CSI Weekly Fishing Report - 5 November 2026

  • Central South Island
  • 5/11/2026

CSI Weekly Fishing Report - 5 November 2026

High Country Fishing Season is Here!

The high country opening is this Saturday! with the Ahuriri and Hakataramea rivers, Lake Alexandrina, the Ashburton Lakes (Ō Tū Wharekai) and many other Central South Island fisheries opening for the 2026/27 sports fishing season.

For some anglers the high country opening day is a chance to catch up with friends and enjoy the social atmosphere around popular hut settlements and camps, including Lake Alexandrina, Lake Clearwater and Lake Heron.  For others, it is an opportunity to escape the crowds and explore remote rivers, creeks, tarns and lakes tucked away in the big high-country valleys.

Pictured above: Glen Currall nets his first fish of the season during last year’s high country season opening weekend.

Kids Salmon Fishing Day at Loch Cameron

Central South Island Fish & Game will celebrate opening day by hosting a Kids Salmon Fishing Day at Loch Cameron, near Twizel, on Saturday 7 November.

The event is only open to children aged 4 to 11, with registration from 8.30am and fishing starting at 9am.  Mount Cook Alpine Salmon has donated the salmon to stock the loch for the event, giving young anglers an opportunity to experience salmon fishing in a family-friendly setting.

A Few Reminders for Opening Day

Many high-country fisheries are located on or alongside farmland.  Anglers are reminded to obtain permission before accessing private land, leave gates as they find them and avoid disturbing stock.

A current sports fishing licence is required to fish for trout, salmon and perch in freshwater, and anglers must follow the regulations that apply to each waterway.  Permitted methods and other rules can vary between fisheries, so check the regulations before heading out.

If you haven't done so yet, be sure to purchase your 2026/27 fishing licence.  You can easily buy your licence online through the Fish & Game NZ website, here, or from your local licence agent and brush up on the 2026/27 regulations, here, as there have been some changes.

Next Week We Want your High Country Opening Weekend Yarns!

After this coming opening weekend, no doubt you’ll have some memorable experiences so please email your reports to Jase, here. We’d be stoked to hear from you!

Photography Tips

Kept Fish: Make sure your fish and hands are clean of any blood — a respectful and tidy photo makes for great presentation.

Released Fish: Use these careful catch, care, release techniques:

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.

Check out this great new video from Fish & Game on catch & release, here.

 

New Regulations for Lake Heron

Tracey Clemens of Methven catches a brown trout at Lake Heron - opening Day 2025.

Along with many high-country waters, the fishing season opens on Saturday, 7 November at Lake Heron/Ōtūroto. New regulations introduced this season will provide increased protection for Lake Heron’s salmon population.

The daily bag limit has been reduced from a maximum of four salmon to a maximum of one salmon. This regulation aims to reduce salmon harvest at the lake as a precautionary measure while the sea-run salmon fishery regulations are managed under a severe population management status. The bag limit for trout remains unchanged. 

A further regulation, requiring the use of only single hooks at Lake Heron is now formally in place. This regulation was phased in, with last season offering a period of education. The ‘single hook’ regulation aims to reduce handling time to minimise the risk of harm during catch and release of undersize salmon (less than 300mm).

In addition to the regulation of single hooks, Fish & Game are encouraging Lake Heron anglers to take voluntary steps towards minimising the risk of harm to salmon that are released this season.

You must swap out your trebles for singles at Lake Heron.

There are two key voluntary approaches we suggest aiming for, and some associated advice to help you care for undersized salmon:

Release the fish without taking it out of the water.

  • Wear waders, long gumboots, or wet wade so that the fish never has to leave the water while you unhook it.
  • Use a knotless rubber mesh landing net to help you keep the fish in the water.
  • De-barb your hooks with pliers – barbless hook can enable a super-quick and often touch-free release.
  • Use long nose pliers to remove hooks.  

Limit your catch – limit the risk.

  • Set yourself a voluntary daily catch & release limit for undersized salmon at Lake Heron.
  • For example, you may voluntarily choose to stop fishing for salmon once you have released 6 undersized salmon.
  • Lake Heron has an excellent trout fishery so move to a new spot and turn your attention to sight fishing for trout after reaching your voluntary salmon catch and release limit.

Look after the little ones by using a net and single hooks.

Rangers will be active at the Lake Heron this season checking that the new regulations are being adhered to.

If you are heading to Lake Heron/Ōtūroto and plan to drive to Harrison’s Bight – the DOC vehicle access permit website is now live, click here.

 

Upper Ahuriri River - Voluntary Beat System

Fish & Game Officer Blake Harper installs beat system signage at the upper Ahuriri River.

New for the 2026/27 fishing season is a management tool known as a “voluntary beat system”. This will be trialled for the first time at the upper section of the Ahuriri River, aiming to reduce angler encounters and to improve the overall angling experience.

