Otago Weekly Fishing Report - 8 October 2026

Good compliance on Opening Day

Otago Fish & Game rangers were out across the region on Opening Day, carrying out more than 90 checks and finding 100 percent compliance among anglers we spoke to on the first day of the new season.

Pictured above: Jason Kelly releases a rainbow trout during the opening days of the new season. Photo: Jakub Kanok.

Rangers met anglers at Deans Bank on the Clutha /Mata-Au, the Nevis, Manuherikia, Lindis and Taieri rivers, Lee Stream, Deep Stream, Southern Reservoir, and Sullivans Dam. Rangers also patrolled the Tokomairiro, Waipori and Shag rivers.

Across the region, anglers reported some good early-season fishing, with healthy trout caught in Central Otago, the Taieri and Maniototo, although some lakes were quiet. Falling river levels and warming temperatures should provide some good opportunities over the weekend.

The weather outlook is generally favourable for fishing, with fine conditions on Friday and Saturday across much of Otago, followed by partly cloudy or showery conditions on Sunday. Light winds are expected in most areas, although northerlies will develop at times around Wānaka and Central Otago.

Rangers will continue to be out on the water during the season, checking licences, catches and compliance with the regulations.

Central Otago off to a good start

Otago Fish & Game honorary rangers and fly anglers Jakub (Kub) Kanok and Jason Kelly headed out fishing for a few days on opening.

“Central Otago offered plenty of fishable water over opening weekend, with some smaller creeks still carrying snowmelt,” Kub says. “Temperatures were more than pleasant, particularly on the day before the opener when conditions felt more like mid-summer than early season.”

The river fished very well despite higher flows and slightly discoloured water.

“Mornings were generally slow, but fish moved into the edges as the day progressed. Larger nymphs produced consistently, while streamers fished through likely holding water were particularly effective.

“Backwaters and eddies proved well worth investigating, with most holding fish and some fish observed rising during the afternoon.”

Poolburn busy and low

Poolburn Dam at the weekend. Photo: Jakub Kanok.

Poolburn Dam was very low, with few fish sighted and no cruising fish observed, Kub says. Angler success appeared limited, although some fish were caught on spinners.

The area was busy over the weekend, with significant boat traffic and angler activity.

Spin angler Mark Anderson says he landed and released four nice brown trout at Poolburn on Opening Day. He was using a black and gold Hex Wobbler on a light spin rig.
“Fished from dawn until around 11.30am, but the four browns were caught early, with the last fish caught at 8.49am,” Mark says.

Like last week’s warning, take care boating at Poolburn due to hidden, submerged rocks.

Taking the bait

Lindsay Anderson with his bait rig on a Taieri tributary on Opening Day. Credit: Bruce Quirey.

Just getting started out in fishing? Or do you like the idea of relaxing beside the water and letting your bait do the work? Done correctly, bait fishing is highly effective.

We met Taieri Anglers Club member Lindsay Anderson fishing one of his local streams on Opening Day. Lindsay’s preferred bait rig is a worm on a hook and light trace below a swivel, with a running sinker.

Relaxing next to his rod, with a camp chair and a hot cuppa, he says that style of fishing suits him just perfectly.

For more information about bait fishing, check this link on the Fishing Knowledge Hub:

Bait fishing - Fish & Game

Taieri River opening day

Liz Fry fly-fishing on the Taieri River on Opening Day. Inset: a nice brown that Liz caught and released earlier on a spin rig with a soft bait. Photos: Bruce Quirey, Liz Fry.

A Fish & Game ranger met three anglers on the Taieri River at Outram Glen on Opening Day, including Liz Fry, who was having a great outing despite high flows on the Taieri River.

Liz started the day spin fishing with soft baits, before later switching to a fly rod.

“Beautiful opening day, not a breath of wind but the Taieri was high and quite muddy from earlier rain,” Liz says. 

“Fish were biting, landing three in an hour on the olive pearl paddletail, casting into the current, letting it drift around and jigging quickly.”

She sent us a photo of this 4 to 4.5-pound brown.

“Quick couple of photos in the net, keeping her wet before letting her go. Very healthy looking fish and a great start to the season for me!”

Lake level falling

Waiting for the bite … Trolling in Lake Wānaka at the weekend. Photo: Jamie Ward.

The level at Lake Wānaka has dropped quite a bit in the past week, says Mark Sanders, from Southern Wild, Wānaka.

Conditions at the weekend were calm and mirror-like but the fishing was quiet.

“To be fair, we’re just starting into the season. We’ve had some really nice days in the sense there’s been no wind.”

Lake shore fishing has been all right at the Matukituki River mouth.

A spin angler picked up a nice 2-3 lb rainbow on lures.

“He had quite a few other follows but they just weren’t going for it,” Mark says.

The Clutha River at the Outlet has been producing not too badly, particularly at night.

“It’s 50-50: Some people are saying it’s going well, and some are catching nothing. But you can’t beat a traffic light zebra Toby lure.”

We've received reports of anglers fishing waters that remain closed until 1 November, based on incorrect advice provided by AI.

Don't risk it. The official Otago Fish & Game Sport Fishing Regulations are the only authoritative source for fishing regulations and season dates. AI tools and other unofficial sources can provide incorrect information.

Fish & Game Rangers will be out checking these fisheries. Anyone caught fishing closed waters may receive an offence notice, and have their fishing gear seized.

A reminder for waters upstream of Clyde Dam: Many of these waters are unnamed in the regulations, but are still covered by this general rule.

