Weekly fishing report North Canterbury - 2 December 2021

Over the last week, we have seen the main rivers rise and fall following the nor-west rain in the alps, but they should be approaching a fishable state by tomorrow.

River conditions for salmon fishing should be ideal through to Sunday when the rivers are likely to come down dirty again.

The weather forecast for the weekend is not great for fly anglers, with wind and rain forecast throughout the region both days and fly anglers may find tomorrow the best bet for a quick fish before conditions deteriorate.

On the salmon fishing front, things have been relatively quiet in the main rivers, with high flows and dirty water limiting angler opportunities.

Before this recent fresh, I had heard confirmed reports of a few salmon seen/caught/lost in the Rakaia, with rumours of a few more, however little news from the Waimakariri River, but there should be salmon in all the rivers when conditions improve after the current fresh.

Angler Simon Arthur, right, was successful with this 6.7 kg salmon caught at the Rakaia River mouth at the weekend.

Over the next few months, keen salmon anglers will be paying close attention to the ECan rain and flow sites, looking for the ideal window where flows and turbidity are optimum for salmon fishing.

This window is often quite narrow and with many people busy leading up to Christmas, it often proves difficult to be flexible around these small windows, however, keen salmon anglers recognise the great opportunity these prime times offer. 

The Hurunui River North Branch Delta

On the trout fishing front, most of our high-country lakes continue to fish well, with good reports coming from Lake Coleridge, where a number of salmon and rainbow trout have been caught.

The rivers flowing into the high-country lakes opened on December 1, there were a few anglers keen to explore these rivers early in the season when they tend to fish better.

Lake Coleridge – Harper River Delta

The coming weeks should see good brown and green beetle hatches and provide great opportunities for fly anglers.

Fishing the deltas where rivers flow into the lakes is often a very productive area, with two examples pictured at Lake Sumner and Lake Coleridge. 

Notice of Annual General Meeting

When:  8 December 2021

Time:    6.30 pm

Where: North Canterbury Fish & Game

595 Johns Road, Harewood, Christchurch

For those that want a copy of the Annual Report when it becomes available, please email northcanterbury@fishandgame.org.nz with your name and address.

Good luck if you are heading out for a fish this weekend.