Otago Weekly Fishing Report - 1 October 2026

And … we’re off for the 2026-27 season!

The new fishing season is under way today, October 1, with plenty of options for anglers across Otago.

Some rivers are running high and discoloured after recent rain and snowmelt, but there are still good opportunities on reservoirs and lakes, and the weather is looking much more settled for the weekend.

Anglers can now head out on a wide variety of Otago waters, mostly — but not entirely — in lower catchments connected directly to the coast. These include the Taieri, Manuherekia, Pomahaka, Shag/Waihemo, and many other rivers and tributaries.

Most rivers above the Clyde Dam (with a few exceptions) remain closed until November 1. The Deans Bank section of the Clutha River/Mata-Au (fly fishing only) is also now open.

Lake Dunstan is producing some good trout, while Poolburn and Blakelys dams are worth considering if river flows remain high. With lighter winds and fine weather forecast for much of the region on Saturday and Sunday, it looks like a good weekend to get out on the water.

If you are unsure whether a waterway is open, click here to check the regulations.

Fish dropping back into Dunstan

Tim Johnson with a nice brown trout caught in Lake Dunstan on a soft bait. Photo: Lachlan Dent.

Tim Johnson, from Central Otago Hunting & Fishing, says the outlook for the start of the season is positive.

“I’ve been out the top of Lake Dunstan the last wee while and catching good numbers of fish. They’ve dropped back into the lake from the river.

“There are good numbers of 5-6-pound fish hitting black soft baits and orangey hard-bodied lures. Perch-coloured hard-bodied lures such as Rapalas and Shimano Wax Wings, or even copper Tobies, are working really well. Copper Tobies will be a staple coming into summer.

For fly anglers, if you’re fishing a cloudy river, then squirmy worms would be what I’d be going for in terms of fly choice.

“If it’s flowing like concrete, fish the soft seams with a weighted squirmy worm.”

Tips for Poolburn

Poolburn Dam early season has always done well with brown or rusty coloured woolly bugger flies up there, Tim says.

Fish low to the bottom either imitating a fleeing baitfish or a freshwater cray/koura.

Cast out as far as you can 90 degrees to the shore. Let it sink and give it a couple of short quick strips. Vary the pace of the retrieve, but if it’s nice and clear, you can afford to fish a wee bit slower.

Boaters heading to Poolburn Dam, please beware of submerged rocks, which are a constant hazard but moreso when the dam is at low levels. Otago Regional Council, with support from Otago Fish & Game, has marked some rock with buoys but several other rock hazards remain. Hazards should be reported to the ORC harbourmaster.

Last light bite

Tim was planning to head out to fish from the shore on the Clutha arm of Lake Dunstan right on dusk last night.

“The last light bite is unbelievable,” Tim says.

“For people wanting to get some early action — 100 per cent — 7 to 8 o'clock in the evening is the time now that daylight savings has started.

“As that light starts to fade it goes from quiet — if there’s no wind — to the fish starting to hit soft baits.

“Fish them relatively slow with the odd twich. Nothing too fast or aggressive. Let the soft bait swing up over the weed edge.”

Big streamers and bright flies

Olsen's Blowtorch is a euro-style attractor nymph that has become popular among fly anglers in New Zealand.

Ben Boss, from Queenstown Hunting & Fishing, says big streamers, worm patterns and bright flies that the fish can see will be useful tactics for early-season rivers.

“It looks like it’s pretty cloudy and dirty water,” Ben says. “I like more bright-coloured flies, like Blowtorches.”

“I’ve already taken the days off work. You’ve just got to make the most of it.”

The Blowtorch (often referred to as Olsen's Blowtorch) is a euro-style attractor nymph that has become widely used by fly anglers in New Zealand.  While originally designed in the United States, its bright "hot spot" contrast makes it well-suited for NZ rivers — particularly in fast, heavy pocket water or slightly off-colour river conditions.

The Blowtorch’s tungsten bead helps the fly to ride along bottom in fast water. It can be used as an anchor on the point with a more subtle pattern tied to a dropper.

Lakes fishing quiet

Nathan Dell, of Southern Wild in Wānaka, recommends fishing Wānaka Lake around Glendhu Bay, Matukituki river mouth, the Clutha/Mata-Au outlet, and Lake Hāwea.

Salmon in Lake Hāwea haven’t started congregating but it would be worth a try near the dam.

Southern Wild owner Mark Sanders was out fishing on Lake Wānaka yesterday, and the fishing was quiet. The water was murky and the lake level was high due to snow melt and rain.

“Hopefully the fishing will pick up soon,” Nathan says.

Sea trout on baitfish

Hadlee Edmunds, from Dunedin Hunting & Fishing, says more sea trout have been reported coming into the Taieri River following baitfish.

The odd kahawai has been seen there, too.

With most coastal area rivers running high, Hadlee recommends people head to the Maniototo and fish the reservoirs, or try Loganburn Dam or Poolburn.

Smoked trout recipe

Tussock Barrell (7) with this rainbow trout from Take A Kid Fishing at Southern Reservoir last weekend. Photos: Mike Barrell.

