Otago Weekly Fishing Report - 09 January 2025

Welcome to 2025

While this summer hasn't seen temperatures frequently climbing into the 30s as in recent years, occasional showers and slightly cooler temperatures over the Christmas and New Year holidays have helped keep many rivers in excellent condition.

Fish & Game rangers conducting compliance checks during this period have reported positive feedback, with anglers catching good numbers of fish and demonstrating high levels of compliance.

Fishing at the upper reaches of the large lakes, whether by boat or from the shore, has been productive. Good numbers of salmon have been reported near Glenorchy, particularly around the Dart and Rees river mouths.

Nathan, from Southern Wild Wānaka, says well-conditioned salmon and rainbow trout are still being caught in Lake Hāwea using lead lines paired with spinners. He found success with a black and gold Enticer.

With mixed weather forecast for the weekend, anglers are expected to attempt making the most of the extended holidays. Remember to stay cautious and safe while enjoying your fishing adventures.

Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery

After a series of refusals on a range of nymphs, often flipping over river rocks will give you the correct size and colour to imitate, for example, this stunning green stonefly (Stenoperla). Credit: Santillan de Pinto.

As the season progresses, trout become increasingly wary due to frequent interactions with anglers.

To increase your chances of success, it's crucial to mimic the natural food sources in the environment. This can be achieved by flipping rocks to observe aquatic invertebrates, using a net to catch terrestrial insects, or watching for small fish in the shallows.

If matching natural food sources doesn't yield results, switching tactics can be effective. Trying something bright and large, or using a different style like a streamer, can provoke a reaction.

Mata-Au mayflies

Jason Beacham with a lovely brown trout caught on the upper Clutha. Photo: William Horsely

Wānaka anglers Jason Beecham and William Horsley have been experiencing some exceptional fishing on the Upper Clutha River/Mata-Au, particularly in the afternoons when mayflies are hatching.

Rainbow and brown trout have been abundant, with numerous catches making it to the net and many more earning their freedom due to gear failures and tricky downstream takes. The anglers mentioned the combinations of nice calm afternoons paired with the Upper Clutha River returning to its median flow have made for some favourable fishing conditions.

Jason reported success using size 16 mayfly patterns, with Dad’s Favourite and Parachute Adams proving particularly effective. For those moments when the trout showed less interest in dry flies, size 16 Flashback Pheasant Tails have also yielded excellent results.

The Upper Clutha has a range of access points maintained by Otago Fish & Game and the Clutha Fisheries Trust. To view the Otago Fish & Game access map click here.

For more information on fishing the Upper Clutha River/Mata-Au, click here.

A note that the Luggate Boulder access point is still closed to the public while improvements are being made. An update will be provided once that work has been completed.

Dinner is served

Mason Court with a cracker-sized perch, which was kept for the table, caught on an olive-pearl soft bait in the lower Clutha River/Mata-Au in December. Credit: Ian Hadland.

Almost a quarter of freshwater sports fish caught in the lower Clutha River/Mata-Au have been kept for the table, a year-long survey shows.

An activity survey of the Clutha River below Roxburgh Dam found that about 14,500 brown trout, rainbow trout, perch and salmon were caught in the 2023-24 season.

The Lower Clutha/Mata-Au Angler Survey report can be accessed by selecting this link.

Otago Fish & Game officer Jayde Couper says the lower river has always been a rich source of wild-caught food for local communities. “This survey highlights the importance of maintaining and protecting the environments where these activities take place.”

Hidden gems to beat bad weather

Murray Smart fishes at Mathias Dam in the Maniototo last weekend. Inset: a 1.7kg brown trout caught on a damselfly nymph pattern. Credit: Bruce Quirey.

The Waters of the Maniototo have a lot to offer.

Several days this season, with poor weather affecting rivers, the Maniototo reservoirs have been some of the best fishing options. However, rangers and anglers say they have seldom seen other anglers in the area this summer.

These put-and-take fisheries have provided enough well-conditioned fish to keep regular anglers interested, catching not only hatchery rainbows but wild browns.

For more info on the Waters of the Maniototo, click here.

The Kyeburn, as this photo taken on Wednesday night shows, is the source of heavy discolouration in the Taieri River. Credit: Bruce Quirey.

This week much of the Taieri River has been high and brown from sediment discharging from the Kyeburn.

Water from the Kyeburn takes about two days to reach Taieri Mouth, so expect the Taieri to be affected for a few more days.

However, above of the Kyeburn confluence, visibility in the upper Taieri has been reasonably good and the river was fishing well.

With large numbers of adult damselflies hovering above the river and reservoirs, trout have been taking damselfly nymph, corixa (water boatman) and diving beetle imitations.

Head-hunting for a cause

Richard Fitzpatrick with a great Clutha salmon from the 1995/96 season, caught in the Roxburgh area, weighing around 24lb. Unfortunately, due to the strong decline in the run, more recent salmon and photos of them, especially of that size, are tough to come by.

Otago Fish & Game and the Clutha/Mata-Au Sportsfish and Habitat Trust are looking for salmon heads from the Clutha River below the Roxburgh Dam. 

