Reel Life April 2026 - Central South Island

Winter Fishing Opportunities (Including New Options)

The main fishing season closes next Thursday the 30^th of April but a selection of our lakes, rivers and canals are open during the winter and offer a variety of fishing opportunities.

Image above: Lake Benmore brown trout caught on a house fly imitation. Photo credit Blake Harper

Two new winter fishing opportunities were introduced at the last Triennial Anglers Notice Review;

Lake Alexandrina/Takamana’s winter season from 1 June – 31 July (fly and spin only) has a daily bag limit of two sports fish, with no more than one being a brown trout.

Lake Opuha/Ōpūaha has a new winter season where the lake is open for fly, spin and bait fishing between 1 June and 30 August. The bag limit on this winter season is two sports fish. A closure period remains in May and September months where no sports fishing may take place.

Check your 2025/26 regulation guide and familiarise yourself with CSI region’s “All-Year” and “Winter Season” fisheries.

Lake Benmore is a great winter fishery and is open all year, as are the rest of the Waitaki  hydro lakes.

Target rainbow trout in lakes as per usual in May, they don’t spawn for another few months yet.

If you’re on a boat, try trolling drop offs and river mouth deltas. In shallow areas use a standard spinning rod with a small sinker about 1.5 metres in front of a Parsons Glory or Mrs Simpson fly in place of weighted line.

If you’re fishing from the shore, expect brown trout to be congregating around river mouths in May and early June ready to head up to spawn. An evening or night-time fish can be productive if you strike the timing right.

Some rain to raise the flow in tributary streams will help. Be sure to only fish the lake, as streams and rivers are closed.

Flies like your trusty woolly buggers and spinners like black and gold tobies will get results.

For coastal mid-winter trout options, the Waitaki, Ōpihi, Rangitata/Rakitata and Ashburton/ Hakatere rivers have a winter season where you are permitted to spin or fly fish downstream of State Highway 1 in June, July, and August only.

For access options, click here to find our handy access map.

Mackenzie Canals in Winter

Keen anglers take advantage of winter fishing opportunities on the canals last season’

Most of the Mackenzie Hydro Canals are open year-round.

The upper part of the Tekapo Canal closes for the 3-month period, 1 June to 31 August 2026.         

The closure only applies to the upper half of the Tekapo Canal, upstream of the State Highway 8 Bridge to the Tekapo A Powerhouse. This includes the Magic Carpet.

The closure does not apply to the lower part of the Tekapo Canal (“the fishbowl” end) or any other part of the Pūkaki and Ōhau Canals. These are open all year for fishing. 

“Egg rolling” is a canal-special method initially designed for the winter season, try it out if you haven’t already by rigging up an artificial egg and light sinker and drifting it along the canal bed, check out this video to give you an idea.

Be sure to be respectful of others using the space and be prepared to move to a less popular fishing area if there are anglers using stationary fishing methods in your favourite drifting spot.

If you’re not getting results from the fishing method you’ve always used, don’t be afraid to switch it up and try something different, be it bait, location, or new fishing method entirely.

If you plan to fish the canals and haven’t checked out our recently updated Hydro Canal Guide, then click here. The guide has advice on important canal fishing etiquette issues and a simple access map.

At the canals please take a carry in – carry out approach to your rubbish and fish waste to keep the area pristine. There are no rubbish bins provided for anglers to use at the canal fishery.

Catch and Release Reminder

Angler Paul dubbed this one a 'pumpkin brown with its autumn colours. Caught and released on a local lowland river last week

Catch and Release is a popular practice in our region, especially at the canals during the trout spawning period from May through to September.

It is critical that you handle your fish with care to ensure the fish is returned with the best chance of survival and to comply with the regulations (Note 1.5 in the regulations).

Here’s our ‘Quick 5’ tips for handling fish with care: 

• Cool your hands and landing net by wetting them before touching the fish.
• Keep the fish in the water while removing the hook.
• Do not squeeze the fish and never touch the gills.
• Photograph the fish in or over the water and make it quick - the fish should not be out of the water for more than 5 seconds.
• Revive the fish facing into the current long enough for it to regain its swimming strength.

In the unfortunate instance that a fish you intended to release does end up bleeding from the gills, so long as you can legally take that fish, you should keep it as part of your bag limit and utilise it. 

Return your salmon bag card now

Even if you didn’t go fishing, or keep any sea-run salmon, please return your salmon bag card details to us. You can do this online here, or give us a call on 03 615 8400, email [email protected] or post the card to us at P.O Box 150 Temuka 7948. 

A big thank you to those who have already done so, you can put your feet up now.

 

Tight Lines,

Nikki Dellaway
Central South Island Fish and Game Officer

For news and updates over the winter follow us on facebook. Don’t hesitate to give the office a call or email for anything else 03 615 8400 [email protected]