Otago Weekly Fishing Report - 23 April 2026

Opportunity’s aplenty this ANZAC weekend

With an excellent weather forecast for the upcoming long weekend, it’s a great opportunity to target rivers set to close on April 30.

As a general rule, the April 30 closure applies to waterways within the Clutha catchment downstream of Clyde Dam, as well as other Otago catchments flowing to the sea that are not specifically named in the regulations. If you’re unsure, you can refer to the 2025–2026 Otago Sports Fishing Regulations for clarification.

Some rivers will be carrying discolouration from snowmelt, while others will have cleared quickly and be in good fishing condition.

Don’t forget the winter fishing licence became available on April 1, providing a more affordable option for anglers looking to fish through to the start of next season, including the final month of high-country river fishing and the many waterways that remain open year-round.

Late season tips

Although many fish aren’t in great condition for the table as they start putting their energy toward spawning. There are always exceptions, such as this chunky rainbow trout caught at a Wakatipu river mouth. Photo: Mason Court.

The end of daylight savings has hit hard, and it feels like the long Otago winter is just around the corner.

Here’s our tips for making the most of your weekends as the days get shorter.

• Have a sleep in! Water temperature is getting cold this time of year, and often the trout will be sluggish, so stay warm in bed and wait for the sun to hit the water for a few hours and warm up the shallows. The trout and the bugs will take a while to get going, so no need to get out of bed before they do.
• Target deeper water. The colder water forces fish to make the most of their energy, so they often move away from the metabolically demanding runs to slower water. They also narrow their feeding window as it starts to take more energy to chase a far away food item than they gain from eating it. To counter this, increase the weight of your gear to target the fish at the bottom of pools and put your imitation as close to the trout’s mouth as you can.
• River Mouths - Browns will be accumulating round river mouths, to start their spawning run up the tributaries in May. These fish are often extra aggressive which can make for exciting fishing. Note that these fish will usually have put all their energy into reproduction and their flesh quality can be poor, meaning this is a good time and location to practice catch and release.
• Prepare for anything. If you want to enjoy your fishing this time of the year, prep goes a long way. Kiwi’s love their wet wading but now is the season for long johns and waders. Take a light insulated jacket and rain proof coat. Fingerless gloves help keep your fingers, just warm enough to tie knots. If you stay warm and dry, you’ll have a much more enjoyable day.

High Hawea

Mark's (from Southern Wild Wānaka) hot pick for a trolling lure for the autumn months - the bull frog colour way of the Tasmanian devil.

Lake Hāwea is currently sitting near full almost two metres above its average level, but that hasn’t slowed the excellent boat fishing reports coming through from Mark at Southern Wild Wānaka.

Anglers are finding some well-conditioned rainbow trout, with fish being caught around river mouths and scattered throughout the lakes drop off. Hotspots include around Silver Island, The Neck and off Timaru river mouth.

Slightly darker-coloured Tasmanian Devils have been proving successful when fished on lead-line or downrigger setups, targeting depths around 10 metres. For those without this gear, a bibbed lure such as the Halco Poltergeist can still get down to over 8 metres when trolled on a simple top line allowing you to access where the fish are sitting.

You can check the lake levels through the Otago Regional Council Environmental Data portal here.

River mouth safety

River mouths can offer some of the most productive fishing of autumn, with all three species often congregating, but they also demand a high level of caution.

Conditions can change quickly, with strong flows, shifting gravel bars, unstable ground, and sudden drop-offs all posing risks to anglers. Debris and high flows can also make wading unpredictable, even when the water appears calm. Keeping safety front of mind will help ensure an enjoyable session.

• Wear a life jacket, especially near deeper or faster-flowing water
• Use a wading belt to prevent water flooding your waders if you slip
• Carry a whistle to signal other anglers if you get into distress
• Use a wading staff or sturdy stick for added stability on uneven or unstable ground
• Fish with a buddy wherever possible
• Leave your intentions with someone before heading out
• Keep your phone in a waterproof case or dry bag
• Pack a change of clothes in your bag or vehicle, particularly during the colder months

Wild Dunedin: Takitakitoa wetland walk

River watch

The Clutha river below the Roxburgh dam was discoloured from snow melt in the upper catchment on Wednesday. Photo: Mason Court.

The Taieri river at Outram Glen, flowing low and clear on Wednesday evening, ideal for angling this weekend. Photo: Mason Court.

Club updates

Upper Clutha Angling Club - Guest Speaker Mike Weddell

The Upper Clutha Angling Club Invites ALL interested ANGLERS to their next meeting on Tuesday 5^th May at The Hub, McDougall Street Wanaka at 7pm

Mike Weddell: Angling author, fly tier and exceptional fly caster - World Champion, 5 x British Champion "A no nonsense approach to increasing your catch”

 ALL WELCOME – non-members a gold coin donation

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 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 Cllutha 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.