Weekly Fishing Report – Central South Island- 10-10-19

Outlook for the weekend

It is going to be one of those overcast, drizzly, rain shower sort of weekends.

Anyone with a tank full of gas and a raincoat will find some good fishing.

Some rivers will be high, and some areas will get more rain; but others could do with a bit of rain but won’t get much.

Right: Find good Waitaki water and you will find good Waitaki fish-Credit R Adams

The Rangitata is high and discoloured from significant Westerly rain on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Some of that rain spilt through to the headwaters of the Ashburton, Orari, Lake Opuha so it would be worth checking the flows in those areas before venturing out.

In any case, check out the ECan flow website for peace of mind and get to know the flows that work for you.  

There is a bit more rain forecast for Friday too.

Sunday is the pick of the days but the early bird gets the worm.

If you haven’t made it out this season yet I wouldn’t let the weather put you off there will be some great opportunity this weekend and early season fishing is awesome.

Improve your access to the Waitaki

The Waitaki River is full of trout, but it is one of the hardest lowland rivers to access in New Zealand.

The difficulty comes from the huge everchanging volumes of water and the thick riparian vegetation smothering the banks.

Waitaki farmer Geoff Taylor and Fish & Game Officer Rhys Adams with a newly installed angler access signage on Geoff's Kaik Road farm

Local anglers who know what access points to fish at certain flow levels catch a lot of trout.

For them, hooking 10 trout in an outing is normal but landing all those fish is a tough ask in the strong currents.

The tackle used is standard; a black n gold toby spinner or hare and copper nymph will do the job.

The key to becoming a local at the Waitaki is to study the Environment Canterbury flow charts and exploring different access points across a range of flows.   

Downloading our all-new Waitaki Angler access pamphlet will get you one step closer to success too.

Over the last seven months I have been working on producing an all-new Waitaki River angler access pamphlet to help you access the Waitaki and to provide useful tips on working with the flows.

The pamphlet details 35 access points, and some are brand new options.

You can download the new Waitaki Angler Access Pamphlet here from our website.  

Over half of the access points in some way require access through working farms, often over private land.

It’s been enjoyable working with the farmers who have been generous by allowing angler access across their private land.

That generosity will remain if we all respect their access requests, leave gates as we found them, follow the signage and leave their property and stock undisturbed.  

The plan was to have the pamphlet available in shops too, but printing will have to be delayed.

Some exciting new access improvement and maintenance options are currently being explored thanks to the support of Meridian Energy.

We plan to work with Meridian, ECan and farmers over the coming year or two and update the pamphlet with even more access options. 

If you have any Waitaki access queries that aren’t covered by the pamphlet I may be able to help, email radams@fishandgame.org.nz

Be sure to check out our Fishing Locations and Access information and pamphlets from other great fisheries in the CSI Region while you are on the website too.

Notice board

Fish & Game Council meeting

Licence holders and members of the public are welcome to attend the next bi-monthly council meeting of the Central South Island Fish and Game Council.

The meeting starts at 7:30pm (new time) on Thursday the 17^th of October and is held at the Fish & Game boardroom, 32 Richard Pearse Drive, Temuka.

Council meetings dates are posted on our website.

Fish & Game’s Twizel Kids Salmon Fishing Day

Sunday November 3

Held at Loch Cameron near Twizel, registration on the day from 8:30am fishing starts at 9:00am.

Make sure you Click here for all the info.

Canal litter pick-up

Saturday November 9

Meet at Jakes Hardware in Twizel town centre at 8:30am for briefing and spot prize registration.

Free BBQ lunch and spot prize giving at 12:30pm.    

Tight Lines

Rhys Adams, Central South Island Fish & Game Officer