Otago Weekly Fishing Report - 16 April 2026

Wind, rain, waders

A fresh dusting of snow on the Central Otago hills this week signals winter is approaching, but there is still excellent fishing to be had before the end of the season, with many coastal fisheries closing at the end of April.

Making the most of remaining days is important, and success often comes down to preparation as fish begin to congregate ahead of spawning.

Pictured above: Despite less-than-ideal conditions, fish will still be feeding. It pays to explore small side creeks, backwaters, and stillwaters, as these areas are often less affected by recent rain and can remain clearer and more stable than the main rivers. Credit: Photo supplied.

Rain is forecast across the region into the weekend, so expect rivers to rise and discolour. In these conditions, small side creeks, backwaters, stillwaters, and lake outlets such as the upper Clutha will generally offer better fishing than mainstem rivers.

With the last of the school holidays this weekend, conditions may be changeable but there should still be weather windows to get out. Short, local sessions may be the best option.

Pack warm, take care around river mouths, and fish with a buddy where possible. Winter licences are now on sale for those looking to take up fishing through to the end of the season. It always pays to check river conditions before heading out using tools such as the ORC Environmental Data Portal.

Stillwater success

Hadlee Edmunds with an excellent brown trout caught fishing one of Māniatoto’s many stillwaters. Credit: Photo supplied.

Stillwaters in the Māniatoto have been producing excellent reports, including from Hadlee at Hunting & Fishing Dunedin. Last Friday, Hadlee spent time at one of the many stillwaters in the area, landing a number of both brown and rainbow trout.

Success came casting a natural-coloured soft-bait along the edges of the dam and retrieving it slowly. As the afternoon progressed into evening, fish activity increased, with consistent surface rises beginning to appear.

With rain forecast this weekend, stillwaters offer a reliable option that is generally less affected by changing river conditions.

For more information on waters in the Māniatoto, click here.

Deltas

Michael Wilson landed a solid rainbow trout at the top of Lake Dunstan earlier this week, taken on an orange Tasmanian Devil. Credit: Photo supplied.

River deltas provide excellent fishing throughout the year. They form rich feeding zones where slower water and sediment buildup support insects, baitfish, and aquatic plant life, making them ideal trout habitat.

These areas also offer a mix of cover and varied flow, providing both protection and prime ambush points. Productive river deltas are found on many of the larger lakes across the region.

The Lake Dunstan delta, where the Clutha River enters the top of the lake, is a well-known example. It is a popular autumn spot, particularly as fish congregate here prior to moving upstream to spawn in the Clutha braids and nearby tributaries. Access to the true right of the delta—containing small pools, backwaters, and winding channels—can be gained via the Bendigo Wildlife Management Reserve, a wetland managed by Otago Fish & Game.

The best fishing technique varies with conditions. In clear, low-flow water, small soft-baits, spinners, dry flies, and nymphs are often most effective. When flows rise or water becomes discoloured, bait fishing and larger lures tend to work better, similar to early-season approaches when fish rely more on movement and scent.

Adapting to the current climate

Mark Haig from Kaitangita shows off his solution to getting round the lower Clutha with the cost of fuel. Credit: Jayde Couper.

With the ever-rising cost of fuel putting pressure on household budgets, hobbies are often the first to be scaled back.

However, fishing remains an accessible option, with many quality spots located within a short drive, or even a walk or bike ride, of town centres. Consider keeping a trout for the table, for a nice healthy meal. There are plenty of recipes on the Fish & Game website that can be explored here.

More and more anglers are taking the smart approach by staying local, making the most of nearby rivers, lakes, and urban waterways rather than travelling long distances. Some crafty anglers have even customised bikes and lightweight gear setups to reach productive water without the need for a vehicle. If you are looking for nearby options, the Fish & Game access map is a great tool to help find local spots and plan your next trip.

Explore the Fish & Game Access map here

Search for Salmon

Aidan Hight with a lower Clutha 3.9lb salmon. Credit: Photo supplied.

If you happen to catch a salmon this season, please contact us. We would be happy to collect the fish head from you, as we are interested in a small bone known as the otolith, which retains information on the water chemistry across the salmon’s life.

Using this data we can track the salmon’s age, where it was born and where it spent different stages of its life. This information helps us protect those places.

