Fishing News >January 2008

Holiday Angling in Otago

The holiday season has attracted a large number of anglers to the Southern Lakes and Central Otago areas. The very warm season has meant a lot of rivers have suffered low flows making conditions difficult for trout and anglers alike.

The larger rivers and lakes have fished well at times with the cooler mornings and evenings providing  the better options for anglers. Trollers on the large lakes have been finding the fishing difficult but good catches of landlocked salmon have managed to keep them interested. Fish taken are generally in good condition and it has been pleasing to see anglers keeping their catches on ice or returning them to the water if not needed.

The exceptional run of fine weather appears to have started the terrestrial insect activity early this season. Good numbers of Cicadas have already been reported on the Poolburn Dam and anglers are experiencing some exciting fishing with green beetle patterns and blow fly imitations along the edge of Lake Wakatipu. The next few weeks should produce some interesting terrestrial fishing in the high country.
 
Most of the rivers in the Kawarau Catchment are fishing well, especially the Greenstone, Caples and the Lower Lochy. There have been several reports of anglers catching and releasing trout as large as 9-10lb. The Nevis River is presently low and clear after experiencing high flows for much of the season.
 
Applications for Controlled Fishery Licences in the Upper Greenstone River open on the 27th of January. The Controlled Fishery starts of the 1st of February and finishes at the end of March. For more information visit the home page of the Fish & Game web site at www.fishandgame.org.nz , go to the Otago page and look for backcountry fishery licence.

Coastal Otago rivers and streams are all getting very low and with warm water conditions anglers should avoid overly stressing fish they catch which they plan to release.  Salmon are starting to be caught in both the lower Clutha and the lower Waitaki.  The Mataura and the Lower Clutha are fishing very well at present.

With the cicada season just starting both Lake Onslow and Loganburn Reservoir are looking promising.

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