North Canterbury Weekly Fishing Report - 30th January 2025

North Canterbury 2024 Sea-Run Salmon Report

Simon from Christchurch Hunting and Fishing with a nice salmon

The Sea-Run Salmon Report for the North Canterbury Region during the 2024 season is now available.

Access the complete report on our website via this link: 23/24 Sea-Run Salmon Management North Canterbury

Your Guide to Legal and Responsible Access

The Styx River in the early season

When fishing in remote locations or places you're exploring for the first time, one of the most important and often challenging factors is securing legal public access. Ensuring legal access not only guarantees your ability to fish responsibly but also helps secure access to these locations for future anglers.

Here are some tools and strategies to help you navigate access issues:

1. Talk to Fellow Anglers

Word of mouth can be invaluable. If you know someone who has fished a particular area before, ask them how they accessed it. Fellow anglers often have helpful insights into less-travelled spots. (Joining a fishing or hunting club might be a great way to gain some knowledge)

2. Check Outdoor Access Maps

Outdoor Access Maps provide a great resource to identify areas with legal public access. Make sure to turn on the 'Public Access Areas' layer to see relevant information.

In the Apple App Store or the Google Play Store search for the free 'Pocket Maps' app

or

You can access these maps online here:

https://maps.herengaanuku.govt.nz/Viewer/?map=9cd99517a0db4d18a894c3839df4d3a3

3. Obtain Permission When Necessary

If a location does not have public access, you must get permission from the landowner or the farm/station manager before entering. It's always best to respect private property and ensure you're fishing following New Zealand's legal requirements. (In some cases a simple Google search will be enough to find an email or phone number however some cases will require more effort than this)

4. Fish & Game Access Signs

Fish & Game Ranger Harry doing repairs on an angler access sign

Fish & Game provides clear markers for legal fishing access. When you spot an access sign, it indicates that public access is permitted for anglers and hunters in that area. These signs help protect both the land and your right to fish. For popular fishing spots, Fish & Game also offers helpful access maps, but remember the maps guide you to fishing locations, not necessarily legal access. Always verify public access rights before setting out.

Check out the North Canterbury Fishing Access Maps here:

https://fishandgamenzaccess.org/fg-north-canterbury-region-full-width-map/

By taking the time to research and ensure you have legal access, you not only protect your right to fish but also contribute to preserving access to these wild places for future generations. Always respect landowners and access regulations to keep these areas open for everyone.

Department of Conservation Huts

The Hurunui Hut

The Department of Conservation manages over 950 huts of all shapes, sizes and capacities throughout New Zealand. They provide a unique place to stay, refuge from bad weather or rest and recover when you're out exploring our great country.

The Hope Kiwi Lodge

Of the 950+ huts across the country, 130 of these require a booking. In the North Canterbury region, some huts that you do require a booking for are the Hope Kiwi Lodge, the Boyle Flat Hut and more. It is extremely important that when you are going to a hut, you either have a booking (if needed) and respect others that may be in the hut, too. It always pays to have a backup plan, so have a tent if things don’t go to plan.

The Nina Hut

It is always important to make sure you sign the hut book with, at a minimum, your name and the date. This helps other trampers, hunters or anglers who may encounter you, as well as the search and rescue team if anything unfortunate does happen.

The Casey Hut

For more information on staying in DOC huts visit this link: https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-stay/stay-in-a-hut/

Gear maintenance

Corina Jordan, Leigh Johnson and Dame Lynda Topp fly fishing in a North Canterbury River

Not only is pre-season a prime time to ensure your gear is well maintained and in reasonable working order mid-season is also a key time.

Loosen the drag on your reels after use which releases the pressure on the drag system. Also, allow them to air dry before storing them or placing them in their reel cover if you have them. Use a reel grease to lubricate the moving parts once the reel is dry so that your reel continues to operate smoothly and reliably.

Make sure to lubricate your reels

Ensure your hooks are sharp and the gauge of a hook is sufficient for the size of the fish you are targeting to avoid heartbreak on the water!

For fly anglers place your fly line in a bucket of warm water (containing a mild soap if available) for 5 minutes and then run it through a towel or cloth. If you have never done this before it will soon reveal how dirty fly lines become. Cleaning the line will improve the line's longevity, casting performance and ability to float.

Check your spools of leader/tippet material are breaking at or near the quoted strength and keep these out of the sun when not in use. Replace any spools if you suspect they have become compromised.