Tussock Barrell (7) had a great day fishing with his dad Mike at Take A Kid Fishing at Southern Reservoir last weekend, bringing home a beautiful 2.5-pound rainbow trout.

Mike smoked the fish for the table, and father and son are looking forward to doing more fishing in the new season. Here is Mike’s method for smoked trout:

Step 1: Butterfly the trout by removing the backbone from the inside of the fish, leaving the two sides joined by the skin along the back.

Step 2: Place the fish on baking paper on the rack in the smoker.

Step 3: Lightly salt the whole fish, then sprinkle brown sugar over the fillet side.

Step 4: Sprinkle pōhutukawa or mānuka wood chips in the centre of the smoker in a square. Leave a gap around the edge so the chips don’t bounce onto the fish.

Step 5: Fill the meths burner tray or trays, place under the smoker and light. A full burner will burn for about 15–18 minutes.

Step 6: Remove the bones using a fish slice.

Enjoy!

Take A Kid Fishing

Four-year-old twins Rileigh (centre) and Remy Grotjohn examine the trout that Remy just reeled with dad Luke’s help at Take A Kid Fishing at Southern Reservoir last weekend. Photo: Bruce Quirey.

More than 335 children, along with mums, dads and grandparents, attended our Take A Kid Fishing events at Southern Reservoir, Dunedin, over the past two weekends.

We’ve had some sensational fishing with high catch rates on both Saturdays. Sundays were a little quieter due to weather. The last day began overcast, windy and cold, although the sun came out at times. Fishing was a bit quieter, but the trout were biting just enough to keep the kids keen.

Thanks again to our volunteers, our Macraes hatchery partner OceanaGold, Dunedin City Council, Green Island Lions Club, and The Shot coffee.

We encourage families to make the most of the school holidays. Children under 12 can fish for free but still need a licence, and those aged 12 to 17 can buy a whole season licence for $31.

Soft bait fishing clinics

Free soft bait fishing clinics will be held near Dunedin and Alexandra in November.

• Wednesday, November 11, 6.30pm, Lake Waihola
• Thursday, November 12, 6.30pm, Butchers Dam, Alexandra

Keep an eye on our Facebook page and upcoming editions of the Otago Weekly Fishing Report for details soon on how to register.

Fishing Knowledge Hub

Fish & Game NZ has launched a free online knowledge hub packed with resources for freshwater anglers at every experience level.

The knowledge hub is a living resource, and Fish & Game is keen to hear from anglers about what else would be useful. Click on this Fishing Knowledge Hub link to explore on the Fish & Game website and share your feedback with [email protected]

Club updates

We welcome updates from Otago angling clubs.

Wakatipu Anglers Club is running a Learn To Fly Fish day course at Queenstown Events Centre on Saturday, October 10. The cost is $150. Email Andrew at [email protected] or call 021 496 552 to secure your spot.

If your club has any news or photos for inclusion in the Weekly Fishing Report, please email [email protected] by the Monday prior to publication on Thursday.

New regulations

Changes allowing scented soft baits to be used when actively fished, reduced salmon bag limits in parts of the upper Clutha/Mata-Au catchment, and new fishing opportunities in Dunedin and the Catlins are among the new regulations for the 2026-2027 season.

• For a summary of the 2026-2027 Otago regulation changes, click here.
• For the full 2026-2027 Otago sports fishing regulations, click here.
• For the Anglers Notice Consultation Summary Report, click here.

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 Watersports Facility.

The Taieri River at Kokonga yesterday. A little dirty but still some good spotting around the edges. Photo: Cole Briggs.

The Manuherekia River yesterday at Shakey Bridge. Photo: Cole Briggs.

Here’s the weekend outlook:

Dunedin

After a mostly fine start to the season today, Friday will be cloudy, with a few showers in the morning and afternoon. Strong northwesterlies, turning lighter southwesterlies in the morning.

The weekend looks good for fishing. Saturday mainly fine, chance of a shower in the morning. Southwesterlies, dying out in the afternoon. Sunday fine, light winds.

 The Taieri River at Outram was flowing high at 62 cumecs this morning. The water temperature was 10.7 degrees C.

Click here for live Dunedin weather updates.

Wānaka

A gusty start to the fishing season today. Friday northwesterlies should die out in the evening. Mostly cloudy with the chance of a shower.

The weekend weather looks great for fishing with light winds! Saturday partly cloudy, and Sunday fine.

Click here for live Wānaka weather updates.

Alexandra

A cloudy start to the fishing season in Central Otago.

Friday starts with strong northerlies, turning lighter in the afternoon. The weekend looks glorious on both days — fine with light winds.

Click here for live Central Otago weather updates.

Clutha Regional Forecast

The season starts cloudy with strong northwesterlies.

Friday isolated showers, becoming widespread for a time in the morning and afternoon. Gale northwesterlies turn lighter in the morning.

The weather improves for the weekend. Saturday mainly fine, isolated showers clearing in the afternoon. Sunday is the pick of the fishing days — fine, light winds.

The Pomahaka River was flowing high at 61 cumecs at Burkes Ford.

The lower Clutha River at Balclutha was flowing at 959 cumecs.

Click here for live lower Clutha 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.

Tight lines, 

Otago Fish & Game