Otago Weekly Fishing Report - 5 March 2026
- Otago
- 5/03/2026
This is more like it
That’s a great start to autumn, with warm, calm conditions and rivers flowing at slightly lower levels – ideal for some dry fly action.
It almost feels like summer has just been delayed this year, and long may it last.
Picture above: Neil Gaskell casting to a rising rainbow trout on a stunning autumn day. Credit: Mason Court.
Autumn remains a fantastic time to fish around Otago, with more settled weather patterns often allowing for backcountry trips. In the coming weeks, brown trout will begin congregating around river mouths before pushing upstream into spawning reaches, offering anglers a different seasonal opportunity.
While heading into the upper lake headwaters, Otago Fish & Game staff member Mason was greeted with ideal conditions. Fish were holding along the tail ends of runs and pools, often sitting high in the water column and ready to take a well-presented large dry fly. Cicadas were still singing in the beech forest, making them a viable fly option, while the ever-reliable size 14 bead-head hare’s ears and pheasant tail nymphs also proved successful.
After-work success
Sam Fisher with a lovely brown trout from the Kawarau River. Credit: Henry McCook.
Large rivers close to town are often overlooked, with anglers choosing to travel further afield.
However, they can provide excellent fishing, as the team from Queenstown Hunting & Fishing recently discovered on the Kawarau River just outside Queenstown. Henry and Sam got into quality fish during a quick after-work session, with Henry landing a solid rainbow on a size 16 Parachute Adams, while Sam hooked a strong brown from one of the deeper pools on a soft bait.
When time is limited, it can pay to carry both spinning and fly gear. If there’s no obvious insect activity, switching to spin fishing can make the most of the opportunity.
A popular and easily accessible stretch of the Kawarau is the Shotover Delta, offering good water above and below the confluence with the Shotover River for anglers to explore.
Click here to explore Fish & Game access points and find the closest waterways to your city or town.
Long-term uni study helps fishery management
Otago Fish & Game ecologist Jayde Couper (centre) electric-fishes Lindsay Creek with University of Otago students Isabella Fernie and Theo Head.
This week Otago Fish & Game helped University of Otago students electric-fish Lindsay Creek as part of annual research into the fish population in the water of Leith and its tributary.
While most fish are measured, recorded and released unharmed, some are kept for more detailed analysis. Data from the nine-year uni project helps us manage the fishery.
Juvenile trout numbers in the catchment vary from year to year but are resilient. The long-term study has shown autumn floods allow upstream migration to spawning sites, but big floods in winter and spring can lower juvenile trout numbers.
One 2025 student study using isotopic analysis of trout eye-lenses suggested that fish in the upper reaches primarily originate from sea-run females.
As a high proportion of trout in the system may come from fish that have spent time in the tidal reaches and harbour, we believe enhancing the river’s lower reaches could improve the overall fishery.
Fish & Game appreciates the chance to work with the university, both the expert freshwater ecologist on staff and the students — our future scientists.
Electric fishing with Te Kura O Take Kārara
One of many brook char caught during a recent electric fishing demonstration. Credit: Cole Briggs.
Otago Fish & Game staff recently ran an electric fishing demonstration for Year 5/6 students from Te Kura O Take Kārara in Wānaka as part of their annual camp week.
The demonstration focused not only on assessing the fish population, but also on examining stream habitat — including substrate composition and surrounding vegetation — and how these factors contribute to a healthy waterway and why these are important.
It was an excellent day in the field, with students gaining hands-on insight into freshwater ecology and the team capturing stunning brook trout from a small local creek, which were released after some measurements and photos.
Greenstone Controlled Fishery reminder
A reminder to anglers that the Greenstone Controlled Fishery Period remains in place until 31 March.
The Controlled Fishery applies to the Upper Greenstone River from the swing bridge at McKellar Hut to the Sly Burn confluence. During this period, anglers are required to book a beat before fishing this section. The booking system ensures exclusive access to a defined stretch of river for the duration of the booking and operates on a first-come, first-served basis through the online platform.
All anglers must hold a valid Whole Season Fishing Licence and an Otago Designated Waters Licence. Bookings can be made up to five days in advance, including the day of fishing, with a maximum of three consecutive days per booking.
