is that river flows are expected to remain stable.

Rivers have been low and stable for some time now, meaning fish have likely encountered several anglers already. To improve your chances, consider adjusting your approach—using a lighter or thinner tippet, longer leaders, or even opting for smaller flies or spinners can be very effective in these conditions.

aerial shot of the Waimakariri River near McLeans Island 

If you’re planning a boating trip with friends or family, Thursday or Friday would be ideal. When trolling, be mindful of your speed and depth to ensure your lures or flies are working in the strike zone, rather than dragging along the bottom or running too deep.

On the salmon fishing front, activity remains quiet. However, once we get a fresh flood in the sea-run salmon rivers, new fish should begin making their way upstream. In the meantime, if you’re targeting salmon, try using smaller spinners and lighter lines, as the current clear river conditions make fish more wary of approaching gear.

The Rakaia can offer great stable fishing holes for targeting salmon or resident trout

 

Weekly Expert Tip

 

With the Waitangi Day long weekend starting tomorrow for many, we caught up with Ellie at Christchurch Hunting & Fishing for some expert advice on the essentials you’ll want to have in your gear bag. Whether you're heading out for a day trip or embarking on a weekend adventure, Ellie runs through the must-haves you might need. While many of you will likely already have this gear, double-checking its condition and ensuring everything makes it into your bag or car before setting off is always a good idea.

North Canterbury 2024 Sea-Run Salmon Report

Simon from Christchurch Hunting and Fishing with a nice salmon

The Sea-Run Salmon Report for the North Canterbury Region during the 2024 season is now available.

Access the complete report on our website via this link: 23/24 Sea-Run Salmon Management North Canterbury.

 

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Think you may have missed a report or want to go back and look at some of the details and advice we have provided in previous weeks...

CLICK HERE TO VIEW ALL NORTH CANTERBURY WEEKLY FISHING REPORTS

Kieran Lee with a tough-looking rainbow trout. Great fish!

 

Selwyn District Council Update

The Selwyn District Council has notified North Canterbury Fish & Game that weed cutting in the Ararira /LII river will commence approximately on the 10th of February 2025 and continue through until the end of March 2025. A barrier will be placed on the river 200m downstream of Wolfes Road boat ramp. The work is being completed to meet Environment Canterbury's consent. Should you require more information please contact the Surface Water Team on 347 2800.

Check, Clean, Dry Message 

Check, Clean, and Dry to stop freshwater pests!

Whether you’re out fishing, hunting, kayaking, paddleboarding, jet skiing or boating on Canterbury’s freshwater lakes and rivers this summer, the threat of freshwater pests spreading and invading is very real. 

 

Freshwater pests can ruin valuable ecosystems by stopping the growth of native water plants and reducing habitats for many types of fish. 

The invasion of freshwater pests is a direct result of human activity so if you plan on going to a lake, river, stream or wetland this summer and move to another within 48 hours, you must clean all your gear that has been wet using the 'Check, Clean, Dry' method. 

Check

Remove any plant matter from your gear and leave it at the site (the river or lake bank), or put it in the rubbish. Don't wash plant material down any drain.

Clean

Use 10% dishwashing detergent mixed with water and leave the item wet for 10 minutes.

Dry

Ensure your gear is completely dry to touch, inside and out, then leave to dry for at least another 48 hours before you use it.

 

Some of the freshwater pest species present in Aotearoa New Zealand exist within our region like Egeria and Lagarosiphon, but many of our lakes and rivers remain pest-free. To help keep it this way, equipment and vessels must be properly cleaned and decontaminated before entering any waterway.  

 

We all have a responsibility to protect our freshwater so remember, even if you can’t see it, if it’s wet, it’s a threat.  

For more information visit https://www.ecan.govt.nz/your-region/your-environment/biodiversity-and-biosecurity/biosecurity/preventing-the-spread-of-pests/check-clean-dry/  

 

Contact Environment Canterbury on 0800 324 636 or email biosecurity@ecan.govt.nz 

Targeted Weed Control Across the North Canterbury Region

North Canterbury Fish and Game has been given notice from Environment Canterbury (ECan) that targeted weed control using helicopters for aerial spraying will be happening across the North Canterbury Region from early February 2025 till the end of March 2025.

The affected rivers will be as follows:

• Chatterton River 
• Hurunui River 
• Waimakariri River
• Rakaia River
• Waikirikiri/Selwyn River

Signage indicating that spraying is underway will be placed at all spray operation refilling stations and public access points. Public access will be restricted during operations. All works are weather dependent. 

Visit this link for more information and detailed maps of targeted control areas: Current River Works ECan

Harts Creek Track Closure

The Waihora Ellesmere Trust (WET) have notified North Canterbury Fish & Game that track refurbishment work will begin at Waitātari Harts Creek beginning January 6th. The works are likely to be completed at the end of March 2025. There will be a full track CLOSURE during this period. The track is being given a facelift to improve retaining walls along the creek. They will also widen and level out the track. The Ellesmere Lions Club are overseeing this project. 

For more information, please contact WET here

Weather Update

Christchurch 

Rakaia

Waipara

Culverden

Hamner Springs

Arthurs Pass

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

Happy fishing! Stay safe out there!

Get involved this season!

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Want to contribute to the weekly fishing reports?

Here at North Canterbury Fish & Game, we are extremely passionate about sharing YOUR angling stories. Whether you caught a massive fish or took your girls and boys out fishing for the first time, you want to hear and tell your stories.

When you’re out this season, don’t forget to take some photos or videos and send them to jmeecham@fishandgame.org.nz with a little back story on your angling adventures.

Enjoy the weekend, and tight lines to everyone heading out to the water!

Jackson, Harry, Caleb & the rest of the North Canterbury Team