Otago Weekly Fishing Report - 22 October 2026

Fishing’s looking up

Enjoy the good fishing conditions this Labour Weekend before heavy rain arrives on Monday.

Many anglers have been heading into tackle shops and going online this week to buy their fishing licences ahead of the holiday weekend.

“It’s going crazy this week now we’ve finally got settled weather and the Lake Wānaka level has settled,” says Mark Sanders from Southern Wild.

“People are keen to get back out there. It’s good to see families and young ones coming through, getting gear and asking a lot of questions.”

Pictured above: Mason Court with a rainbow trout caught trolling a Tassie Devil lure behind a paravane in Lake Hāwea this week. Credit: Bruce Quirey.

If you haven’t already got your fishing licence, buy one online, or drop into your local licence agent.

Around the coast, Harry from Dunedin Hunting & Fishing reports decent numbers of trout in an East Otago coastal river. The water offered good visibility for spotting fish, and there was a good evening rise.

Staff from Dunedin Hunting & Fishing also caught good numbers of moderate-sized fish using soft baits in the Catlins River last week. Fishing for trout in the estuaries should remain promising as they chase smelt on incoming tides.

Inland, the odd salmon has been caught in the big lakes, but it’s still early for these landlocked Chinook salmon to be moving towards the dams.

While filming a fish identification video at Lake Hāwea this week, Fish & Game’s Mason Court caught a silvery rainbow trout on a brightly coloured Tassie Devil lure trolled behind a paravane near The Neck.

Countdown to high country opening

This rainbow trout took a bead-head pheasant tail nymph drifted in an Otago river last weekend. Credit: Cole Briggs.

There is only one week to go before the high country rivers open.

Fish & Game has received more reports of anglers fishing rivers that remain closed until November. Rangers are patrolling these areas, so check the official 2026–27 Otago Sport Fishing Regulations before heading out.

AI tools and other unofficial sources can give incorrect advice about season dates. Many upper Clutha rivers and streams remain closed until 1 November.

There are still plenty of fishing opportunities over the long weekend, including on lakes, reservoirs and open river sections. Some lower sections of rivers flowing into the big lakes are also open, so check the regulations carefully before fishing.

Fish & Game’s Cole Briggs ventured up a Central Otago river last weekend fly-fishing with small nymphs and was rewarded with a lovely rainbow trout that took a gold-bead pheasant tail nymph.

“Exploring new water is great,” he says. “Sometimes it pays off, sometimes it doesn't but it seems to always make for a good adventure.”

Jack and Jill back in town

Hatchery manager Steve Dixon releases a rainbow trout jack into Sullivans Dam this week. Credit: Bruce Quirey.

Just in time for Labour Weekend, Otago Fish & Game has released some big rainbow trout into Sullivans Dam, Tomahawk Lagoon and Southern Reservoir in Dunedin.

These three-year-old broodstock, averaging 7–9lb, have already had their eggs and milt stripped at our hatchery, so they’ve already done their bit to produce the next generation of trout.

If you’re heading out to fish for them, make sure you have a current fishing licence. Good luck!

Lake Hāwea low

Lake Hāwea boat ramp near the dam this week. Credit: Bruce Quirey.

Boat anglers on Lake Hāwea should be aware that the lake level is currently very low. Take care to avoid exposed and semi-submerged rocks.

Wonderful Wakatipu

Rangers found plenty of anglers fishing at productive stream mouths in our big lakes. Credit: Jakub Kanok.

Sensational weather last weekend saw plenty of anglers out enjoying Lake Wakatipu. Honorary ranger Jakub (Kub) covered the area from Queenstown to Glenorchy, with most angling activity centred around creek and river mouths.

“With blue skies and almost no wind, conditions were perfect for fishing the lake edges. Wet wading was the order of the day, and there were even plenty of anglers fishing barefoot.

“Compliance was 100%, which was excellent to see,” Kub says.

“Most rivers were running clear, and some showed little sign of snowmelt. River levels and clarity are the best I’ve seen in years.”

Conditions are likely to change when rain arrives early next week.

Waihola starting to fire

This wee perch took a black-and-gold soft bait on a calm evening on Lake Waihola this week. Credit: Jayde Couper.

Now’s a good time of year to fish Lake Waihola. It is an easy, close option if you are heading out from Dunedin or Milton, and the fishing has been popular on the warm still evenings lately.

October is a great month to get out, as the perch are starting to fire up and there's a solid chance of a brown trout before the warm temperatures and algal blooms arrive in peak summer.

Fish light gear and persist if you find some deeper water. Because the lake is largely very shallow, fish will be concentrated around any slightly deeper areas near the shore.

Locals are reporting plague proportions of 'lake flies' at the moment. These are probably adult chironomids (non-biting midges), so a midge imitation is well worth a try near sunset.

Fish & Game’s Jayde Couper caught this small perch off the boardwalk using a black and gold soft bait.

Flinging flies over flats

Young Jimmy Fiebig on his first day fly-fishing the flats at the top of Lake Dunstan last weekend. Credit: Roger.

