North Canterbury Weekly Fishing Report - 9th January 2025

Welcome to 2025 anglers!

For those of you who managed to get away for the holidays, we hope you enjoyed your time and got stuck into some great fishing. With the summer now in full swing, anglers should look to get out on the water when the opportunity presents itself.

4.25 lb brown trout from a local spring creek caught on a size 18 unweighted nymph

Dry Fly Season

January is one of the best months for dry fly fishing in North Canterbury, with warmer summer conditions and excellent hatches on the region’s rivers. The region is known for its clear streams and rivers, including the famous Waiau, Hurunui, Waimakariri, and Rakaia rivers. These waters are home to healthy populations of brown and rainbow trout, making them prime spots for dry fly anglers. In January, the weather is typically warm, and insect activity is high, with mayflies, caddis, beetles and grasshoppers all abundant, providing plenty of food for trout to target on the surface.

 

For anglers, this means consistent dry fly action throughout the day, especially in the early mornings and late evenings when fish are most actively feeding. Hatches of mayflies and caddisflies peak during the warmer parts of the day, while terrestrial insects like green or brown beetles and grasshoppers become increasingly important in the late summer months. The crystal-clear waters allow for sight fishing, with anglers able to spot rising fish and target them with precision. With the right patterns, such as parachute Adams, foam-bodied hoppers, green beetles, and CDC caddis, dry fly fishing in North Canterbury in January offers exciting opportunities for anglers looking to catch trout on the rise.

Targeting lake edges

This is an excellent time of year to target lake edges with a fly or soft-bait/spinning lure. If the conditions do not allow for spotting fish, fishing blind with a woolly bugger or a soft bait is a good option. Look for weed beds, drop-offs and areas adjacent to inflowing streams, which often attract cruising trout. When spotting conditions are less favourable and the water is sufficiently shallow, you can wade out where safe and often gain reasonable visibility by fishing back towards the shore where trees are present to minimise overhead glare. If the sun is out and you have good visibility, approach the lake edge slowly and take some time to observe the water before proceeding to cast your fly or lure. Areas where vegetation overhangs the lake, provide both cover and food for fish and enable the stealthy angler to remain concealed and fish these promising areas. When retrieving your fly or lure, vary the speed of your retrieve and let the fly or lure “hang” for a short period before lifting out of the water. Fish will frequently chase a fly/lure into the shallows, and if you hastily pull the lure out of the water, you may miss an opportunity.

The edges of Lake Selfe offer excellent shore fishing on a wind free day

Using Soft Baits in Rivers and Lakes

Soft baits, or soft plastics, are a versatile and effective tool for anglers of all experience levels. These realistic plastic imitations are typically fished with a weighted jig head, usually ranging from 1/4 oz to 1/16 oz in freshwater. Modern soft plastics come in a variety of shapes and sizes, all designed to move with lifelike action in the water. A leading brand like Berkley offers a wide selection of soft plastics, with the added benefit that their products are both organic and biodegradable while remaining durable, flexible, and highly effective.

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The History of Soft Baits in Fishing

The first soft plastic baits were introduced in the 1950s, and their development revolutionised the way anglers approached fishing. These early baits were designed to replicate the movements and characteristics of fish or other aquatic creatures, offering a more realistic presentation compared to the hard-bodied lures available at the time.

One of the key innovations came in 1953 when plastic bait manufacturer Earl H. Kline developed a soft plastic worm, which he sold under the brand name "Jelly Worm." This was the first major step toward creating flexible, life-like lures that could be rigged on a hook or jig head. Over time, other manufacturers followed suit, introducing a variety of soft plastics designed to imitate different types of prey—ranging from minnows and crawfish to worms and grubs.

JellyWORMs, as they were originally produced with a more modern touch

The introduction of these baits quickly became a game-changer, as anglers realised they could offer a more natural and enticing presentation to fish. The soft, flexible material allowed for greater movement in the water, mimicking the erratic motions of prey in distress. This made soft plastics especially effective for targeting trout.

