Otago Weekly Fishing Report - 12 February 2026

Drifting the Drop off

Waitangi weekend delivered some excellent weather across the region, it’s no surprise that anglers reported fantastic catches from Poolburn Dam to the Upper Lakes and along the Lower Clutha, highlighting the incredible variety of fishing opportunities available throughout Otago.

Pictured above: Hadlee Edmunds with an excellent rainbow trout caught on the lower Clutha River. Photo: Darcy Edmunds.

With flows on the Clutha/Mata-Au having dropped back to more manageable levels, there is some excellent angling on offer both from the shore and from small vessels — as Hadlee from Dunedin Hunting & Fishing discovered last week.

In large rivers like the Clutha, trout commonly hold along the deeper edges and drop-offs, ambushing prey as it moves between shallow and deeper water. Fishing from a boat can provide a real advantage in this situation, allowing anglers to cast tight into the shoreline and retrieve back across the shallows and into the drop-off — effectively working the strike zone for longer compared to casting out from the bank.

Hadlee noted that many strikes came after a brief pause once the lure or fly had crossed the drop-off, giving it time to sink into deeper water. That momentary change in pace often triggered aggressive takes.

Soft baits are incredibly effective when fished this way, as are spinners and streamers, particularly when anglers vary their retrieve and make the most of changes in depth and current.

For more information on the lower Clutha/Mata-au click here.

Waitangi Day success at Poolburn

Shane Wright with his personal best brown trout an 8lb Hen caught up at Poolburn reservoir on a dragonfly imitation. Photo Murray Cramond.

Shane Wright, son of former Otago Fish & Game Chair and long-serving staff member Monty Wright, enjoyed a memorable Waitangi weekend session at Poolburn Reservoir.

Just over a year after Monty’s passing, Shane decided it was finally time to fish his father’s custom-made fly rod. What followed was a day he won’t soon forget.

The rod delivered in remarkable fashion, producing Shane’s biggest brown trout to date — a superb 8lb fish taken on a dragonfly imitation. Around half an hour later, he hooked into another quality brown of 6½lb, this time on one of Monty’s own brown feathered lures.

A special day on the water, and one that felt like Monty was right there alongside him.

Monty’s custom-made fly rod and Shane's excellent catch destined for the table. Photo: supplied.

Here comes the cicada’s

A lovely, conditioned rainbow trout that rose to smash a cicada pattern deep in Otago backcountry. Photo: Bryon Powell.

The unmistakable song of cicadas echoed around the shores of Lake Hāwea on Wednesday afternoon as staff carried out acoustic surveys, with several insects even spotted along the water’s edge.

The increase in the number of cicadas compared to previous weeks has been audible to those of us out and about.

Angler Bryon Powell reported excellent fishing last week on one of Otago’s designated waters, taking both rainbow and brown trout on a range of large cicada patterns.

In larger rivers and lakes, a well-presented cicada pattern can be fished blind with confidence — trout will often move considerable distances to intercept such a substantial meal.

Cicada Fishing Tips

• Fish the edges – Target windward lake shores, backwaters, foam lines, and under overhanging trees.
• Match the size – Use a range of sized cicada patterns in natural colours. Don’t be afraid of changing size if getting refusals.
• Fish blind– Cover water methodically; trout will often move a long way for a big terrestrial.
• Let it sit – Allow the fly to drift naturally, adding the occasional subtle twitch to get the trout’s attention.
  
  

It’s looking up

As you can see in the brown trout’s mouth it has been gorging itself on damselfly and couldn’t resist Tim’s adult damselfly imitation. Photo: Tim Johnson.

Following on from last week’s feature on damselfly imitations, Tim from Hunting & Fishing Central Otago enjoyed an excellent day chasing damsel-eating trout at the top of Lake Dunstan.

Although cicadas were present on the water, Tim reported that the trout were only interested in damselfly patterns. He recommends that now is an ideal time for anglers to get out with either a fly rod or a spinning setup with a bubble float, as many trout are actively looking up and targeting terrestrial prey.

With surface activity on the rise, presenting the right pattern at the right moment can make for some thrilling top-water fishing.

Woolly rescue

Is it a trout? Is it a salmon? No it is a sheep. Photo: Mason Court.

While conducting acoustic surveys on Wednesday, staff were briefly interrupted by an unexpected rescue mission after spotting a sheep swimming near the middle of the lake.

Surveys were paused while staff assessed the situation, and it quickly became clear the sheep was tiring. Fresh from recent boating training, the team sprang into action, carefully securing the nearly exhausted animal and towing it back to shore.

There they were met by a relieved farmer, who explained the sheep — along with a few others — had missed being moved to the next paddock, this one must have had the bright idea of swimming to the other side of the lake.

Once safely back on dry land, the sheep appeared in no hurry to attempt another swim, spending some time drying out while staff resumed and completed the remainder of the transect.

Cold-smoked trout, Henry Smith style

Cold-smoked trout infused with Irish whiskey, brown sugar and common salt. Photo: Henry Smith.

Cromwell angler Henry Smith has shared his go-to method for cold smoking trout.

He starts by pricking the trout flesh with a skewer, then pouring over a tablespoon of Irish whiskey (and yes, pouring a glass for yourself may be considered part of the process). Let it soak for about half an hour, or a bit longer if time allows.

Massage in a mix of brown sugar and common salt. This helps cure the fish and caramelise the flesh as it smokes. Make sure you’ve got a tray underneath to catch the drips.

Henry sometimes swaps the sugar for maple syrup, paired with whiskey, which he rates highly. Cold smoke the trout in a cabinet for 4–5 hours until it’s cured and carrying a rich, smoky flavour. Slice thin and serve on crackers with mayonnaise or use it in a fish pie.

Got a favourite way to prepare trout? Let us know.