Young Jimmy Fiebig enjoyed a memorable first day fly-fishing the flats at the top of Lake Dunstan last weekend.

Guide Roger had given Jimmy some casting practice over winter, including a few lessons from the boat before the season. The practice paid off, with Jimmy casting to sighted fish and landing five trout, while losing a few along the way.

A joy to watch, Roger said, with plenty more to learn. Well done, Jimmy!

Mix up your fly box

This brown took a flashback pheasant tail nymph. Credit: Lowell Smyth.

Fly angler Lowell Smyth says this healthy 5lb brown trout was sitting in the tailout of a run in an Otago river last week.

“I could see he was moving around a lot, so I tied on a flashback pheasant tail nymph. The rest of the day was quite good, with some fish looking up for dry flies.”

Lowell advises anglers to get out this weekend and give it a go.

“Have a mix of different flies in your fly box, from nymphs to emergers to quite big dries. Fish are hungry.”

With early-season river levels running high, choose river crossings carefully and make sure you’re prepared for changing conditions.

Middlemarch kids learn to fly-cast

Strath Taieri kids’ fly-casting class at the Taieri River on Sunday.

Trout around Middlemarch might want to watch out this season!

Around 20 rural kids and parents joined Otago Fish & Game staff and volunteers for a bankside fly-casting class last weekend.

The morning session started with a lesson and practice on a paddock, tailgate morning tea, and then the group headed to the Taieri River.

The young anglers, aged 10-13, picked up new skills quickly, learning the basic overhead cast and roll cast.

The event was organised with help from the Middlemarch police officer, the Strath Taieri Youth Action Group and one of our honorary rangers, Mike. It was a pleasure to meet such a fine group of young people and their parents.

Soft bait fishing clinics

Practical tips and techniques for anglers of all experience levels.

Want to catch more trout, salmon and perch? Soft baits are an effective spin-fishing method worth adding to your tackle box.

Join us with Lance Gill, from Okuma NZ, for a free clinic at Lake Waihola and Butchers Dam. Each session from 6.30pm-8.30pm includes a one-hour talk and demonstration, followed by a chance to try your luck catching a trout or perch. Learn about lure types, rig setups, braid-to-mono knots, casting techniques and retrieves that trigger strikes. 

• LAKE WAIHOLA: Wednesday 11 November
• BUTCHERS DAM: Thursday 12 November

Click here for more details and register now.

Have your say - Clutha/Mata-Au catchment action plans

If you fish or hunt in the Clutha/Mata-Au catchment, have your say on the proposed 10-year Catchment Action Plans and help ensure the values of freshwater anglers and game bird hunters are reflected in its future.

Otago Fish & Game staff have been attending ORC-led workshops with other stakeholders and community representatives to develop plans for the Clutha/Mata-Au. The plans cover Central Otago and Clutha districts.

Have your say now:

• Central Otago: orc.govt.nz/inlandcapsurvey
• Clutha District: orc.govt.nz/lowercapsurvey

Surveys close Monday, October 26.

Club updates

We welcome updates from Otago angling clubs.

Why not join a local fishing club? Select here for a list of Otago fishing clubs.

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.

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

Good fishing conditions are expected over the weekend. Warm temperatures should bring on insect activity, so fish should be actively feeding.

Friday will start cloudy before clearing, with fine weather on Saturday and Sunday. Winds will be light initially, with norwesterlies developing on Friday afternoon and northerlies on Sunday afternoon. Monday will be partly cloudy, with a chance of a shower before rain develops in the afternoon.

The Taieri River at Outram is falling, at 32 cumecs this morning. The water temperature is 14 degrees C.

Click here for live Dunedin weather updates.

Wānaka

Fine, warm weather should make for good fishing over the weekend, although rain is expected on Monday. On the lakes, early mornings are likely to be best.

Friday will be fine with westerlies. Saturday will also be fine, with northerlies developing in the afternoon. Sunday will be partly cloudy, with northerlies developing in the morning. A chance of showers from the afternoon. Rain is forecast for Monday, with heavy falls in the morning.

Click here for live Wānaka weather updates.

Alexandra

Warm temperatures and fine weather should bring on insect activity, so be prepared for fish to be looking up. Conditions look good for fishing over the weekend, but Monday is expected to be wet.

Friday will be fine, with light winds and afternoon westerlies. Saturday will be fine, with northerlies turning westerly for a time in the afternoon. Sunday will be partly cloudy, with northerlies developing in the morning. Rain is forecast for Monday, becoming persistent with heavy falls in the afternoon.

Click here for live Central Otago weather updates.

Clutha Regional Forecast

Fishing conditions look good over the weekend, although Saturday afternoon could be windy.

Friday will be fine apart from some morning cloud, with westerlies. Saturday will be fine, with norwesterlies becoming strong in the morning. Sunday will be partly cloudy with norwesterlies. A few showers are forecast for Monday, turning to rain with heavy falls.

The Pomahaka River was at 6.6 cumecs at Glenken this morning, falling. Check updated river conditions before heading out.

The lower Clutha River at Balclutha is flowing at 679 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.