Fishing News index > January 2007

Nelson Marlborough Regional news

Neil Deans

The Nelson Marlborough Region has had a difficult start to the fishing season, largely due to the unusually changeable and unsettled weather.  Various rivers have been fishing well, however, including the Motueka particularly, with some double figure fish taken in the upper Wairau earlier in the season.  Water temperatures have now risen in all but the higher country rivers, making day time fishing difficult.  Most successful anglers have been getting up early or even trying a spot of night fishing. 
 
Regrettably didymo is continuing to spread in the region with recent confirmation in the Takaka, Pelorus and now the Speargrass, an upper tributary of the Buller, as well as the Buller itself and the Gowan.   Fish and Game New Zealand is asking anglers to take particular care with decontaminating their gear and treating all rivers as if they have didymo present.  In particular, felt soled waders are particularly difficult to appropriately clean, so either avoid their use or ensure they are soaked for a long period in warm (50 degree) water with detergent or other cleaning agent. 
 
The hearings for the Trustpower application to take most of the Wairau River’s flow for power generation have now been adjourned since mid December.  The 6 month long hearings have been a marathon exercise for all concerned, resulting in some 10 000 pages of transcript for the Commissioners to consider.  A decision is not expected for several more weeks at least.  Further hearings at the Environment Court on the application to amend the Gowan River provisions of the Buller Water Conservation Order are expected in late February, which is also taking considerable Fish and Game effort.
 
Tight lines