Jigging success

Harry Graham-Samson with a brown trout caught jigging off the Matukituki River mouth on Lake Wānaka. photo Paul van Klink.

While visiting Otago to learn about acoustic survey methodology, North Canterbury Fish & Game officer Harry took the opportunity to sneak out for an evening fish with Otago Honorary Ranger Paul van Klink.

Their aim was to test jigging on the large lakes, a technique that has proven incredibly successful in Harry’s home region, particularly around Lake Coleridge.

The outing was highly productive, with Paul and Harry landing three trout over a short period of time. Harry noted that much of the success came from shallower depths, with most fish found under 20 m. He also highlighted the importance of using a range of different flies to entice the trout, as varying patterns and retrieval speeds can make a big difference.

Hawea Family Fishing Classic

Making the most of a calm morning was key for successful anglers in the Hawea Family Fishing Classic last Saturday.

As the wind picked up later in the day, fishing in usual locations became challenging due to the swell. Despite this, there were some excellent catches weighed in across the competition, with families and young anglers proudly presenting their hard-earned fish.

Otago Fish & Game staff served as weighmaster while also collecting salmon heads from some catches for future research. This work will aim to help improve understanding of the Lake Hawea salmon population.

Fly fishing course

Mike Weddell’s fly fishing course teaches how to fish rivers and stillwaters for trout. Photo: Bruce Quirey.

Learn fly casting, tackle, trout behaviour, what trout eat, flies that imitate that food and how to fish them.

These 2-hour sessions over four evenings with Mike Weddell will also cover how to read the water, and how to fish rivers and stillwaters.

• March 9, 16, 23, 30, from 7pm-9pm
• Otago Fish and Game office, 5 Hazlett Road, North Taieri, Mosgiel
• Contact Mike Weddell 027 577 2439 or mike@mikeweddellflyfishing.co.nz

Club updates

If your Otago club has an update or photo for inclusion in the Weekly Fishing Report, please email bquirey@fishandgame.org.nz by the Monday prior to publication on Thursday.

Alexandra Take a Kid Fishing

Action aplenty at the Alexandra take a kid fishing event over the weekend. Photo Mason Court.

The Alexandra District Club held its annual Take a Kid Fishing event last Sunday, and it was a fantastic success.

Supported by a number of dedicated volunteers and generous sponsors, 53 families from the Central Otago area enjoyed a cool morning on the pond.

Fish & Game staff were on hand to assist, reporting that the fishing was excellent this year, with children trying out a range of techniques. Throughout the morning, plenty of fish were hooked and landed, with some long-range releases helping teach young anglers proper fish fighting skills. The largest fish of the day tipped the scales at 1.67 kg. Overall, it was a fun and rewarding event that highlighted the joy of introducing the next generation to fishing.

Don’t forget your licence

Get your licence online or visit a local agent.

Click the link for a list of the agents in Otago where you can buy a licence.

Event calendar

Click here for upcoming fishing events throughout New Zealand.

Lake Hāwea webcam

A screengrab of the Lake Hāwea webcam taken at the time of writing.

A real-time webcam at Lake Hāwea is provided by Snowgrass Solutions and Contact Energy and can be accessed through their website or directly via this link.

Please note conditions at the southern end of the lake (near the dam) may not always reflect those north of The Neck. Weather can change quickly, so be prepared.

Clyde Dam live webcam

A screengrab of the Clyde Dam webcam taken at the time of writing.

Want to know conditions at Clyde Dam? Check this live webcam sponsored by Contact Energy, updated every 15 minutes.

Lake Wānaka live webcam

A screengrab of the Lake Wānaka webcam taken at the time of writing.

Want to know conditions at Lake Wānaka? Check this live webcam from the Wānaka Watersports Facility.

Bookmark the ORC Environmental Data Portal for real-time flows, temperature, and lake levels.

Here’s the weekend outlook:

Dunedin

Dunedin can expect changeable spring like conditions this weekend with interspersed fine spells and breezy conditions, especially early on, with northerly winds helping keep temperatures mild at times. Showers are possible, but there will also be breaks of sunshine between bands of cloud and light rain, and winds are likely to ease at times toward Sunday, making it favourable for fishing.

The Taieri River at Outram was at 9 cumecs this morning. The water temperature was 16.9^oC.

Click here for live MetService weather updates

Wānaka

Around Wānaka this weekend, conditions look mixed with cloudy periods and some showers giving way to sunnier breaks, particularly in the afternoons. Light to moderate winds from the northwest to southwest will make for comfortable, cool days between showers, and there should be plenty of improving weather windows for getting outside and enjoying the lakes or rivers.

Click here for live MetService weather updates.

Alexandra

Alexandra should enjoy a generally pleasant weekend with mild temperatures and plenty of dry spells, as the weather pattern settles into light winds and intermittent sunshine. Saturday looks partly cloudy with just light showers possible, and Sunday should bring more frequent sunny breaks and warmer temperatures into the mid‑teens, making for a largely comfortable couple of days ahead.

Click here for live MetService weather updates.

Clutha Regional Forecast

The Lower Clutha area looks set for a mix of sun and cloud this weekend with mainly light winds, giving generally pleasant conditions for fishing. There’s the chance of isolated showers on Saturday and Sunday, but these should be brief and interspersed with breaks of sunshine, and wind should remain moderate rather than strong, making for a favourable couple of days overall before any change later next week.

The Pomahaka River at Burkes Ford was at 7 cumecs

The lower Clutha River at Balclutha was 538 cumecs.

Click here for live weather updates

For more ORC water monitoring and alerts information click here.

Grab your licence online and let the angling adventures begin.

Got any Otago fishing news?

Send your fishing news and photos (with anglers’ names) to otago@fishandgame.org.nz for consideration in the weekly report.