Over the border
This rainbow trout, which was taken for the table, took a corixa pattern retrieved from deeper water next to weed beds; (bottom) a brown trout that fell for a paddletail soft bait; and a resin-backed corixa pattern that could equally be mistaken by trout for one of the prolific aquatic snails on weed beds. Credit: Bruce Quirey.
Otago Fish & Game communications officer Bruce Quirey snuck over the border to fish Lake Benmore in Central South Island region at the weekend.
Sight-fishing over weedy shallows was productive with brown trout taking damselfly nymphs. Rainbows, preferring deeper water, took snail imitations, corixa and Mrs Simpson wet flies in about 2.5 metres. During a calm patch, a midge buzzer produced immediate success on surface-sipping brown trout. These methods will work similarly well in the weedy parts of Otago lakes such as Dunstan.
When fly-fishing from a boat, the breeze can push you along too quickly. This is when a home-made sea anchor on a looped rope attached fore and aft can slow things down nicely for a side-on drift. Cast a long leader downwind, let your fly sink, then retrieve and lift slowly.
To mix things up, Bruce also trolled and cast a bibbed Rapala trout lure on a spin rod, hooking several rainbows. Later, drifting in about 6m, Bruce saw sign on the fish finder and cast a bloodworm-coloured paddletail soft bait, hooking a solid brown trout, the biggest catch of the weekend.
Waihola perch
A ranger met anglers on Lake Waihola this week catching perch on Veltic-style spin lures cast from the lake edge.
After long periods of discolouration due to much rainfall over summer, Waihola was thankfully looking clearer this week.
Perch are most active in warm conditions, so make the most of any fine autumn weather before things really start to cool.
Cicadas on tussock lakes
Here’s hoping anglers get one last fling at trout feeding on cicadas on our high-country tussock lakes before cool weather.
Inland temperatures tomorrow climb into the high 20s, raising the probability of trout rising to these insects having crash-landed on the water. On Saturday, the temperature is expected to nudge above 20 degrees at Poolburn, Upper Manorburn and Loganburn dams, and trout could still be focused on cicadas.
Women on the Fly NZ Dunedin workshop
Women on the Fly NZ is hosting their first workshop in Dunedin, supported by the Otago Anglers Association.
On March 29, they’ll be running an Introduction to Fly Fishing day designed for beginners and for women who’d like to build more confidence on the water.
It’s a welcoming, supportive day and a lovely chance to connect with other local women who are curious about fly fishing.
- Sunday 29 March
- 10am (morning tea included)
- 3 Young Street, St Kilda, Dunedin
- $30
- Limited to 24 participants
Register here: wotfnz.short.gy/Dunedin-Intro
Your place is confirmed once the registration form is completed and payment is received.
Club Updates
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.
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
Friday and Saturday are shaping up with generally mild weather and light winds around Dunedin, providing anglers with good opportunities to fish local rivers and streams. Saturday morning in particular looks favourable before winds strengthen later in the day. On Sunday, scattered showers and increasing southwesterlies are expected, so plan accordingly and aim for early fishing sessions.
The Taieri River at Outram was at 13.3 cumecs this morning. The water temperature was 13 oC.
Click here for live MetService weather updates
Wānaka
Saturday morning is the pick of the weekend in Wānaka, with calm, clear conditions and temperatures reaching the high 20s — ideal for targeting terrestrial feeding fish or heading out on the lake. Northerly winds are expected to strengthen later in the afternoon. On Sunday, expect the odd shower with southwesterlies developing during the morning.
Click here for live MetService weather updates.
Alexandra
Clutha Regional Forecast
Low flows and calm conditions on Saturday morning make for ideal fishing on the lower Clutha this weekend. Overcast skies are expected, with northerly winds gradually strengthening through the day and the chance of an evening shower—perfect for spinning. Sunday is forecast to bring showers and brisk southwesterly winds.
The Pomahaka River at Burkes Ford was at 7 cumecs.
The lower Clutha River at Balclutha was at 343 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.
Disclaimer:
The information presented in these news items is based on the context and regulations in place at the time of publication. Please note that some articles may include reference to laws and regulatory standards that have since changed. For the most current and accurate information please check our Fishing Licences & Regulations pages or our Hunting Licences & Regulations pages.