Salmon, Large and Small.
Graeme Hughes. Fish and Game Officer.

Chinook Salmon
Salmon fishing is topical news with increased Chinook runs and angler success throughout the Central South Island Region. The Opihi, Rangitata and perhaps a bit behind schedule the Waitaki River. To be fair there may have been good numbers coming into the Waitaki but anglers have been disadvantaged with high flows. With the river running in the 350 to 450 cumecs range, due to generation demand from the North Island, the increase in flow could not have arrived at a more inopportune time. With the shortened season, ends 31st March, as lower flows resume there is some urgency for those anglers who have yet to catch a salmon this season to get out and do so. It is predicted that during the Easter holiday break there will be a considerable increase in angler traffic on the Waitaki River. This year the salmon appear to be larger and in exceptional condition. More recently however a later run of small fish in the 4 to 5 kg range is now appearing in the anglers’ bag.

Sockeye Salmon
Inland, a count from a helicopter of Sockeye salmon spawning waters on the 13th March, financed by Meridian Energy, showed salmon spawning in the Lower Ohau, Tekapo, and Twizel Rivers. In the enhanced Ohau tributary, now cleared a further kilometre upstream by Environment Canterbury, numbers are significantly increased.

Didymo growth in the Ohau River has not deterred the “sockeyes” and they have cleared hundreds of square metres of river bed during redd excavation.

Sockeye Salmon Counts, 13.3.08.
Location   2007  2008
Lower Ohau   7400  6840
Enhanced Ohau tributary  300+  790+
Tekapo River (Lake to Forks River)  1600  150 (Lake to Steel Bridge 4.5km)
Twizel River(Ohau River to SH 1)  570  350 (Ohau River to ford, 3 km)

As a cost saving, Twizel and Tekapo counts were significantly shortened.
The manager of Glen Lyon Station located on the lower Dobson River near its confluence with Lake Ohau reports that in one of the Dobson River’s spring fed tributaries near Stoney Stream, hunters reported seeing large numbers of small fish. These are undoubtedly Sockeye salmon from Lake Ohau. Lake Ohau salmon are significantly smaller than Lake Benmore salmon. Lake Benmore is more fertile and supports plankton populations on which Sockeye salmon depend. Lake Ohau is a cold infertile glacial lake with a sparse plankton population and consequently the salmon do not grow as well. Larch Stream, a historical “sockeye” spawning stream on the opposite side of the Dobson River will be checked on foot during the next few days.

A fixed wing flight down the Tekapo River while counting Canada geese revealed schools of “sockeyes” wherever fine gravels were present. The salmon were seen several kilometres above the count cut off point at the Steel Bridge. Although some of the count areas have been reduced, the salmon observed outside the count areas indicate an increase in the number spawning “Sockeyes” this year. While the reason for the resurgence is not clear they are a welcome sight in the high country waters of the CSI region.

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