South Canterbury Report – July 2007

Snow and Ice But Some Surprises

There may have been a lot more snow last winter but this is still proving to be a pretty hard winter overall. South Canterbury has experienced hard frosts with clear skies inland and cold, grey days closer to the coast. The McKenzie Country is spectacular. With freezing fog and daytime maximums below zero the build-up of hoar frost is stunning. When I travelled through there recently after a South Westland sea-fishing trip Kellands Pond near Twizel was definitely not a fishing proposition as it was locked in ice. However I spotted some big browns and rainbows cruising the Tekapo Hydro Canal where the temperature was a ‘balmy’ –1 degree at 1 pm. I tried a soft rubber spinning lure without success for a while before the cold forced me back into my warm vehicle.

There are better prospects in the low country. A couple of days ago my wife and I were stretching the legs on the banks of the lower Opihi. “Why do we always have to go for walks on the riverbank?” she queried. “Obvious my dear. Trout don’t live on country roads or parks.”

The sight that greeted us this fine Sunday afternoon was enough to quicken the pulse. Scores of swallows and fantails ducked and dived over the water surface, snatching hapless mayflies in their beaks. There was other activity too. As I glanced down the long, smooth run the surface was dimpled with rises. The river was alive with rising fish, somewhat surprising considering the air temperature was only 6 degrees. A closer inspection confirmed that the fish were actually taking emergers even though duns were abundant. A #18 emerger fished on a 5 or 6X tippet should do the trick. There are no prizes for guessing where I’ll be, weather permitting this coming weekend.

Low water in the main rivers has probably not been conducive to much sea-run activity but as soon as the whitebait appear and flows improve the lower and estuarine areas will be worth checking out with whitebait and smelt patterns on all Canterbury rivers. Check the regulations though as Central South Island rivers are closed in the lower reaches during September.

Graeme Marshall is an independent fishing guide; his reports are not officially representative of Fish & Game NZ

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