CSI Weekly Fishing Report - 29 October 2026

Long Weekend, Shallow Water and 6lb Rainbows – Kayak Fishing Lake Benmore

Ashlin Wilson sent in this great informative report from a highly successful fishing trip to Lake Benmore over Labour weekend, enjoy! Cheers Ashlin!

As soon as I saw the forecast for Labour weekend, I knew it was time to dust off the kayak and make the trip down to the Mackenzie Country. What ensued was two epic days fishing on Lake Benmore with 13 total fish landed, the highlight being a pair of beautifully conditioned 6lb rainbow trout. In fact, all fish were in fantastic condition, they must be feeding well.  

Both mornings I was on the water by 6am, aiming for that half hour before sunrise and this definitely seemed to be when the fish were most active. I headed straight for the northern end of the lake where the Pukaki River enters the lake, and the depth is quite shallow. Slowly trolling a 10g silver Daiwa Chinook was extremely effective, in fact all fish were caught on the exact same lure. The challenge was finding the right depth where the fish were holding, and where my lure wouldn’t constantly snag on weeds or didymo. This seemed to be between 50cm-100cm of water. This is the major advantage of the kayak; you can access these shallow areas of the lake where boats cannot. The other advantage is the stealth factor - a kayak softly gliding through the water is far less likely to spook any fish lurking in the shallows.

Most fish landed were 3lb+ and in excellent condition with only a couple of trout on the smaller side. Five fish were taken home for the smoker and dinner table, and the rest safely released.

Pictured above: Ashlin Wilson’s outstanding 6lbs Lake Benmore Rainbow.

Ashlin also made this comment; Funny enough, I was actually reading last week’s CSI fishing report this morning and saw the bit about trout chasing sockeye fry. It was a bit of a lightbulb moment, realising I’d accidentally nailed the strategy. All the fish were caught in the shallows on a silver lure around the river mouths, exactly where those little fry are entering the lake!

Healthy table fair to share from Lake Benmore.

Don’t Jump the Gun

Please remember that the High Country fishing season in the Central South Island region opens on the first Saturday in November, which this year falls next weekend on the 7th and 8th of November.

Save the Date! - Kids Salmon Fishing Day

The event is for kids between the ages of 4 and 11 only.

Thanks to our major sponsors Mt Cook Alpine Salmon who provide the salmon for the event and the careful transport provided by Mackenzie Supply Services .

Thanks also to Shaws’ Hardware, Southern Alps Outdoors, Davo's Fishing Hunting Sport, Hunting and Fishing New Zealand - Timaru, & Meridian Energy for their generous donations that make the day even brighter!

Be sure to support your locals/our sponsors

Women on the Fly

Women who enjoy fly fishing, or are keen to give it a go, are invited to join Cast & Connect, a social fly-fishing weekend at The Camp, Lake Hāwea, from 11–13 December 2026.

Organised by Women on the Fly NZ, the weekend is an opportunity to get together with other women, enjoy time on the water and share a passion for fly fishing in a relaxed, social setting.

Whether you’re an experienced angler or looking to meet others and build your confidence, Cast & Connect offers a chance to connect with like-minded women and enjoy a weekend of fishing.

Registrations are now open. Find out more and sign up at womenonthefly.nz/thecamp2026

Help Us Learn More About Stokell’s Smelt

Stokell’s smelt is a native freshwater fish, and more information is needed to better understand the species and its distribution.

Fish & Game staff will be assisting Rūnaka, the Department of Conservation (DOC) and other agencies with surveys this November to learn more about these fish.

Anglers and the public can also help by learning to recognise Stokell’s smelt and sharing information about sightings.

Click on the image below to find out more.

Weather and Water Outlook

A generally fine weekend is forecasted but with strong north-westerly winds once again being the dominating factor, good old spring winds have arrived.

Rain earlier in the week has given rivers another bump in flow leading into the weekend. It could be a good weekend to check out some small spring fed, more sheltered streams on your list. 

As of Thursday morning, the ECan and ORC flow websites show the following river flow rates read in cubic meters per second (m³/s). Click on the river name to go to the ECan website for more information.

• Ashburton – 48.4m³/s
• Ōrāri – 7.1m³/s
• Ōpihi –  11.2m³/s
• Rangitata – 150.3m³/s
• Waitaki –  259.1m³/s
• Kakanui  –  2.6m³/s

Please always check the weather and waterway conditions before heading out to ensure you have an enjoyable day on the water

Notice board

Meridian Energy - Weed Control Notice

• Where: Ōhau B & C Canals
• When: Saturday 31 October, 8am – 4.30pm, weather permitting.
• Treatment: Aerial herbicide (diquat) application to control invasive weeds along both canal banks.
• As a precaution, Meridian Energy are advising people not to swim, take fish, or take water for consumption or irrigation purposes for 24 hours after treatment.

Please Send us your Fishing Reports!

Whilst this report is crafted by the CSI Fish & Game team, it’s your stories that truly bring it to life. We’d love to hear about your own fishing adventures. Please share your short trip reports, photos, go-to lures, or favourite recipes etc.

Email your reports to Fish & Game Officer Jase Van Beers at [email protected]

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