If you catch a salmon or find a spawned-out carcass below the dam, cut off the head and freeze in a plastic bag with a label showing the date and location found. 

For pick-up, please call the office 03 477 9076 or email [email protected] to arrange for it to be collected. 

Information gained from analysing the fish heads will help understand how best to try and restore the sea-run salmon runs in the lower Clutha.

Restoring the salmon runs and improving sports fish habitat in the lower river and tributaries are the objectives of the Trust. The work is being funded by Contact Energy as part of mitigation measures under its consent conditions for the Roxburgh Dam.

Loving lake life

Enjoying a lovely day on Lake Mahinerangi are (from left) Chontel Kimiia, Mardy Kimiia, Paul Kimiia, Roydon Kimiia, Madison and Shane Pringle. They caught a brown trout on a pink and black Tasmanian Devil. Credit: Bruce Quirey.

Anglers using all legal fishing methods – fly, lure and bait – have been enjoying success at Lake Mahinerangi this summer.

Trout have been taking brown beetle fly imitations near the windward shore. Trout have been rising to crane flies in shallow bays in the evenings.

Boat trollers have been having luck on tried and tested Tassie Devils and Tobys. Paddletail soft baits have been fooling the perch.

But probably the deadliest method here is a hook baited with a tussock worm.

The lake is long and exposed to windy weather so is best on a fine day. The boat ramp is at Edgar Stark bridge currently still reaches the water’s edge, as the level fluctuates for energy generation.  You can check the lake level on the Manawa Energy Waipori Power Scheme website here. The lake’s full level is at 388.4 metres above sea level. At the time of writing it was at 385.7 metres.

It is mostly surrounded by locked forestry owned by City Forests and by farmland. However, shoreline access can be found near the village; around the Edgar Stark bridge; the bridge on the Lammerlaw Arm; or Loch Luella at the Waipori Falls Rd bridge. To request access through the forestry, contact City Forests.

January photo competition - Share your summer fishing pics!

If the weather is playing ball in your area, it’s the perfect time to hit the water and make some fishing memories!

Whether it’s your favourite spot, a stunning catch, or just a day out enjoying nature, we’d love to hear your stories. Share your photos and enter them into the Monthly Fishing Licence photo competition.

The monthly winner will receive a $250 Kilwell Sports voucher and the major prize winner will receive:

• Your photo on the front of the 2025/2026 Fish & Game fishing licence
• $1,000 voucher from Kilwell Sports
• Your name engraved on an annual trophy retained by Fish & Game

You can enter and read more details here

Patagonia events

Patagonia Tāhuna Queenstown is hosting a series of fly-fishing events throughout January.

These events include fly tying sessions every Sunday, providing an excellent opportunity for anglers to hone their skills and connect with the local fishing community. For more information on these events and to explore the full schedule, click here.

Clyde Dam live webcam

A screengrab of the Clyde Dam webcam taken at the time of writing.

Want to know conditions at Clyde Dam? Check this live webcam sponsored by Contact Energy updated every 15 minutes.

Lake Wānaka live webcam

A screengrab of the Lake Wānaka webcam taken at the time of writing. 

Want to know conditions at Lake Wānaka? Check this live webcam from the Wānaka water sports facility.

Here’s the weekend outlook: 

Dunedin

Southerly winds will keep air temperatures in the mid-teens this weekend, with scattered rain showers providing a fresh top-up to many coastal rivers. However, it's important to note that the latest ORC sample, collected on January 6, shows elevated levels of bacteria (E. coli) in the Taieri River at Outram. As a result, the Taieri River at Outram Glen is currently unsuitable for swimming. Consider packing the raincoat and fishing many of the nearby reservoirs or lakes.

The Taieri River at Outram was flowing at 13.7 cumecs. The water temperature was 17 degrees C.

Click here for live weather updates.

Wānaka

Light winds are forecast from Friday through Saturday morning, with southeasterlies developing on Saturday afternoon. Sunday is expected to start overcast, but with light winds, the cloud cover should clear, creating excellent conditions for sight fishing following Friday's showers. If heading out on the boat, make sure you have two forms of communication and always double-check the weather before you go.

Click here for live weather updates. 

Alexandra

Overcast conditions and southerly winds are a significant part of the forecast around Alexandra this weekend, starting on Friday and easing by Monday. The southerly winds aren't expected to increase until mid-afternoon, so anglers are encouraged to take advantage of the calm mornings. Be sure to pack extra layers, as the brisk southerly breeze will bring a stiff chill.

Click here for live weather updates.

Clutha Regional Forecast

Similar to Dunedin's forecast, the Lower Clutha region is expected to experience a stiff southerly breeze and showers from Friday and Saturday. Sunday morning looks to be the best part of the forecast, with calmer conditions before the southerly winds strengthen in the afternoon, accompanied by overcast skies.

The Pomahaka River was flowing at 16.7 cumecs.

The lower Clutha River at Balclutha was flowing at 550 cumecs.

Click here for live weather updates.

For more ORC water monitoring and alerts information click here.

Grab your licence online and let the angling adventures begin.

Got any Otago fishing news?

Send your fishing news and photos (with anglers’ names) to [email protected] for consideration in the weekly report.