Unless otherwise specified in the regulations, all lakes, rivers and streams within the Clutha River catchment upstream of Clyde Dam are:

• Open season: 1 November to 31 May
• Fishing methods: Fly fishing and spin fishing permitted
• Daily bag limit: 1 fish

Always check the official regulations before heading out. Click here for the 2026–27 Otago Sport Fishing Regulations.

Praying for dry fly action

This size 14 Pheasant Tail Nymph tied by Benjamin Boss did the trick on a brown trout fishery at the weekend. Photo: Benjamin Boss. 

Benjamin Boss, from Queenstown Hunting & Fishing, had a brilliant time fly-fishing on Otago rivers during the first week of the season.

“I had one good day chasing rainbows. They were eating the Blowtorch fly pattern. They seem in good, healthy condition. Every fish was over 5lb — the biggest was over 7lb.

“On the second day, I was on a brown trout fishery. That was also good – I got a 6.5lb brown and 5.5lb brown.”

This early in the season, Benjamin was expecting the brown trout to be more interested in a bigger meal, such as a stonefly, but instead they took a size 14 Pheasant Tail Nymph.

He suspects the fish took the smaller flies because of warm temperatures.

“Looking at the cumecs and coming into the weekend, I’m praying for some dry fly action,” Benjamin says. “With the temperatures going to reach 22 degrees in Alexandra, it’s sure to bring some insect life.”

Mike Weddell fly-fishing course

Mike Weddell (right) instructs a fly-fishing student at Outram Glen on Monday evening. Photo: Bruce Quirey. 

Falling levels in the Taieri River made the difference between fish and no fish for students at Mike Weddell’s fly-fishing course practical sessions at Outram Glen this week.

About 15 anglers attended theory classes with Mike at the Otago Fish & Game headquarters in Mosgiel during the past three weeks, before heading to the river for practical fishing sessions on Monday and Tuesday.

On the first evening, the group had a couple of takes from trout but no hook-ups. By the second evening, the water was much lower and clearer, and three fish were hooked, including one weighing about 2 lb. All three took a hare’s ear nymph.

Mike says he may run another fly-fishing course in mid-November, depending on interest. Contact Mike at [email protected].

Speak up for the river and recreation

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

• The Taiari/Taieri Catchment Action Plan is a 10-year, non-regulatory plan to protect and enhance freshwater and biodiversity across the catchment.
• It was co-developed by the Taiari/Taieri Integrated Catchment Group bringing together mana whenua, community, catchment and conservation groups (including Otago Fish & Game), industry, Department of Conservation and Otago Regional Council.
• The survey is open until this Sunday, 11 October, so there’s still time to comment.

To do the survey, click the link: Taiari/Taieri Catchment Action Plan survey

* The catchment group uses both the traditional (Taiari) and common (Taieri) spelling of Taiari/Taieri.

New lifejacket rules

From this Friday, October 9, the rules around wearing lifejackets on recreational craft are changing across Aotearoa New Zealand. 

The Coastguard says if you're aboard a recreational craft 6 metres or under, you need a lifejacket on the whole time you're underway. Doesn't matter what you're in — small motorboats, sailboats, yacht tenders, dinghies, kayaks, paddleboards and jet skis are all covered, if they're under that size. There are a few specific exclusions (like SUP surfing), but if that's not you, the rule applies. 

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

We’re getting close to opening for registrations for our free soft bait clinics. Keep an eye on our Facebook page and upcoming editions of the Otago Weekly Fishing Report for details soon on how to register.

Club updates

We welcome updates from Otago angling clubs.

Teviot Angling Club

Teviot Angling Club awards, clockwise from left: Graeme Rae, club captain, recipient of the Grand Tavern trophy for fish best condition, season 2026; vice-president William Gunn presents to Colin Moore the Tom Harper Memorial shield for competition win at Poolburn 2026; Bill O'Neill received the Crossan Trophy for open waters competition; Julie Bryant recipient of the Teviot Trophy ladies aggregate for 2026 season.

Teviot Angling Club presented awards on September 25 at their annual general meeting at Roxburgh Memorial Hall. Club publicity officer AnneMarie Gardiner says the AGM was well-attended, and after the awards ceremony, a supper was held for club members. 

Wakatipu Anglers Club

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.

Lake Wānaka live webcam

Want to know conditions at Lake Wānaka? Check this live webcam from the Wānaka Watersports Facility.

Here’s the weekend outlook:

Dunedin

Friday fine, northwesterlies. Saturday fine, northwesterlies turning northeasterly in the morning. Sunday partly cloudy, with the chance of a shower from afternoon. Light winds.

The Taieri River at Outram continues to drop, flowing at 39 cumecs this morning. The water temperature nudged up to 11.4 degrees C.

Click here for live Dunedin weather updates.

Wānaka

The next few days look good for fishing. If you’re on the lake, mind the northerlies developing for a time in the afternoon and evening on Friday and Saturday.  

Friday fine. Saturday mainly fine, chance of a shower at night. Sunday partly cloudy. Light winds.

Click here for live Wānaka weather updates.

Alexandra

Good outlook for fishing. Friday fine. Light winds. Saturday fine. Northerlies developing for a time in the afternoon and evening. Sunday mainly fine, chance of a shower in the afternoon. Light winds.

Click here for live Central Otago weather updates.

Clutha Regional Forecast

Friday fine. Easterlies developing for a time in the afternoon. Saturday fine. Northeasterlies developing in the morning. Sunday a few showers. Light winds.

The Pomahaka River is settling nicely, flowing at 9.4 cumecs at Glenken this morning.  

The lower Clutha River at Balclutha was flowing at 830 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.