Reel life April 2026 - West Coast

Winter Fishing Season Kicks Off

The winter fishing season kicks off on 1 May and brings with it some great fishing opportunities. Don’t let the colder temperatures or reduced water options put you off—what remains open can fish exceptionally well.

Image above: Daniel, fishing with his mother Donnelle, successfully landed his first trout over the school holidays.

Many of the larger West Coast lakes stay open over winter, and with cooler water temperatures, trout tend to be more opportunistic feeders and often fight harder than they do over summer. The lower and mid-reaches of most large rivers also remain open, and like the lakes, can provide very good fishing.

Calm conditions are common on the Coast over winter, and with limited snowmelt, rivers are often low and clear. This can make for excellent sight fishing, and with reduced angling pressure, trout are often less wary when presented with a fly or lure.

If you’re heading out, make sure to check the regulations for your chosen spot—so if you do bump into a ranger, it’s just a good yarn and maybe a few fishing tips.

A Few Tips for Winter Fishing

The South Westland lakes provide year-round trout fishing opportunities.

1. Fish open water – Make sure your chosen location is open year-round to trout fishing.
2. Use attention-grabbing gear – Beaded nymphs, glo bugs, and bright lures or soft baits can be very effective.
3. Keep moving – Trout densities can be lower, with some fish off spawning, so covering water is key.
4. Sight fish where possible – Clear, calm conditions are ideal for spotting fish and improving your chances.
5. Fish deep – Trout often sit deeper during spawning periods and when insect life is limited.
6. Dress for the conditions – Staying warm and comfortable helps you fish effectively and stay patient.
7. Target key areas – Focus on where streams and smaller rivers enter larger rivers and lakes.
8. Fish warmer water – Trout are more active in slightly warmer conditions—try afternoons, post-rain events, or where warmer inflows enter.

Field Work Update

Luken Bisley enjoying some late-season fly fishing on the Inangahua River.

Staff have been busy carrying out salmon compliance, and we’re pleased to report that anglers have generally been compliant. It’s also been encouraging to see many anglers practising catch and release and limiting their harvest to help support the recovery of salmon numbers.

If you’ve caught a salmon this season, please notify West Coast Fish & Game. Your harvest data, combined with our spawning counts, is vital for making informed management decisions and ensuring the long-term sustainability of the fishery.

Salmon spawning counts are about to get underway, which will provide a clearer picture of how things are tracking.

Hope to see you out there!

Baylee Kersten
West Coast Fish & Game Officer