Fish & Game Officers were active across our low country fisheries on Opening day and checked in on anglers at Waitaki River, Bells and Borton’s ponds, Lake Opuha/Ōpūaha, Ōpihi, Temuka/ Te Umu Kaha, Pareora/Pureora, Tengawai/ Te Ana-a-wai, Ōrāri rivers and Lake Hood.

Pictured above: Paul Reeves of Ōamaru fishes the Pareora River at Holme Station Bridge - Opening Day 2026, marking his 58^th fishing season.

Check out some of the action below.

Archie and Friends Strike Again at Lake Opuha/Ōpūaha

Archie Shearer (9) is a fixture at Lake Opuha on Opening Day and always has great success. This year he fished with Olivia Grant and his wee sister Ellie Shearer, who had her first day fishing at just 4-months of age.

Lake Opuha fished well, proving again to be the regional hub of 1 October Opening Day fishing in the CSI Region.

With school holidays coinciding with Opening Day there were plenty of families on the water enjoying the day, which was great to see.

The Fish & Game boat ‘Kokanee’ was out on the water checking in on anglers on boats and on the shore. Junior angler Archie Shearer (see pic) caught several fish trolling with tried-and-true Tasmanian Devil lures – his pick of colours being ‘traffic light’ and ‘fluro yellow’.

One angler was found fishing with more than one rod at the lake; a reminder anglers may only use one fishing rod when fishing for sports fish.   

Waitaki Flows High but Bell’s and Borton’s Ponds Offer Calm Waters

Kian Kurze from Maheno and Gabriel Blakemore from Glenavy with fish-dinner sorted at Bells Pond, Opening Day 2026.

Waitaki River flows were up on Opening Day at around 450 cumecs, offering limited shoreline access options.

Jet boaters accessing the river for fishing weren’t deterred, however, and went out in numbers, especially via the Kurow boat ramp.

Bell’s and Borton’s ponds, irrigations intake ponds off the Waitaki River offered calm waters and fish for junior anglers on the school holidays (see picture). If you’re after a relaxing parklike setting to take the kids for a fish, check these ponds out.

Looking ahead to the weekend, flows for the Waitaki River remain determined by hydroelectric operations and are ultimately unpredictable. Shoreline access is best below 350 cumecs, ideally around 250 cumecs. On weekends flows are often lower, due to reduced electricity demand, so hopes are high for good flows this weekend. As always for the Waitaki River – know the flows before you go and monitor flows while you are there via the ECan flow website here, which links to the Kurow flow recorder.

Our online Waitaki Access brochure is a great help if your new to the Waitaki River area.

River Conditions Great on Lowland Rivers

Logan Fraser of Christchurch fishing the Ōrāri River - trying to catch his first fish on a dry fly. 

Winter and Spring conditions have been favourable and set-up our local rivers for a great start to the season.

With talks of an El Nino climate conditions this summer potentially impacting river flows, there is an extra motivator to get out on local low country waters this early season, while conditions are perfect.

Rangers encountered a good scattering of anglers throughout all the usual access points of local rivers on Opening Day, however, don’t let that deter your fishing this weekend. Our tip: fish the river from the unnatural side this weekend. What do we mean by unnatural side? Well, many pools have a natural access side, where the walking and casting is naturally easier. So, if you cross the river and fish from the other side – there may just be a fish that hasn’t seen an angler or lure yet!

New to the area, Ralph De Clifford fishes the Temuka River for the first time on Opening Day 2026.

Your Stories are Wanted!

We’d love to share your fishing stories from Opening Day and the first weekend this season.

We reckon, the more readers that get involved with the weekly reports, the better they become!
Please email your reports to the CSI Fish & Game, here.

Remember if you are photographing fish before releasing them, to look after the fish.

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

1. Cool your hands and landing net by wetting them before touching the fish.
2. Keep the fish in the water while removing the hook.
3. Do not squeeze the fish, and never touch the gills.
4. 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.
5. Revive the fish facing into the current long enough for it to regain its swimming strength.

The Fundamentals of Sports Fishing – Licence, Regulations and Access

Weather and Water Outlook

NOTICE BOARD

Hakataramea Sustainability Collective

• Upcoming spring planting day.
• Monday 5 & Tuesday 6 October: 8.30am–3.00pm.
• For further information visit their Facebook page, here.
  
  

Kids Salmon Fishing Day 2026

Thanks to Mount Cook Alpine Salmon, the Kids Salmon Fishing Day is on for 2026!

• The event is being held at Loch Cameron, 5km from Twizel on the morning of Saturday the 7th of November.
• The event is for kids between the ages of 4 and 11 only.
• Registration is on the day from 8:30am, fishing starts at 9am.
• For more info email: [email protected] or call 03 615 8400.

Click here for Central South Island Fish & Game on Facebook

For any questions, please email [email protected] or call 03 615 8400.