Reel Life September 2026 - Central South Island

October Opportunities

October is a great month to fish as trout are at their most naïve as they have not been fished at for a few months, which is the perfect opportunity to catch larger trout that become spooky come late season.

We have had good flows over the winter without any exceptional flooding which (if it stays this way) will set up our local rivers for some good early season fishing. We would advise you to get out early in the season as the predicted El Ninō event for this spring and summer may bring dry conditions and low flows.

Spring usually brings periods of heavy rainfall and snow melt, in this event, the discolouration offers the perfect opportunity for spin and bait fishing methods – the fish don’t see as well and have less time to decide whether to bite.

The new fishing season opening coincides with the school holidays so we encourage experienced anglers to make the time to take a young person out fishing.

October is a great month to fish the lowland rivers like the Opihi and the family-friendly Lake Opuha.

Many high-country waterways remain closed until the first Saturday in November to protect rainbow trout spawning and other sensitive fisheries – refer to your regulation guide.

Image above: David Shaumann has success on a lowland South Canterbury River on Opening Day 2025” Photo credit Jase Van Beers

Get your licence here if you haven’t already. Be sure that you are purchasing the correct seasons licence. The 2025/26 licence is valid until 30 September 2026 and the 2026/27 season licence is valid from 1 October 2026.

Handy resources:

• Click here for the 2026/27 regulation guide
• Click here for Central South Island Access map

We look forward to seeing you out there!

CSI Sets Sea-Run Salmon Closure Threshold — 2026 Rangitata Count Clears the Mark

In April, after careful deliberation over a few months , the Central South Island Fish and Game Council resolved that if the annual Rangitata River spawning count falls to 200 or fewer fish (approximately 10% of the historic average) it will recommend to the Minister that all CSI region’s sea-run salmon waters be temporarily closed for a minimum of three seasons. Read the options paper here that was presented to Council.

In June, the 2026 Rangitata River spawning count was confirmed at 222 fish — 22 above the new closure threshold — meaning there will be no changes proposed to sea-run salmon regulations for the upcoming 2026/27 season. The season bag limit remains at one salmon for the upcoming 2026/27 season.

While angler harvest is not identified as a principal cause of this long-term decline, reducing harvest through fishing regulations remains the most immediate tool available to Fish & Game to increase the proportion of the annual run that reaches the spawning grounds and contributes to the next generation of salmon.

Setting a threshold that could temporarily close one of New Zealand's most treasured fisheries was not a decision taken lightly. The CSI Councillors and staff worked through the issue across four meetings examining decades of population monitoring, considering several regulatory options, and weighing up the long-term viability of wild salmon populations against the impacts any closure would have on anglers and communities.

A great help to the decision was all anglers who responded to CSI and North Canterbury’s joint consultation to salmon anglers and the wider public. More than 1,000 responses were received in last summer’s survey. This was a remarkable level of engagement, underlining how much this fishery means to Canterbury and beyond. Temporary closure was preferred by more than two-thirds of surveyed anglers at that level of spawning count.

The full results from the consultation can be found here.
The general outcomes were:

• On average, anglers ranked ‘temporarily close the fishery’ and ‘reduce season length’ as their most preferred regulatory options to increase spawning.
• Anglers increasingly preferred a temporary closure over other regulatory options as the hypothetical number of spawning salmon declined.
• Temporary closure was preferred by more than two-thirds of surveyed anglers at that level of spawning count.
• ‘Keeping the regulations the same’ was consistently the least preferred option among survey respondents.

Ever Considered Joining a Club?

Cullen with one of his two brown trout caught at Lake Opuha when the Grey Ghosts met up with the South Canterbury Anglers Club for a joint trip during the new winter season. Photo credit Grey Ghosts Fishing Club

If you have ever thought about it, now is the perfect time to get in contact with a club.
Joining a club is a great way to meet like-minded anglers, learn new tricks or teach new skills to others. Any age and experience levels welcome.

For South Canterbury Anglers contact [email protected] or phone Grant on 027 338 7594

For those further north try Ashburton based Grey Ghosts Fishing Club contact Dave on 0279000625

Or Email Mid Canterbury anglers club at [email protected]

Save The Dates

Oliver Currall from Twizel at 2025 Kid's Salmon Fishing Day. Photo credit Braided Creative

 

High Country Opening – Saturday 7th of November. Many of our waterways remain closed until our traditional high-country opening – the first weekend in November.

Kids Salmon Fishing Day – The 2025 Kids Salmon Fishing Day at Loch Cameron near Twizel will be held on Saturday the 7th of November made possible by Mt Cook Alpine Salmon.