Fishing News index> December 2007

Southland Fish and Game Fishing News December 2007

In Southland the winter seems to have leapt straight into summer. After having one of the wetter October’s we can remember and a very windy November early December has been hot and dry. Already the farmers are looking skyward for a bit of rain and the irrigators that have lain dormant for much of last summer are busy dragging water from the aquifers and spreading it onto pastures.

River flows have dropped rapidly, except for those that flow from the lakes. So conditions are excellent for trout fishing at the moment.

There is still enough water in the smaller streams such as the Hamilton Burn and the Otamita to provide good fly fishing. The Waimea and other smaller streams are starting to get a bit low but should still be good until Christmas at least – but by then surely we will have got some decent rain.

The Mataura is now in excellent condition. Although a strong upstream wind can be a bit unpleasant these conditions seem to stir the mayflies making dry fly fishing during the day very productive. Fishing for Mataura trout in its shallow riffles is one of the most interesting and exciting forms of fly fishing available and the river is ideal for that right now.

Didymo is still at low levels in the Waiau so spin fishing there will be the best method to catch the small bouncy rainbows it has in abundance. Fortunately didymo still hasn’t spread into the Mataura so we are hoping that it is unsuitable for this smothering alga to grow. Surely by now it would have spread there. We think that the spring fed nature of this river has deterred didymo somehow. We are conducting more research into this.

Mountain streams such as the Worsley and the Clinton will also be in ideal condition at the moment. Anglers must get a clean gear certificate to fish these waters. Details are available on the Southland pages of the Fish and Game website.

So a happy Christmas to all readers. If you are a visitor and want to head to the deep south our office will be closed over the Christmas break but visit our web site, it has all the information you need, or call into a sports store in Invercargill, Gore or Te Anau – staff there will point you in the right direction.

Maurice Rodway
Manager.

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