In recent decades, brands like Berkley, Zoom, and Yum have continued to innovate, developing biodegradable, more environmentally friendly options while still maintaining the durability and lifelike action that anglers demand. Today, soft plastics are used not only in freshwater but also in saltwater fishing, and their wide range of patterns and designs ensures that there’s a soft bait for nearly every fishing situation.

The classic black and gold grub can be a great option for all anglers

Setting Up Your Soft Bait Rig

Rigging a soft plastic on a spinning rod is straightforward. Start by preparing your rod as usual, threading the line through the rod guides. Next, select an appropriate jig head based on the water depth where you’ll be fishing. In shallower water, you can use a lighter jig head. The next step is choosing your soft bait style and pattern. It’s crucial to carry a variety of soft plastics to adapt to different fishing conditions. Popular choices include black and gold minnows, paddle tails, curly grub tails, and smolt-colored minnows (shades of grey and brown). While there are countless effective patterns, selecting baits that mimic the local forage fish, such as those trout are naturally feeding on, will give you an edge, especially when you're just starting.

 

The Art of Fishing with Soft Plastics

Using soft plastics in both rivers and lakes can be highly productive, but success often depends on how active you are while fishing. Similar to fly fishing in rivers, soft baits require a bit of finesse to entice fish. It can be challenging to get a fish to bite, much like a dry fly angler trying to coax a fish to strike. By actively moving the bait with erratic, darting motions, you can draw attention and increase your chances of a bite. One effective technique is to let the bait drift naturally in the current, allowing it to move through the water column without reeling it in too quickly.

In lakes, you can apply a similar approach. Target drop-offs near river mouths or large weed beds, where fish are likely to be feeding. Allow your jig head to sink deeper, then retrieve it by making quick, erratic motions. Changing up your soft plastic regularly can also be a great tactic—offering the fish something new and different can trigger a bite when they’ve grown accustomed to one type of bait.

North Canterbury Angler Grace using a green and grey soft bait at the Ryton River Mouth 

By staying active and experimenting with different patterns, you'll increase your chances of success and learn more about what works best for your local waters.

 

Weekly Expert Tip

This week, we’re excited to be joined by Hannah Clement from Christchurch Hunting and Fishing. Hannah shares her deep passion for "Backcountry Fly Fishing," a pursuit she’s honed over the years. Drawing from her extensive experience, she offers valuable insights and early summer tips to help you get the most out of your fly fishing adventures. As a professional fishing guide, Hannah brings a wealth of knowledge to the table that’s sure to help all anglers!

 

You can check out Hannah on Instagram @shes_on_the_fly or on her website www.shesonthefly.co.nz

 

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

Check, Clean, Dry message for 24/25

Kia ora everyone, we are Anna and Louise, Canterbury’s Check Clean Dry advocates for the summer season. Fish and Game members we have met so far have been very passionate about protecting our waterways.  So here is a reminder of the most up-to-date Check Clean Dry protocols.

When to follow these steps?

• If you are just using one waterbody: great, you don’t need to Check Clean and Dry
• If you have several days between using one waterway and another, Check and Dry. Make sure your gear is free of plant debris and has been dry to the touch for at least 48 hours.
• If you are moving between waterways, Check and Clean any equipment that has come into contact with the water.

As you may be aware, Gold Clam was found in the Waikato in May 2023. This species is highly invasive, with one clam producing up to 70,000 juveniles per year. The South Island is currently following the gold clam exclusive version, which involves cleaning equipment with 10% dishwashing detergent or 2% bleach, as usual. However, if you have been to the North Island, gold clam-inclusive protocols apply, and these must be carried out before moving to the South Island.

Anna will be visiting popular fishing spots around North Canterbury from the 27^th of December to the 6^th of January. So, if you see her around, come say hi and get some free cleaning resources!  Fish and Game’s support for the program over the years has been greatly appreciated. It takes all of us to protect our waterways so we can keep enjoying them for years to come!

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