Otago Weekly Fishing Report - 24 September 2026

Fishing set to kick off 

Welcome to the first Otago Weekly Fishing Report for the 2026-27 season. 

Check your gear, grab your fishing licence and get ready for some early-season action, because the wait is nearly over.

The new fishing season opens next Thursday, October 1.

Water, water, opening soon

From October 1, anglers can head out to a wide variety of Otago waters, mostly — but not entirely — in lower catchments connected directly to coast.

These include the Taieri, Pomahaka, Shag/Waihemo, and many other rivers and tributaries. 

In Central Otago, Poolburn and Blakelys dams are excellent early-season options if rivers are unfishable due to high flows. Last year, snow fell on Opening Day but the fishing in Blakelys was exceptional.

Keep in mind that most rivers above the Clyde Dam (with a few exceptions) remain closed until November 1.

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

The Deans Bank section of the Clutha River/Mata-Au (fly fishing only) also opens on October 1. Fed by Lake Wānaka, this section can provide some respite from the high, discoloured flows that are common elsewhere early in the season.

Daylight saving begins this Sunday, September 27, giving anglers more time on the water during those productive evening sessions.

If you haven’t got your licence yet, click here to buy online or drop into your local licence agent.

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.

Otago Fish & Game Council has completed its triennial review of the regulations, forms and fees, which have been approved by the Minister for Hunting and Fishing. 

Big thanks to all the anglers, fishing clubs, guides and other stakeholders who provided feedback during the consultation process.

• 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.

Stocked and ready for school holidays

Rainbow trout from Macraes Hatchery are liberated into Southern Reservoir, Dunedin, this week. Photo: Stephen Jaquiery, Otago Daily Times.

School’s out for the spring holidays from Saturday.

There are plenty of freshwater options where the kids can fish before the 2026-2027 season opens.

• Sullivans Dam and Tomahawk Lagoon have been restocked with rainbow trout. Our two-year-old hatchery fish are big and feisty this season.
• Southern Reservoir will open to public fishing on October 1.
• Coal Pit Dam at Naseby, Butchers Dam at Alexandra, and Moke Lake near Queenstown are other put-and-take fisheries currently open.

Stocking of Otago put-and-take fisheries will be completed over the next few weeks. These fisheries are stocked with rainbow trout from Macraes Hatchery in partnership with OceanaGold, offering easy access and great odds for beginner and family anglers. Hatchery rainbows are only released into selected dams and reservoirs — wild trout populations in Otago’s rivers sustain themselves naturally.

Licences for children under 12 are free, but they still require a licence. Junior licences (age 12-17) are just $31 for a whole season or $6 a day. 

Click here for licences online or drop into your local licence agent or tackle shop. 

Tidal reaches producing trout

Spin-fishing with soft baits in the lower Taieri River while chasing whitebait. Photo: Bruce Quirey.

The mouth of the Clutha River/Mata-Au has been producing some good trout fishing, says Hadlee Edmunds, from Dunedin Hunting & Fishing.

Fishing in brackish water just after high tide, he recently landed a brown trout estimated at 3–4lb after just a couple of casts. Aim to fish two hours either side of high tide for the best action.

The fish's stomach was full of baitfish, he says. It's no surprise the fish took a soft bait imitation — in this case a Berkley paddletail in bronze pearl, rigged on a 1/8oz jighead. 

Stomachs full of smelt often indicate the trout will respond well to smelt-style patterns, silver streamers, and other small baitfish imitations.

Hadlee says the river was high and dirty but still fishable. The trout was in good condition with pink flesh, and was smoked for dinner.

There have also been reports of good-sized trout being caught around Henley on the Taieri River. A Dunedin Hunting & Fishing customer showed staff a photo of a very impressive trout — said by the angler to weigh 11lb — caught from the bank near the red bridge about two weeks ago while bait fishing.

Here are six waters where the fishing is open and promising right now. 

• Catlins Estuary (downstream of the Southern Scenic Route bridge)
• Lower Clutha River (all year)
• Tokomairiro River (downstream of Coal Gully Rd bridge)
• Taieri River (downstream of State Highway 87 bridge at Outram)
• Shag River/Waihemo (downstream of State Highway 1 bridge)
• Waikouaiti River (downstream of State Highway 1 bridge)

Thanks for following the rules

Otago Fish & Game ranger Cole Briggs chats to Shane and Cassandra Alexandre, who caught a brown trout while trolling in Lake Wānaka last summer. Photo: Bruce Quirey.

Last season was an excellent season for compliance in Otago, with Fish & Game staff and honorary rangers out across the region carrying out checks at more than 50 different waterways. 

Overall compliance was very high, with 98% of anglers found to be following the rules. The most common offence was fishing without a licence, followed by fishing with two rods. A reminder that each angler can only fish with one rod at a time, including when trolling. 

