Fishing News index> October 2007

Didymo controls in Fiordland

Because of the pristine nature of these waters anglers wanting to fish lake Te Anau, Manapouri, Monowai, Hauroko and Poteriteri tributaries and all waters flowing into the Tasman Sea south of and including the Arthur River around to Lake Poteriteri will have to get a clean gear certificate before they go into these rivers. This does not include the lakes themselves or the Upper Waiau which flows between lakes Te Anau and Manapouri. It also does not apply to the Upukerora and Eglinton or to the Hollyford catchment which includes the Pyke and Lake McKerrow. A clean gear certificate available from the Department of Conservation and Fish and Game and a few selected sports stores and garages will be needed. Details will also be on the Fish and Game Southland region web pages. Anglers fishing other waters are still urged to clean their fishing equipment between trips and between rivers.

A Back Country Licence will also be needed to fish the Upper Oreti, Greenstone and Caples Rivers. The backcountry licence has been required for the last two years and has enabled us to get useful information from anglers who fish these waters. A big issue is the potential for crowding on these waters and of these three the Upper Oreti is the most crowded at times. Despite these crowding issues most anglers prefer a first come first served system rather than a balloting system for the Oreti. The Greenstone has a ballot system and those who use that like it but the Oreti has road access to several places so anglers who find another angler at one spot can usually find a free place elsewhere, and this can’t be done on the Greenstone. We have introduced a new system where anglers are asked to indicate where they are fishing, by providing designated parking places and “gone upstream/gone downstream” signs to leave on their car. We hope that this and some old fashioned courtesy will make fishing in this area enjoyable for everyone.

Other Places

The rivers of the region have been pretty high for most of October so most anglers are waiting for a bit of settled weather. This will come at some stage and because of the high flows didymo will be at low levels. In fact it has virtually been banished from the rain fed rivers so far this season. The biggest flood in five years, which occurred in August, cleaned didymo mats out of the lower Waiau, Aparima and Oreti and recent high flows will have kept its recolonisation farther off yet.  So spin fishing in the higher flows, especially as the rivers are starting to clear will be very productive. The estuaries have been fishing well with some excellent trout being caught. Bait fishing with smelt or a worm is the most productive method in those places.

Maurice Rodway
Manager

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