Otago Weekly Fishing Report - 16 January 2025

Angus Clareburt with a lovely conditioned rainbow trout which rose to a Cicada pattern deep in the backcountry. Credit: Sam Fisher.

Queenstown Hunting & Fishing staff members Angus Clareburt and Sam Fisher recently embarked on an overnight trip deep into one of Otago’s Designated Waters, where they encountered numerous feisty rainbow trout eagerly taking dry flies.

As the day progressed and the sun climbed higher, the fish grew increasingly wary, prompting a need to downsize flies and leaders.

In the morning, large Stimulator and Cicada patterns in sizes 10 and 12 proved effective, while in the afternoon, the focus shifted to smaller size 14 Blowfly and Mayfly patterns.

• To improve your chances with spooky fish in shallow water, consider lengthening your leader, reducing your tippet weight and diameter, fishing with a single fly (dry or nymph) without an indicator, and ensuring your first cast is your best.
• Anglers often only get one shot, so take a few minutes to observe the fish’s feeding patterns and carefully plan the best spot to land your fly.
• Don’t forget it is a requirement that you carry a copy of your Designated Waters licence whenever fishing in Designated Waters fishery.
• After buying a Designated Waters licence, take a screenshot of your confirmation email on your mobile phone, as emails often don’t load if you have limited phone service. Otherwise, carry a printout of your DW licence in a ziplock bag.
• Otago has nine Designated Waters fisheries. More information can be found here.

Keep cool and care for your catch

First trout on the fly rod for Anke Kay, caught fishing the smaller tributaries at the top of Lake Wakatipu. Credit: Paul van Klink.

With several fine, warm days in a row and the massive reserve of spring snow finally melted, many rivers and lakes are beginning to see a drop in flow and water levels.

This often results in fish moving out of smaller tributaries and back into the main rivers or lakes as the water warms and flows decrease.

However, forest-lined tributaries often provide more shade, allowing fish to stay longer, much like spring-fed creeks with their constant supply of cool water. If you plan to fish these smaller tributaries, take care to land fish quickly to avoid overexertion in the warmer water, especially if you intend to release them.

The Otago Regional Council’s environmental data portal is an excellent resource for anglers. It provides vital information such as water temperatures, lake levels, flow rates, and recent rainfall, helping you plan your trip more effectively

The ORC data portal can be found here.

Wanna fish in Wānaka?

Hadlee Taylor caught this nice brown trout trolling in Lake Wānaka with his grandparents Debbie and Darryl Thompson. Credit: Bruce Quirey.

Boat anglers on Lake Wānaka have been enjoying exceptional fishing recently, thanks to colder-than-usual water temperatures keeping trout active in shallower waters.

With the thermocline—a temperature-defined layer in the lake—sitting at 10 to 15 metres, anglers have a prime opportunity to target feeding fish effectively. Here’s how to make the most of your time on the water:

• Thermocline Insights: The thermocline, where cooler water meets warmer surface layers, is the prime zone for trout activity. Target this depth (10-15m) to improve your chances.
• Lead Line Tips: Deploy all 10 colours of your lead line and troll at a very slow speed for best results.
• Downrigger Settings: Set downriggers to 10-15 metres to keep lures in the most productive zone.
• Using Paravanes: Ensure paravanes are set to their deepest diving setting to reach the thermocline.
• Ideal Depths: Troll in water 12-16m deep where the thermocline meets the lake bottom layer for optimal success.
• Best Fishing Times: While fish can be caught throughout the day, the first and last three hours of daylight are particularly productive.
• Lure Selection: Copper-coloured Tobies, traffic light Tasmanian Devils, and brown trout Rapalas have been highly effective.
• Adapt to Conditions: With shallow-feeding trout, flexibility in techniques and lure presentation is key.

Make the most of these prime fishing conditions!

Praise for well-behaved anglers

Ellie Coburn (9) with a well-conditioned rainbow, which was gutted and on ice by the time rangers arrived, fishing with her father Andy on Lake Wānaka during the holiday season. Credit: Ian Hadland.

Anglers across Otago are congratulated for their exceptional compliance with fishing regulations during the summer season.

Despite a notable decrease in angler numbers on the lakes and rivers, compliance has been at a stand-out level, with only two offences recorded in the region.

Fish & Game officers have been actively patrolling popular fishing spots across the region, with more than 200 anglers checked over the holiday period.

The two offences recorded were one instance of fishing without a licence and another involving an angler trolling with two rods — an offence that remains the second most common after fishing without a licence.

Read the story here.

Bullock Creek World Wetlands Day

• 11am – 2pm, Sunday, February 2, 2025
• Bullock Creek Hatchery Springs, Stone Street, Wānaka
• A fun day for all the family to explore the unique Wānaka urban wetland on World Wetlands Day hosted by Otago Fish & Game and Friends of Bullock Creek.  
• Bring your picnic and rug and enjoy a free barbecue. 
• There will be lots to see and do in the Bullock Creek Hatchery Springs.
• Read the story here.

River festival this Saturday

Otago Fish & Game will be present at the Taiari Wai River Festival at Patearoa School from noon-5pm this Saturday, January 18.

Look for the Fish & Game tent to check out a live fish display, practise your spin casting and have a chat.

The free festival organised by catchment group Tiaki Maniototo will feature live music, food vendors, guest speakers and plant nursery sales.

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.

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 water sports facility.

Here’s the weekend outlook:

Dunedin

The slightly cooler air temperatures and overcast conditions can be favourable for fishing smaller and shallow coastal waters, which are prone to warming up. Overcast conditions and northeasterly winds are forecast for Dunedin from Friday to Sunday morning. There is a chance of showers developing with the easterly wind on Sunday afternoon.

The Taieri River at Outram was flowing at 7.2 cumecs. The water temperature was 17.7 degrees C.

Click here for live weather updates.

Wānaka

If some of the rivers receive a sprinkling of rain, it could lead to excellent fishing conditions the following day, as the fish are likely to respond positively. A warm weekend is forecast for Wānaka, with air temperatures approaching 30 degrees. Showers are expected to develop in the afternoons on Saturday and Sunday, accompanied by easterly winds. Be sure to pack a raincoat and keep an eye on rising rivers.

Click here for live weather updates.

Alexandra

Take care when accessing any of the Central reservoirs, as the forecasted showers may make the access tracks slippery. Scattered showers are expected to develop around Alexandra on Friday evening. Saturday will bring mainly fine weather with southerlies, though more showers are forecast for the afternoon. By Sunday, the weather is expected to clear, with easterly winds developing throughout the day.

Click here for live weather updates.

Clutha Regional Forecast

A cool weekend is forecast for the Lower Clutha/Mata-Au, with overcast conditions turning to showers on both Friday and Saturday. On the bright side, the weather is expected to clear by Sunday, with fine conditions and light winds—perfect for taking advantage of the refreshed small rivers or fishing the Lower Clutha itself, which has returned to a lower flow.

The Pomahaka River was flowing at 7.6 cumecs.

The lower Clutha River at Balclutha was flowing at 380 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.