Having an effective storage system for your waders, boots and other gear in a cool, dry place is important

Clean and dry your waders (hang these upside down when drying) and if you detect any holes in them the following article has some excellent tips on addressing these: Leaking Waders - How to fix leaking Waders with Aquaseal

For boat anglers on our region's lakes and rivers check your lifejackets are up to standard. More on this can be found here: Check your lifejackets - Maritime NZ

Weekly Expert Tip

This week, Malcolm dives into one of his more recent fishing passions: soft baiting. He shares his insights on the gear he recommends and offers expert advice on how to approach soft bait fishing in both lakes and rivers—because, surprisingly, the techniques for each are quite different. With his trademark enthusiasm, Malcolm makes a compelling case for why every angler should give soft baiting a try. Soft baiting is an incredibly effective method for reeling in big, beautiful trout. Don't miss out on this insightful episode!

Selwyn District Council Update

The Selwyn District Council has notified North Canterbury Fish & Game that weed cutting in the Ararira /LII river will commence approximately on the 10th of February 2025 and continue through until the end of March 2025. A barrier will be placed on the river 200m downstream of Wolfes Road boat ramp. The work is being completed to meet Environment Canterbury consents. Should you require more information please contact the Surface Water Team on 347 2800.

Check, Clean, Dry Message 

Check, Clean, and Dry to stop freshwater pests!

Whether you’re out fishing, hunting, kayaking, paddleboarding, jet skiing or boating on Canterbury’s freshwater lakes and rivers this summer, the threat of freshwater pests spreading and invading is very real. 

 

Freshwater pests can ruin valuable ecosystems by stopping the growth of native water plants and reducing habitats for many types of fish. 

The invasion of freshwater pests is a direct result of human activity so if you plan on going to a lake, river, stream or wetland this summer and move to another within 48 hours, you must clean all your gear that has been wet using the 'Check, Clean, Dry' method. 

Check

Remove any plant matter from your gear and leave it at the site (the river or lake bank), or put it in the rubbish. Don't wash plant material down any drain.

Clean

Use 10% dishwashing detergent mixed with water and leave the item wet for 10 minutes.

Dry

Ensure your gear is completely dry to touch, inside and out, then leave to dry for at least another 48 hours before you use it.

 

Some of the freshwater pest species present in Aotearoa New Zealand exist within our region like Egeria and Lagarosiphon, but many of our lakes and rivers remain pest-free. To help keep it this way, equipment and vessels must be properly cleaned and decontaminated before entering any waterway.  

 

We all have a responsibility to protect our freshwater so remember, even if you can’t see it, if it’s wet, it’s a threat.  

For more information visit https://www.ecan.govt.nz/your-region/your-environment/biodiversity-and-biosecurity/biosecurity/preventing-the-spread-of-pests/check-clean-dry/  

 

Contact Environment Canterbury on 0800 324 636 or email [email protected] 

Targeted Weed Control Across the North Canterbury Region

North Canterbury Fish and Game has been given notice from Environment Canterbury (ECan) that targeted weed control using helicopters for aerial spraying will be happening across the North Canterbury Region from early February 2025 till the end of March 2025.

The affected rivers will be as follows:

• Chatterton River 
• Hurunui River 
• Waimakariri River
• Rakaia River
• Waikirikiri/Selwyn River

Signage indicating that spraying is underway will be placed at all spray operation refilling stations and public access points. Public access will be restricted during operations. All works are weather dependent. 

Visit this link for more information and detailed maps of targeted control areas: Current River Works ECan

Harts Creek Track Closure

The Waihora Ellesmere Trust (WET) have notified North Canterbury Fish & Game that track refurbishment work will begin at Waitātari Harts Creek beginning January 6th. The works are likely to be completed at the end of March 2025. There will be a full track CLOSURE during this period. The track is being given a facelift to improve retaining walls along the creek. They will also widen and level out the track. The Ellesmere Lions Club are overseeing this project. 

For more information, please contact WET here

Weather Update

Christchurch 

Rakaia

Waipara

Culverden

 

Hamner Springs

Arthurs Pass

To help you plan your fishing adventures, be sure to check the following resources:

• E-Can River Flows: River Flow Data
• Outdoor Access Live Cameras: Live Cameras (subscription required)
• MetService Weather Warnings: Weather Warnings

Happy fishing! Stay safe out there!

Get involved this season!

Jump online and get your licence the easy way - it only takes a minute. Click the image above to get started. 

Want to contribute to the weekly fishing reports?

Here at North Canterbury Fish & Game, we are extremely passionate about sharing YOUR angling stories. Whether you caught a massive fish or took your girls and boys out fishing for the first time, you want to hear and tell your stories.

When you’re out this season, don’t forget to take some photos or videos and send them to [email protected] with a little back story on your angling adventures.

Enjoy the weekend, and tight lines to everyone heading out to the water!

Jackson, Harry, Caleb & the rest of the North Canterbury Team