Anglers travel long distances to fish the upper Ahuriri valley and generally expect a semi-remote experience with a stretch of water to themselves.  A study conducted over the 2025/26 fishing season showed that as fishing activity increased during the peak of the season in January and February, angler encounters increased and angler’s satisfaction reduced as a result.

It is hoped that the beat system will maintain satisfaction through the peak season period by reducing angler encounters.  A beat system defines a set of access points with signposted carparks and maps of associated river sections known as beats for anglers to occupy on a first-in-first served basis.

With a beat system in place anglers will be able to better predict the whereabouts of each other and avoid fishing the same stretch of water.  The beat system is a voluntary management tool and relies on anglers not encroaching on other angler’s occupied beats.

To learn more about the voluntary beat system and how it will operate on the upper Ahuriri River, watch the video here or visit our website here.

 

Upper Ōhau River

Dyl Eyeington with an incredible Rainbow trout caught during the upper Ōhau River ballot.

The controlled period on the Upper Ōhau River ends with the opening of the high-country season on Saturday - this means all licence holders can fish the river from the 7 November. 

DOC have closed a small section of the river’s track network to protect nesting black fronted terns/ tarapiore at ‘Tern Island’, a critical breeding colony for this nationally endangered species. Please avoid fishing close to the breeding colony, it is signposted and notably the birds will dive bomb you – if this happens move to a new area.

 

Angler Report

Daniel Pye with a great 9.5lbs chinook salmon.

Daniel Pye sent in this photo of his nice 9.5lbs chinook salmon caught in the Ōhau C tailrace in Lake Benmore on a 20grm Hex lure with red holographic. “Great fight and was an awesome way to finish off a relaxing week” Dan said. 

 

CSI Sea-run Salmon Monitoring Update

Salmon spawning survey of Deep Creek in the upper Rangitata River.

The Central South Island Sea-run Salmon Summary report is now available on the website. This report covers our spawning monitoring and harvest data gained from your season bag card.

Key points for the 2025/26 season include:

Rangitata River Catchment
  • Spawning estimate: 222 live salmon.
  • Harvest Estimate: 17 wild salmon and 1 fin-clipped salmon.
  • Total Run Estimate: 239 salmon.
Waitaki River Catchment
  • Spawning: Aerial Redd counts were undertaken on the Waitaki River, including 37 side streams and the Hakataramea River. Overall, 54 salmon Redds were recorded.
  • Harvest Estimate: 31 salmon.
Ōpihi River Catchment
  • Spawning: Bank-side Redd counts were undertaken in the Opihi, Opuha, Waihi & Temuka Rivers and a total of 11 salmon Redds plus one dead salmon were recorded.
  • Harvest Estimate: 8 salmon.
Ōrāri River Catchment
  • Spawning: A section of the Ohapi South Branch was surveyed on foot and no salmon Redds were recorded.
  • Harvest: No salmon were reported harvested from the Ōrāri River on salmon bag cards in 2025/26 season.
Ashburton River Catchment
  • Spawning: Redd counts were undertaken on foot in Bowyers Stream and the Māori Lakes Outlet. Three Redds and one dead salmon were recorded.
  • Harvest: No salmon were reported harvested from the Ashburton River on salmon bag cards in the 2025/26 season.
Lake Heron Catchment
  • Spawning: A bankside Redd count was undertaken on Mellish Stream, and 68 salmon Redds were identified.
Three Indicator Rivers Population

The combined live spawning estimate for the Rangitata, Waimakariri, and Rakaia Rivers was 1,469 live spawning salmon.

Season Bag Limit

The season bag limit for 2026/27 remains at one salmon.

To read more about the how season bag limits are determined, the Mckinnons's Creek salmon hatchery and other information, click here to read the full report.

 

Weather and Water Outlook

For the weekend, Twizel is expected to have generally settled conditions, with variable cloud and the possibility of occasional light showers. The main divide however is forecasted to have gale westerlies early Saturday, turning to a lighter northerly.

The low country is forecast to be mainly fine, but a few showers are possible and moderate south to southeast winds are expected.

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.

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

Remember to check out Outdoor Access NZ, here. They offer high-quality live stream webcams of some of Canterbury’s favourite fishing spots. This is a subscription-based service, but they do offer a 30-day free trial.

 

NOTICE BOARD

Women on the Fly NZ – Cast & Connect

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.

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

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]

Click here for Central South Island Fish & Game on Facebook

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

 

Tight lines,

From the Central South Island Fish & Game team

Disclaimer:

The information presented in these news items is based on the context and regulations in place at the time of publication. Please note that some articles may include reference to laws and regulatory standards that have since changed. For the most current and accurate information please check our Fishing Licences & Regulations pages or our Hunting Licences & Regulations pages.

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