We are most interested in salmon from the lower Clutha River/Mata-Au or Pomahaka River. However, but if you’ve caught a salmon in the upper river or lakes (except Hawea & Wakatipu, we have loads of those!) we are keen to organise a time to collect them off you. Just keep the head in the freezer with details on the fish length, and when and where you caught it. Email [email protected].

Under the Nature Dome

Children enjoying testing their casting skills at the Hooked on Nature stand. Credit: Jamie Ward.

On Sunday, Otago Fish & Game staff, honorary rangers, volunteers and the Otago Anglers Association attended Nature Dome as part of Wild Dunedin, held at Forsyth Barr Stadium, with an interactive “Hooked on Nature” display.

Visitors had the chance to try their hand at spin and fly casting, watch fly tying demonstrations, see live trout up close, and enter a “guess the number of fish” competition (with a prize pack kindly donated by Dunedin Hunting & Fishing New Zealand). The day was a great success, with hundreds of children getting involved, testing their casting skills, and engaging with staff about Fish & Game’s habitat work, as well as picking up useful fishing and gamebird hunting tips.

The “guess the number of trout” competition attracted 405 entries, with nine correct guesses. The final count was 72 fish, and the winner was drawn at random from those correct entries.

Heather Findlay receives the rod and reel combo, kindly donated by Dunedin Hunting & Fishing, from Otago Fish & Game Environmental Officer Nigel Paragreen on behalf of her daughter, after she correctly guessed the number of trout in the display tank.

Takitakitoa wetland nature walk 

As part of Wild Dunedin, there’s still an opportunity to get involved with Otago Fish & Game at the upcoming Takitakitoa Wetland Nature Walk.

Held in the lower Taieri, around 30 minutes south of Dunedin, this guided walk and talk will showcase the rich biodiversity of this regionally significant wetland. Attendees will learn how the area has been restored, managed, and funded by hunters for conservation. Suitable for families and nature enthusiasts alike, it’s a great chance to explore the wetland and gain a deeper understanding of its importance. The walk will take place on Saturday 18 April 2026 from 10am to 12pm, with free tickets available here.

Don’t forget your licence

Get your licence online or visit a local agent.

Click the link for a list of the agents in Otago where you can buy a licence.

Event calendar

Click here for upcoming fishing events throughout New Zealand.

Lake Hāwea webcam

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

A real-time webcam at Lake Hāwea is provided by Snowgrass Solutions and Contact Energy and can be accessed through their website or directly via this link.

Please note conditions at the southern end of the lake (near the dam) may not always reflect those north of The Neck. Weather can change quickly, so be prepared.

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.

Bookmark the ORC Environmental Data Portal for real-time flows, temperature, and lake levels.

Here’s the weekend outlook:

Dunedin

Finding gaps in the weather will be key to making the most of the final weekend of the school holidays around Dunedin, with showers forecast throughout. Rising river levels and a bit of colour will bring bait fishing and dirty-water tactics into their own. Saturday afternoon is shaping up as the best opportunity, with showers and wind expected to ease and provide a window for those keen to get out.

The Taieri River at Outram was low at 6.66 cumecs this morning. The water temperature was 11 ^oC.

Click here for live MetService weather updates

Wānaka

With a fresh dusting of snow and a couple of frosty mornings, it’s starting to feel like winter is just around the corner in Wānaka. Rivers are likely to rise with rain forecast on both Friday and Saturday.

Sunday morning is shaping up as the pick of the weekend, with calm, overcast conditions before showers develop later in the day. Boat anglers should find success targeting drop-offs around river mouths, while river anglers may want to focus on beech-lined streams that drop quickly after rain. If the water is slightly discoloured or high, don’t be afraid to throw a streamer.

Click here for live MetService weather updates.

Alexandra

Alexandra looks to have missed most of the poor weather this weekend, with both Saturday and Sunday morning forecast to be fine before northerlies and showers develop in the afternoons. Making the most of these calm mornings will be key. Take care on access tracks to the larger dams and reservoirs, as recent rain is likely to make them slippery underfoot.

Click here for live MetService weather updates. 

Clutha Regional Forecast

Saturday morning is shaping up as the best opportunity for anglers around the Lower Clutha, with light northerlies and fine conditions expected before showers develop later in the day. On Sunday, a southerly change is forecast, bringing more widespread showers. Expect both the Clutha and Pomahaka rivers to rise slightly following rain in the lead-up to the weekend.

The Pomahaka River at Burkes Ford was at 4.67 cumecs.

The lower Clutha River at Balclutha was at 508 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.