One angler was also found to have provided false details to a ranger — an offence that is taken seriously and can lead to prosecution. 

Fish & Game staff and honorary rangers will again be out checking licences and fishing activity throughout the season. Remember to always carry your fishing licence, or a copy of it, along with photo ID when out fishing.

Good day for young anglers

Grace McIntyre (left) encourages her niece Holly Dungey (5) to touch the first fish that Holly had ever caught during Take A Kid Fishing at Southern Reservoir on Saturday, September 19. Asked if she liked fishing, Holly replied, “Easy-peasy, mac and cheesey!” Photo: Rachel Easson

Around 165 children turned out with parents and grandparents for the opening weekend of Otago Fish & Game’s Take A Kid Fishing programme at Southern Reservoir last weekend.

Saturday’s sunny conditions produced some of the best fishing we’ve seen since the programme started 16 years ago. About 40–50 trout were gutted and cleaned for families to take home and many more landed and released.

Fish & Game officer Steve Dixon said the first day was one of those occasions when everything came together, with good weather, active fish and plenty of young anglers catching fish.

Sunday was a different story, with cold, overcast and windy conditions slowing the fishing. Six fish were gutted and cleaned, although some good fish were still caught and plenty of young anglers had a go. 

That’s the nature of fishing!

The final two Take A Kid Fishing days are on this weekend. The programme is fully booked.

Staff updates

Otago Fish & Game administration officer Rachel Easson.

Otago Fish & Game Council is currently undertaking a comprehensive recruitment process to secure a regional manager following the resignation of Ian Hadland.

The Council is pleased to have received a strong field of applicants for this key role. The Council executive committee, having engaged a human resources consultant to guide the process, is currently interviewing applicants.

In other staff news, we’re delighted to announce that Rachel Easson has taken on a permanent position as administration officer, based at the Otago Fish & Game headquarters in Mosgiel. Rachel is a keen angler, hailing from the Maniototo area with a background in rural retail store management. She has been working with Otago Fish & Game through a recruitment agency for the past six months, and we officially welcome her onboard.

Fly-casting class

Fly-fishing guide Chris Dore teaches fly-casting with Otago Anglers Association and Women on the Fly NZ participants at the Edgar Centre in Dunedin this month. Photo: Bruce Quirey.

Otago Fish & Game was pleased to see a strong group of female anglers attending a fly-casting class with professional guide Chris Dore in Dunedin this month.

The class was hosted by Otago Anglers Association with support from Women on The Fly NZ at the Edgar Centre. About 20 anglers attended, including 15 women who also attended an introductory fly-fishing course run by the club in March.

We were delighted to attend in support of the event. These initiatives help beginners and experienced anglers get more from their outdoor pursuits. 

Designated Waters 

Otago has nine Designated Waters Fisheries, and two of these — Upper Pomahaka (above Hukarere Station Bridge) and Nevis River — open October 1. 

The other seven Otago Designated Waters open on November 1.

The Designated Waters Licence is required in addition to your whole-season licence to fish in Otago Designated Waters Fisheries. 

Read more about Designated Waters here.  

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 and share your feedback with [email protected].

Club updates

We welcome updates from Otago angling 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

Saturday is forecast to be fine for Take A Kid Fishing in Dunedin, with showers at night. Sunday, rain easing to a few showers in the morning, with cool temperatures. If you’re signed up for Take A Kid Fishing, bring wet-weather gear and warm drinks for the kids. 

The Taieri River at Outram was flowing high at 56 cumecs this morning. Remember, the Taieri remains closed upstream of the Outram bridge until October 1. The water temperature was 8 degrees C. 

Click here for live weather updates.

Wānaka

Occasional rain on Saturday clearing in the morning. A chilly start to Sunday with showers, some heavy, clearing to fine in the morning. The Clutha River/Mata-Au below Cardrona confluence is flowing at 278 cumecs, which is around the median rate. Deans Bank remains closed to fishing until October 1.

Click here for live weather updates.

Alexandra

Saturday looks partly cloudy with the chance of a shower until evening. Sunday, showers, some heavy, easing in the morning. 

Click here for live weather updates. 

Clutha Regional Forecast

Saturday looks the pick of the days for fishing in the lower reaches of coastal rivers. A few showers. Sunday, rain with snow to 400 metres, easing to a few showers in the morning. 

The Pomahaka River was flowing high today at 66 cumecs at Burkes Ford. The Pomahaka River remains closed upstream of Swan Bridge (Clydevale Road) until October 1.

The lower Clutha River at Balclutha was flowing high at 997 cumecs but has been fishing well. 

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.

Tight lines, 

Otago Fish & Game